C'est La Vie

NEMO! Boston's Winter Snowstorm 2013

2013-02-09T23:59:00.000-05:00

This weekend brought about Boston's 5th biggest snowstorm in history! Most people worked from home on Friday as the night brought over two feet of snow.

I'll let the pictures speak for themselves. First New England winter? Piece of cake! Sorta...

Friday evening

Saturday morning!

That poor car owner will have some shoveling to do

I couldn't mail any letters for obvious reasons

Winter Wonderland

The Donkey Show - New Years Eve in Boston

2012-12-31T23:59:00.000-05:00

Yes, you read the title of my blog correctly. I spent this past New Years Eve at the Donkey Show!

The Donkey Show can be best described as a combination of two facets: 1) a disco party full of glitter, confetti, and dancing and 2) a modern-day theatrical adaptation of Shakespeare's A Midsummer's Night Dream!

Beginning as an off-Broadway show by Diane Paulus and Randy Weiner, the American Repertory Theater now runs the disco hit at the Oberon Theater in Cambridge, Massachusettes. Every Saturday night a magical performance plays into the night!

For this last night of 2012, we walked in with mardi gras masks, top hats, and make up in tow. The performance began with not a theatrical show, but with disco dancing! The classic hits from Aretha Franklin and other 70s stars played while performers skated around and audience members danced.

In the middle of dancing, the lights went low, music stopped, and all of a sudden, the drama began! The complicated plot line was full of love, laughter, jealously, and many melodies along the way. With the formal performance ending a few minutes before midnight, the dancing started back up again while we counted down to the New Year (with complimentary champagne of course!).

Here's to 2013 and another Donkey Show soon!

Disney on Ice!

2012-12-27T23:59:00.000-05:00

I like cheesiness. I like deals. I'm also a sucker for good promotional ads! The lastest ValPak mailed to my home had a $15 holiday coupon for Disney on Ice. With the TD Garden being across from my work, how could a girl resist?

The two-hour showed went through the main Disney classics like Aladdin to more contemporary works like The Incredibles (how old I felt for not knowing the latter!). Though we were mostly surrounded by primary school-aged children and younger, it was still an enjoyable performance for kids of all ages!

My only advice, Disney? Show more Stitch! :)

Think You Can Rampage? NLP's Rampage Team Fitness Challenge!

2012-11-10T23:59:00.000-05:00

Coming across a LivingSocial deal, I somehow roped three of my semi-athletic male friends to join me in one of the toughest fitness competitions in the nation: The Rampage Fitness Challenge!

The NLP Rampage is a team fitness competition in Manchester, New Hampshire that benefits the Norris Cotton Cancer Center. Comprised of 12 events, participants compete in teams of four to push and pull cars, roll monster truck tires, and carry teammates on stretchers across parking lots (this was my favorite event as I was the petite one relaxing on the stretcher which ultimately led to a win in the event).

Pushing Monster Truck tires - not for the weak!

Competing on a team, each member will bring strengths and weaknesses to each event. In our case, it was clear to see that John led us in rock climbing, Max won the sprints, Dan quickly chugged the beer (yes, that's the final event!), and we all failed in weightlifting!

I rock climb while Max outlasts the other sprinters!

What I enjoyed was that this race provided a strong sense of cameraderie as the four of us would sometimes compete shoulder-to-shoulder, and in other events, we'd compete individually allowing the others to cheer on. This setup also let us get to know the other teams through friendly banter.

Fearing we'd come in last, it turns out we tied for fifth place out of ten! Mission accomplished and sore bodies to be had!

Enjoying post-race drinks at Milly's Tavern, the only brewery in Manchester!

Newport, Rhode Island's Restaurant Week

2012-11-03T11:22:00.000-04:00

If it's one thing I love, it's visiting small towns all over America. With the New England autumn weather in full swing, Kevin Bradbury and I headed to the resort city of Newport, Rhode Island for its Restaurant Week.

A port town from the 18th century, Newport has the most number of colonial buildings still in existence. Former presidents such as JFK and Eisenhower held properties in the area which others dubbed the "Summer White Houses."

Thus, when in Newport, one must visit "The Mansions." Equivalent of touring Beverly Hills' homes, these "summer cottages" are some of the largest and most opulent homes from the 19th and early 20th century. We drove up and down the streets, but for the more inclined, tours of the interior of ten houses can be made through The Preservation Society of Newport County.

The most famous mansion of them all, the Breakers, the former residence of the Vanderbilt family.

Every car that passes by (including ours) reversed to make sure that the camel wasn't real!

In the midst of the mansions lies Newport's Cliff Walk! A 3.5-mile walk, the road winds behind the homes alongside the shoreline. We entered at Narragansett Avenue (at Ochre Poing Avenue) for a quick photoshoot before moving on.

