Preparations, Continued...

After a short jaunt to Vermont and back (took 9 hours to get there, around 3 days to get back with a trailer bigger than my mom’s car and packed full of junk) I am back and continuing with my Cameroon preparations. I will spare you the full list of items that have taken over the library “staging” area, but I will mention a few of my most favorite things.

~A Rain Hat (purchased at West Marine -- think Gorton’s Fish Sticks) Its rained for about three weeks straight in Cameroon
~30-40 packets of Gravy and other sauce seasoning – every time my mom goes to the grocery store, she picks up a new flavor of gravy
~Black Velvet coloring books – extremely tacky gifts for the kids in my host family… ha, yea right.. im keeping them all
~New tube of mascara and a new eyeliner – for big events… light the slaughtering of a cow

And my most favorite item….

~Box of Splenda…. “its light,” my mom says. Just what Africa needs, food with no caloric value.

All told, my gear needs to fit inside three bags (two checked, one carry-on) and must be under 80lbs between the two checked bags. Might have to leave a gravy or two out.




What I am reading right now:
Conflict Resolution essays
Cameroon/PC travel books
Ahab’s Wife or The Star Gazer – Sena Jeter Nasland (will likely finish on the plane)