Volunteering & Volunteer Students

As you might imagine, I have been giving my upcoming post in Cameroon a great deal of thought.

In particular I think the fact that this is not my first VSO posting actually makes it harder.  While Africa will be new to me, doing THIS, ie the whole VSO thing is not.

I think it's fair to say that it was the new that fired me up and kept me going in Vietnam.  I followed the same curve that every volunteer there has ever been has followed - sheer euphoria, followed by exasperation and tiredness followed by a surge with the end in sight.

So where do I start on that curve this time?

I also don't want to start every sentence with "When I did VSO in Vietnam we..." and that goes for work, socialising and blogging.

And there is the fear too.  I am slowly admitting to myself that Vietnam was, all things considered, pretty cushy in every respect.  In all honesty I struggle to think of a placement that could be any easier.  But Africa and Bamenda?  This will be very different.

I've learnt that it will be not be too hot.  It will rain a lot.  There is very little to do and despite it being a sizeable city there is virtually no expat scene.  When I am not working I can expect to be doing a lot of reading, pottering and tuning in to World Service.

I think. I repeat, I think, I am fine with that.

I didn't want to be doing expatty stuff.  But then again, just how much can I amuse myself?

In time I'll put together some rules for myself in terms of how I treat my Cameroon experience, but certainly the first is: I may be a returned volunteer but I know nothing.  This is all new and I should act accordingly.  It's important that I show be neither a know-it-all or a cynic.

And to be honest, unlike surviving in Asia I feel like I wouldn't know where to start in Cameroon.  I really do know absolutley nothing.

* I have been reading two Cameroon blogs - first off Rev Tracy's thoughts from Bamenda itself and also Yer Man in Cameroon who amongst a great number of other fabulous post has a heartening piece on Bamenda.

* No pic is not African, nor is it symbolic in any way.  It's from my holiday snaps - a little bit of sunshine in Zakynthos - I returned today.  Full set is here.