Cliffwalk View from Narragansett Avenue

Unfortunately, though we wanted to go wine tasting at Greenvale Vineyards (live jazz on Saturdays!), Kevin's car wouldn't start! Long story short, it has this problem where when the ignition key is put in, the car alarm sounds off, and the only way to stop the alarm is to use the key to unlock the trunk. Usually, the ignition will act up a couple times and then start, but this time, zilch! Stranded on a Saturday afternoon, we decided to walk (whew, small town!) to the restaurant where we had reservations, The Grill at Forty 1 North.

For Restaurant Week, Forty 1 North offered a special menu of a three-course lunch for $16 (money-saving tip: Restaurant Week lunches are usually 50% the dinner price!). Located on the harbor waterfront, the chic restaurant is a must-stop for anyone in the area with welcoming customer service, quality food, and good views!

Quote on a mirror outside of Forty 1 North

So excited for the wedge salad at Forty 1 North

Like magic, after we walked back to the car, it started to our surprise! We were able to bring it back to the hotel and walked over to the Newport Grand Casino for dinner and attend a tribute concert to Zed Leppelin.

Sold-out tribute to Zed Leppelin at the Newport Grand

Kevin's 1997 Jetta. That is the interior (or lack) of the passenger door. And he wondered why his car wouldn't start...

Luckily the car started again the next morning, but not wanting to take our chances, we headed back to Boston instead of spending the day in Providence. We'll save that city for another day!

Chunky's Movie Theater, Pelham, New Hampshire

2012-10-28T23:59:00.000-04:00

An impromptu trip led me to the small town of Pelham, New Hampshire for the night. Kevin Bradbury, worked as a "boom guy" (film language that I still don't understand after years of living in Los Angeles) for a short movie and off we went to the premiere!

Chunky's Cinema & Pub is much more than a movie theater. In my opinion, it's what every movie night should be: an experience. Here, clientele sit and socialize at tables while eating dinner before the film even begins. Ice cream sundaes while relaxing in larger-than-life-and-comfortable recliner chairs from Lincoln Town Cars? Yes!

The admission prices of this small-town theater stay low at $5.75/matinee and $7.50/evenings (half the price of Manhattan ticket prices!). It was the premiere of Thirty Minutes to Salvation, a short about "breaking generational curses and choosing your destiny." I was never a movie critic, but I'll just say that the room was packed and the director's wife discussed the parallelism of the movie to their own lives; that for me was the deal breaker as once things become real, I become interested!

An hour outside of Boston, the Chunky's experience is well worth it and the first trip to New Hampshire was a thumbs up!

Boston Chic! The Charlesmark Hotel and the Longwood Symphony

2012-10-13T23:59:00.000-04:00

Though Boston is infamous for its dive bars and collegiate atmosphere, don't be alarmed! There is a very trendy and chic scene for the working professionals out there.

Located across from the Boston Public Library in Back Bay, the Charlesmark Hotel was originally a private residence from the 19th century. The hotel features a classic modern look with an elegant lounge and outdoor patio. It is in this lounge where the Charlesmark sits famously - its design was concepted Dennis Duffy and the bar is managed by Jefferson Ryder, both of whom are award-winners in their fields (yes, Ryder is an award-winning bartender!).

Tip: One Thursday a month from 6-8pm, the Charlesmark holds martini tastings with all-you-can-eat appetizers for $20 which includes a $12 coupon for the next visit. The main reason one should come though? The famous "Dancing Gummy Bear Martini!"

Jolly good friends at the Charlesmark Hotel and Lounge

The Charlesmark Hotel's signature drink: The Dancing Gummy Bear Martini!

Afterwards, we ran off (yes, we ran because we were late) to the New England Conservatory's Jordan Hall to watch the Longwood Symphony Orchestra. Since 1991, the orchestra has raised money at each concert for a different community organization. The musicians are mostly healthcare professionals and to date, have raised over $1,000,000 for the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program, the Sharewood Project, the Japan Disaster Relief Fund-Boston, and the Rachel Molly Markoff Foundation.

They believe that music and heal and have shown that yes, it can!

Longwood Symphony Orchestra, New England Conservatory's Jordan Hall

September 11 Memorial By Day, Occupy Wall Street By Night

2012-09-15T23:59:00.000-04:00

The Mission Statement of the National September 11 Memorial could not have been more perfectly written to pay homage to the forever sacred events at the World Trade Center:

"Remember and honor the thousands of innocent men, women, and children murdered by terrorists in the horrific attacks of February 26, 1993 and September 11, 2001.

Respect this place made sacred through tragic loss.

Recognize the endurance of those who survived, the courage of those who risked their lives to save others, and the compassion of all who supported us in our darkest hours.

May the lives remembered, the deeds recognized, and the spirit reawakened be eternal beacons, which reaffirm respect for life, strengthen our resolve to preserve freedom, and inspire an end to hatred, ignorance and intolerance."

National September 11 Memorial, New York City

The Memorial is currently under construction and will be for the next few years, but the North and South pools (pictured) sit readily available for viewing by the public. These pools, the footprints of the former Twin Towers, stand below a bold backdrop of nothing else, but a stronger World Trade Center and a powerful New York City.

............................

Interestingly enough, the night brought us to Zuccotti Park, home of the birth of the infamous Occupy Wall Street protest. NYPD cops were everywhere and as luck would have it, within minutes of our arrival, the OWS protestors showed up as it was the one year anniversary of the movement. The best line of the night?

NYPD Cop: Oh, man. I forgot my granola bars.

Oh, New York!

One-year anniversary of the Occupy Wall Street movement, Zuccotti Park

Whale Watching, Orange County, California

2012-08-21T23:59:00.000-04:00

The Pacific Ocean on a sunny day with a cool, breeze and whale watching. What more can make a girl smile?

My buddy, Tiana Dorneman, and I spent a morning in Dana Point checking off an item on my bucket list with Dana Wharf Sportfishing and Whale Watching. Founded in 1958, the small business is still family-owned and operated. Being a Tuesday, it was a 1/2 price ticket of only $22.50/person to spend two hours searching for dolphins and blue whales.

What'd we find? Plenty of dolphins jumping and playing around and a very large blue whale! If you have kids or are looking for a fun date, go whale watching!

Pirate's Dinner Adventure, Orange County, California

2012-08-13T23:59:00.000-04:00

I wasn't ever really into pirates as a kid. Even for a pirate-themed dance in high school, I simply wrapped a pink bandanna on my head and wore boots with a cut-up skirt. However, I am a sucker for a good deal. So while browsing through my parent's Entertainment Coupon Book, I came across a two-for-one deal with the Pirate's Dinner Adventure!

Located in Orange County, California across from the Knott's Berry Farm theme park, the musical theater features daily spectacles including acrobatic moves, comedy, and sword-fighting! The interactive show will place the audience into color groups to participate in two hours of competition and entertainment. And of course, there's a lavish dinner feast that will easily quench one's mighty h-argh-er (hunger, get the pun?!).

The show itself starts with a guide and her Up-character-like sidekick accidentally finding themselves on a treasure ship. They are soon taken as prisoners of the ship and the only way to escape the ship and save it from an evil dictator pirate? I won't give away the ending, but let's just say love and a different heroic pirate is involved!

The show always features deals, so be on the lookout!

A Beautiful Wedding at the Descanso Gardens

2012-08-04T23:59:00.000-04:00

One of my closest friends, Kate Alapizco, got married to her high school/college sweetheart today and I was lucky enough to come back from the Peace Corps just in time to attend!

With 160 acres of forest, Descanso Gardens serves as a scenic hidden woodland in Southern California. For 50+ years, locals and tourists have come to the internationally renowned gardens to explore its botanical collection and enjoy its year-round programming (gourmet cooking or fitness class anyone?). Thus, it made a lovely backdrop for a summer wedding!

It was a classy night catching up with old friends and making new ones. My favorite part of the evening? In true USC fashion, the two alumni couple played the official Trojan "Fight Song" as they made their way down the aisle. Congrats Kate and Kris!

Nick Kump, my plus one, and me waiting for the ceremony to begin

The Priest and Groomsmen

Old USC friends and wedding party members, James Miao and Sarah Robinson

The beautiful bride!

Descanso Gardens

Yes, that would be my awkward and colorful Cameroonian bag amongst the wedding gifts!

Fight on!

Doing Dusseldorf in a Day (Or Rather a Few Hours)

2012-07-25T23:59:00.000-04:00

It was much cheaper for me to fly to Los Angeles from Dusseldorf, Germany than Brussels, Belgium, so Adam and I headed out to the train station. He gets a good friend award as he carried a big chunk of my 100lb. luggage in and out of train! With only a few hours in Dusseldorf, we dropped off our suitcases at the Grand City Hotel Dusseldorf Konigsallee (formerly Four Points) before exploring the city. The hotel was classy enough in itself, but the complimentary sodas and waters put it on the great hotels list (four free drinks!).

An international financial center, Dusseldorf often gets looked over by tourists for more popular cities such as Munich or Berlin. However, I feel that its smaller charm with its fairs to nightlife is one of the reasons it's an attractive destination!

Town Hall Place Near City Hall

We walked towards the Rhine River to stroll down the Promenade (a highly recommended walk during sunset!) and get a quick glimpse of the Rhine Tower. The tallest building in Dusseldorf at 170m, the tower also holds the largest digital clock in the world. If we had more time, I would have loved to explore it, but our current mission? Find a fancy place to eat that's close!

We soon made our way to Old Town and settled on Santiago Bistro. Sitting on the cafe tables outside, we were able to people watch while enjoying the German sun. Our waiter only spoke Spanish and German and we only spoke English and French, so it made ordering our meal very interesting! A big hand to Dusseldorf; however, as a Wednesday night can bring out everyone in the city to enjoy a night out!

Enjoying Spanish food and people watching at Santiago Bistro

The week-long layover in Europe on my way back from Africa was indeed a good trip, but tomorrow? Time for this girl to go back to the US after twenty-five months away from home!

Sunset from my plane ride home!

Things to Do in Luxurious Luxembourg

2012-07-24T23:59:00.000-04:00

Not realizing that Luxemboug was actually three hours away from Brussels, we began our day-trip out of the country. Would I recommend spending a night in Luxembourg? Yes. Though would I also recommend the day-trip for those that want to stay in their cheap hotel with Brussels as their home point? Yes.

Luxembourg's architecture was extremely unique relative to the types I've observed across Europe. It's a mix of old versus new as the city's architecture includes the Treveri Celtic tribe works from 1st century BC, Roman ruins, castles, churches, and modern-day financial buildings.

Luxembourg's unique architure

A tourist office (with free map!) was located right at the train station making our travel planning convenient. Before eating a caprice salad, we walked across The Passerelle (a.k.a. The Viaduct Bridge) which connects the city center to the train station. Be sure to take in the view of the Petrusse Valley!

View of Petrusse Valley from The Passerelle Bridge

A visit to Luxembourg City would not be complete without seeing the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Casemates! Located in the old historical district, one finds a rocky castle-like cliff tower sitting over the River Alzette. In 963, Count Siegfried built a grand castle to protect his property. The casemates, underground tunnels below the castles, were created and modernized by the Spaniards in 1644. Here, one can explore a life-size human cave full of twists and turns. The lighting especially makes the Casemates into a surreal neon glow space.

Standing above and walking within the tunnel galleries of the Casemates

We soon hopped on a bus to St. Martin's Winery in Remich. The peaceful city sits on a port and holds a certain still charm. Perhaps I will have a summer house here one day!

Remich, Luxembourg

The wine tour brought us through 1km of traditional and modern wine cellars and ended with a champagne tasting. Great deal for only 5euros!

Winery tour and champagne tasting at St. Martins

Train ride view from Luxembourg back to Belgium

I unfortunately left my leftover pizza slices (the only food option that we could afford in Remich) at the local bus station, but it just gave me all the more reason to order McDonald's for the third time this week. Delicious!

Boating in Bruges and Blankenberge's Sand Sculture Festival

2012-07-23T23:59:00.000-04:00

After dropping off my broken sandal at the cobbler, Adam and I headed off to Blankenberge and Bruges. Note: ALWAYS pack at least two pairs of easily accessible shoes! Otherwise, you could end up like me and wear traditional African sandals (for decoration only) all over Europe!

First stop was to see the Sprookjeswereld Sand Sculpture Festival in Blankenberg. Here, thirty-eight professional artists have hand-crafted millions of kilograms of sand into larger-than-life sculptures. There were only three large rooms to the festival, but the Disney and storybook themes made it a sight to see!

The gorgeous and intricate sculptures of Blankenberge's Sprookjeswereld Sand Sculpture Festival

Blankenberge is a nice port town, but we had to soon backtrack on the train to Bruges for the 3pm demonstration show at The Diamond Museum. After being lost for half an hour, we found out that the 3pm show occurred at noon! The complimentary diamond that attendees receive was literally no bigger than half a millimeter, so I didn't feel too bad about missing out on anything.

Bruges, a significant economic center because of its port, is considered a "canal city," so off on a boat ride we went! Though the half hour boat rides attract only tourists, how can you visit Venice without riding in a gondola? And if anything, it's worth it to see the below statue putting in contact lenses.

Floating through the canals of Bruges

Local and Touristy Things to Do in Brussels, Belgium (Part 2)

2012-07-22T23:59:00.000-04:00

One of the most popular attractions to see in Brussels is the Manneken Pis a.k.a. "Pissing Boy" statue. Yes, you read that right! I wasn't particularly inclined to see it, but Adam insisted that I pay at least one visit.

The bronze statue stands over 60cm tall and has created quite a bit of a stir in terms of urban legends. Some say that the infant was a lord and his troops put him into a basket to "attract and distract" the enemy. Another legend describes a missing child of a merchant who became lost and was soon found in a garden in the following position. My favorite part of the statue? Watching the many tourists come to photograph it!

The infamous Manneken Pis statue and the several dozen tourists who are excited to see it

We soon made our way over to George Henri Park for the Brusselicious Festival of PiQniQ! Each summer, Brussels holds Sunday picnics at various parks throughout the city. A free jazz concert is provided while picnickers can buy 12euro lunch packs that consist of salami, cheese, bread, apples, salad, yogurt, and two complimentary glasses of wine - great deal in my opinion!

Our official picnic basket from the Brusselicious PiQniQ Festival

The family-friendly event itself was great (kids could also make kites), but I loved the fact that it brought us beyond a "touristy" experience and into a very local venue. George Henri Park is located in a very suburban area of the city, so we walked up and down sidewalks of homes and spent the day with Belgian families.

We had a planned to have a fancier dinner, so we walked down Rue des Bouchers as it's know as "Brussels Belly" due to it's many restaurants and cafes. The affordable Lobster House Ecalier won us over as the host offered to throw in some champagne to us for our business.

Enjoying a seafood dinner at Lobster House Ecalier on Rue des Bouchers

Local and Touristy Things to Do in Brussels, Belguim (Part 1)

2012-07-21T23:59:00.000-04:00

Hello Europe! After my two-year Peace Corps service in Africa, I took a week-long layover in Europe on the way home to the States. First stop: Brussels, Belgium!

Chocolate, French, waffles, and good food and friends? Good deal for me!

After my buddy, Adam Persing, picked me up at Brussels Airport, we carried my 100lbs. of luggage to Hotel Eurostar Grand Place, an affordable and clean hotel just five minutes from the city center.

Tip: Looking to book a hotel? Check out TravelShark, an online travel company with an insane database of lodgings. I had trouble finding affordable hotels with TripAdvisor, Expedia, etc. but TravelShark saved us!

First stop was the Brussel's "Hero" statue at the Grand Palace. The statue symbolizes Everhard 't Serclaes who rescued Brussels in 1356. Tradition says if you touch the elbow, it's good luck!

Touching the elbow of the "Hero" statue will give you good luck!

We swung by the Tourism Office which gave us great information about the day's festivities and information/coupons to the very cute Angora Arts and Crafts Fair. The fair, just a few meters away from the Grand Place, featured local artisans selling hand-crafted goods from scarves to candles.

One of the must-see sites in Brussels is the Atomium Museum! The building's unique shape draws thousands each year as it's "neither tower, nor pyramid, a little bit cubic, a little bit spherical, half-way between sculpture and architecture, a relic of the past with a determinedly futuristic look."

The impressive Atomium Museum from the 1950s is a one-of-a-kind sight!

I wasn't too impressed with the inside of the museum (unless you really love learning about water), but I did enjoy how the museum did bring up the issue of clean water access (or lack there of) in developing countries.

Part of the water exhibition inside the Atomium Museum. This displays villagers in Africa.

After a quick photoshoot, we rushed back to the city to see the 4pm chocolate-making show at Planete Chocolat. The hands-on chocolate demonstration was interesting enough in itself, but the chocolate samples and hot chocolate made it even greater. And yes, everything was delicious!

Chocolate-making demonstration at Planete Chocolat

Since we were lucky enough to enjoy Belgium during their National Day (i.e. Independence Day), we headed off to Parc de Bruxelles. Like Central Park in New York, the area provides a peaceful oasis away from the city's noises and hosts a myriad of activities yearly. Today's festivities included rock climbing, face painting, fighter jet riding (no joke), dog racing, and sumo wrestling!

One of the many statues found in Brussels Park

Brussels Park sumo-wrestling during National Day

We planned the rest of the trip back at the hotel and then headed out for a delicious pho dinner before watching the day's fireworks. Excellent first day in Brussels!

The Official Peace Corps Graduation: End-of-Service Gong Out

2012-07-20T23:59:00.000-04:00

Peace Corps graduation today! Two years of service complete and I am officially a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer!

The next step? I will jump on a plane to spend a week layover in Belgium and then HOME! Thank you to everyone that followed my Peace Corps adventures. I guess this will go back to a blog about my travel adventures now :)

Peace Corps Goodbye - The Final Weeks

2012-07-14T23:59:00.000-04:00

A former Peace Corps Volunteer told me to really appreciate the final moments living in my community as they are the sweetest moments of one's service. He was right.

Many PCVs tend to only inform their closest friends that they are leaving as if word gets around that the American is moving, thefts can often occur at the last moment. Though I understand this practice, it was important for me to make sure that all loose ends were closed and nobody felt surprised or disappointed that I didn't let them know. I spent these last few weeks running around not only wrapping up projects and logistics, but giving photos/presents/clothes (I had way too much stuff to take home!) and of course, saying goodbye. People couldn't believe that two years had already passed; nor could I.

Alot happened this last week especially. My replacement(s) came, my community host cried, my Tae Kwon Do instructor woke up from his coma. There were surprise goodbye parties and planned parties with gift given to me after gift. I don't know how I will ever thank the community of Ngaoundere for opening its heart to me these last two years.

I will miss this. See below for my final goodbyes - I still can't believe the amount of gifts that I received including a snake-skinned purse and an official "talking stick."

Peace Corps Project: Village Savings & Loan Micro-Credit Cooperatives

2012-07-10T23:59:00.000-04:00

I joined the Peace Corps for many reasons, but the biggest one of all was to serve. Serve my country, serve others, serve the world. In the world of international development, it can be hard to know what works and if it makes a difference. From two years of primary research, I can say: The Village and Savings Loan Association works.

The Village Savings & Loan Association, created by CARE International, is a global microfinance model that provides access to capital and a means of savings for the most impoverished and illiterate members of our world. If you care to learn more logistics, see my previous post or watch the video below.

I've had the opportunity of creating and maintaining 14 of these groups with 375 members. Ninety percent of the participants are women and 80% are illiterate. Our average group ROI is 30% annually and the project is done in almost 60 countries with 6 millions participants worldwide. Like I said, it works.

Small Donation to African Farmer Greatly Helps His Cabbage Farm

2012-07-01T23:59:00.000-04:00

Before I left for Peace Corps, a friend's mom told me that she wanted to help in any way she could. She was hesitant to just donate funds directly to organizations because she never knew if the gift actually made it to the people she wanted to help or got lost to others along the way.

I often do not believe in first world countries just providing monetary aid to third world countries as this creates a sense of dependency. For example, just the fact that I'm a foreigner, people will assume that I am rich and will ask me for money because they've seen so much financing going towards the country. After two years; however, I found a very sweet man that was deserving of such a small gift without expectations.

Zachary and his new farm

After two years, I had made a very good (and honest) friend named Zachary. I won't go too much into detail about Zachary's story, but know that he was fired from his job for unjustified reasons and was the sole provider for a sick wife and three children. He worked to get his life back together by renting farm land and a simple donation allowed him to buy a starter pack of fertilizer for his farm. See below to see what $60 can do (and an embarrassing video of me losing my shoe):

n

Behind-the-Scenes: Making a Vampire Movie in Cameroon

2012-06-25T23:59:00.000-04:00

When my buddy, Biya, asked me to act in his film, how could I say no? In my eyes, there would be no better way to wrap up my Peace Corps experience than to star as the heroine in a vampire movie! This was also not just any movie. This was a grand production of the "Who's Who?" of Ngaoundere's artistic outlets.

The movie premise? As I put on makeup in the bathroom of a nightclub, I see the vampires approach the dance floor. I run out to save the nightclub goers and stake the vampires. Unfortunately, I myself die in the process. It's a goodie!

Unfortunately, the timeline of the film is on "African time," so I really will never know when it gets finished. Until then, all I have are these behind-the-scenes photos and videos until the world premiere of "Easy Blood."

mmmmm

Peace Corps Project: The Grand Opening of the Mbideng Market!

2012-06-20T23:59:00.000-04:00

After two years of serving in the US Peace Corps, it is only fitting that my capstone project came to a close (or rather opening!) today. For the past six months, community leaders, volunteers, and I worked to create an outdoor district market for the poverty-stricken neighborhood of Mbideng. Lying in the outskirts of the city of Ngaoundere, the 8,000 residents had to previously walk into town or pay for transportation to buy basic food and goods. Now the community has its own market providing such benefits as better nutrition and increased income

The past months included many tasks including building a coalition of leaders, holding multiple community meetings, negotiating with landlords and government officials, drafting contracts, performing word-of-mouth and radio publicity, and finding creative solutions amongst limited (i.e. zero) resources. Welcome to the Mbideng Market!

Traditional scarfs and prayer mats

The very first vendor!

Vegetable section

*By July 4, 2012, 136 vendors had come to sell their goods from all over the city. The mayor aided in publicity by securing announcements with public and private radio stations. Ninety percent of vendors surveyed stated that they have seen their daily incomes increase. One hundred percent of clients surveyed stated that they save time, money, or both by buying from the community market as opposed to going into town.

From Traveling Tourist to Living Local...Really Local: Life in the Peace Corps

2012-06-04T23:59:00.001-04:00

This blog post was originally published for Do It While You're Young, a community and network for women ages 18-35 who previously or are currently traveling, studying, working, or volunteering abroad.

The best travel experiences occur when one breaks out of “tourist trap” attractions and into the local scene: where locals eat, how locals live, etc. It’s then when one can really experience another culture and therefore begin personal growth and mutual understanding.

What if, though, beyond traveling like a local, you actually became one? Not just going through the motions for a few days, but living abroad for an extended time? Now, to take it further, what if you forwent a traditional American salary for two years to live in a developing country all the while providing your talents to a greater cause?

Welcome to life in the Peace Corps!

What exactly is the Peace Corps?

The Peace Corps is an independent government agency that places volunteers in developing countries in various sectors across business, education, health, environment, and community development. Volunteers serve for 27 months (two years of service after three months of technical, cultural, and language training) living at a level next to those they are serving. Simply put, not only are you aiding in grassroots development, but it’s your job to foster cultural exchange too.

Where Volunteers Serve

Peace Corps Volunteers serve all over the world from Latin America to Eastern Europe to Southeast Asia. I live in Cameroon working as a Business Advisor for the Community Economic Development program. Contrary to popular belief, no, I don’t live in a small African village without electricity (though my best friend does!), but rather a second-story apartment in a city of 400,000 people, mostly Muslim and Christian.

Work Volunteers Do

In Cameroon, we have everything from Science teachers in schools to Community Health Volunteers in hospitals providing HIV/AIDS outreach. I’m a Business Volunteer, so I consult a microfinance institution and organize illiterate men and women into micro-credit cooperatives to provide a means of savings and lending for business-related activities. I also work with A2Empowerment to help girls who have dropped out of school return to school. Each Volunteer’s community is different, so it’s impossible to predict the work you’ll do, but you can create the experience you want.

Basic Essentials

The Cameroonian government provides private housing and Peace Corps provides a stipend that is more than enough to cover food, travel, communication, health, and miscellaneous expenses. I find it more than sufficient to cover all my needs; some Volunteers end up saving a couple thousand dollars through the experience while others dip into American money that they’ve saved – it’s all about money habits!

It may be Sub-Saharan Africa, but the world is a globalized one. Being in a large city, I can Skype my friends and family (well, if internet is working) and even the Volunteers who live “in the bush (i.e. WAY out there!)” have cell phones. We’re provided a bicycle, but I much prefer to ride motorbikes all over the city or to a local waterfall that’s 15km away (my friend in Panama received her own canoe!).

What I Love About Being a Local

I came to Cameroon with a bare understanding of French and now I find myself thinking and leading meetings in French! There is a high degree of illiteracy in my city, but since I’ve been here so long, I’ve been able to pick up the African language of Fulfulde. Do you know how much Cameroonians love it when you speak their native tongue? A lot.

It’s the moments that I could have never predicted that I love the most. For one of my birthdays, I ended up riding on the back of a motorbike for six hours in the rain. We stayed at a notable’s house and climbed caves the next day that were 30 meters below ground. The rest of the afternoon was spent war dancing with the Nyem Nyem people. Forty-eight hours earlier, I had no clue this would even happen. Knowing fair prices at the market, playing on the local soccer team, developing close relationships – this is life!

What I Hate About a Being a Local

I may be sporting clothes from African fabric, but Americans stick out worst than pimples on prom night. Some days I enjoy the celebrity status, and other days, it’s like a self-conscious fishbowl! No matter what I do is weird, so I just tell everyone else how weird they are too. I’ve also definitely picked up my fair share of foreign diseases, but hey, now I have good stories right?

Though it’s a tough and humbling experience, I’ve loved seeing Cameroon from the most first-hand perspective possible as I was able to combine my passions of public service, travel, and business. It’s no wonder why Peace Corps’s current tagline is “Think local. Act Global.”

Ouch! That Monkey Just Bit Me! Backpacking West Africa..

2012-05-13T23:59:00.000-04:00

I’m a believer that your age should never be greater than the number of countries you’ve visited.

I’ve lived in Europe, volunteered in Asia, and done quick stints in Australia and across North America. Couchsurfing, solo traveling, Contiki tours, eco-service trips, Peace Corps, you name it! Though a passion for travel still ignites a fire in my petite belly, there aren’t many experiences that can really make me say, “This is crazy!” Until a few months ago; however, two girlfriends and I decided to backpack West Africa for 24 days…

Mali – The Gem of Africa

Staying at the Sleeping Camel in Bamako allowed us to acquire the “need-to-know” information about the city. The Artisan market had an incredible selection of wood crafts and jewelry forcing the three of us to stock up (why I bought a drum the first day to carry around I still don’t know!). The music scene and night life on Route de Bla Bla – yes, that’s really its name – allowed us to kick off our trip in full force.

There may be nothing more awe-inspiring than UNESC O’s World Heritage town of Djenne. It’s here where we were mesmerized by the Grand Mosque- the largest mosque in the world made completely from mud! Not only are the homes constructed from mud as well, but they are multi-storied creating an ancient town of varying building heights.

Soon it was time for our three day hike across Dogon Country. At arrival our guide stated “We are going to hike for 15 kilometers this afternoon. This will take five hours if you walk well.” Keep in mind that I’m a former New Yorker that used to take the subway from 34^th to 42^nd Street! Nonetheless, sleeping on roofs under the stars and seeing pure, untouched Africa was incredibly surreal. During our (ridiculously long) hike, we came across Tiogou, a village built on rock formations supporting waterfalls and Youga Dogourou, a village where inhabitants live inside a mountain’s crevices!

Burkina Faso – No Man’s Land

After an ATM fiasco (let’s just say $400US was taken out of my checking account though I never physically received the money!), we jumped on an 8-hour bus to Bobo-Dioulasso (where you ask?!). Yes, Burkina is very much OFF the beaten path, part of its lure! The country is one of the poorest in the world, yet since it is a transport country, the roads are upkept.

We received a local tip to shop at Gafreh Boutique, a fair-trade store that showcases products created from recycled plastic bags. At Banfora, we touched the Karfiguela Waterfalls and the Sand Domes of Fabedougou before heading off to Burkina’s capital, Ouagadougou (say this five times fast!).

Togo – Not the Sandwich, But a Lovely Country

When we reached Togo, we searched the village of Goundoga for a secret “castle in a cliff” (okay, maybe not too secret as we read about it in a Lonely Planet guide, but it’s definitely not a touristy place)! While traveling there, I realized we had no clue where we would spend the night. “Would you like to stay at the chief’s house?” my chauffeur inquired. Yes!

It turns out our “castle in the cliff” was actually a mini-fortress with a steel ladder built into the side of Mt. Semoo during the 19^th century. The Chokossi had established an empire; however, the Moba resented this and built the fortress to hide from soldiers and tax collectors. Just like the IRS!

After a 12-hour ride (yes, 12 hours!), we welcomed the cool-climate of Kpalime, a tropical paradise amongst hilly forests, artisan markets, and cocoa and coffee farms. The best activity to do here: butterfly hunting!

Lome was my favorite city of the trip with its gorgeous beaches (check out Aneho too!), great shopping, delicious restaurants (Vietnamese pho anyone?) and voodoo! An affordable place to stay is Le Galion, which is walking distance to the beach. I would have recommended Chez Alice, 12km away in Aveposo, but the hostel’s monkey bit me!

Benin – Beaches and Stilts

The trip ended with a quick stop to Grand Popo – another beach resort (we needed it!) and Ganvie, a stilt village only reachable by canoe! At Ganvie, 30,000 Tofinu people live in stilt houses that sit two meters above water. Back in the 17^th century, the Tofinu fled here to escape slavery as their attempted captors, the Dahomey, were afraid of water and disallowed to enter it due to religion.

Be warned: backpacking West Africa is not for the novice tourist or for those lacking patience! Bush taxis (i.e. squeezing 8 people into a taxi!), non-existent time-tables, a beating African sun, and constant negotiation are just the realities of a trip like this. However, for those searching for adventure, you will find nothing less!

Advice about Life to Future Peace Corps Volunteers

2012-05-01T17:00:00.001-04:00

A few months ago, my Associate Peace Corps Director asked me to write a vignette about life as a Peace Corps Volunteer and to include any advice. The Volunteer Assignment Description will be provided to future Community Economic Development (formerly Small Enterprise Development) Volunteers coming to Cameroon...including my replacement. Here we go:

Small Enterprise Development Volunteer Assignment Description Vignette

October 2011

“Jam na?” In the local African language of Fulfulde, this translates into “Do you have peace?” Before every meeting, I must traverse the room repeating this to each attendee. I could have never predicted exactly what my projects would entail of as a Small Enterprise Development Volunteer. Some days, I facilitate the meetings of savings and lending cooperatives for illiterate women; other days, I organize artisan classes to teach income-generating activities. And of course, as cultural exchange is a part of the job description, I spend other moments dancing at Muslim weddings and playing “football” with the kids. As a Peace Corps Volunteer of this generation, you will find yourself in a transitioning world. I’ve helped women who weren’t allowed to attend school as children to create e-mail addresses. Sometimes I Skype with family and friends and sometimes I write letters by candlelight. Realize that although every Volunteer’s post is different, your own attitude and flexibility will be the true determinants of your experience. And do not worry, speaking French will come with practice and time for everybody. Life here is full of uncertainty and there will be instances of frustration as in every job, but let yourself laugh, remember that development and impact require patience, and treasure the small, everyday moments of this once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

Krystina Nguyen, SED Volunteer

Ngaoundéré, Adamawa Region