Phase I Project Budget

PROJECT BUDGET

PARTNERSHIP Contribution - FUNDING REQUESTED
		Material Description	Unit	Quantity Needed	Unit Cost (f cfa)	Total Cost (f cfa)	Total Cost (usd)
Book Inventory		Shipping Charges	per container	1	4 750 000	4 750 000	$9 500
		Misc. Port/Custom Costs	per container	1	1 000 000	1 000 000	$2 000
		Total				5 750 000	$11 500
COMMUNITY Contribution
	Material Description		Unit	Quantity Needed	Unit Cost (f cfa)	Total Cost ( f cfa )	Total Cost ( usd )
Implementation	Transportation (Books)		per trip	2	300 000	600 000	$1 200
	Transportation (Volunteer)		per trip	25	5000	125 000	$250
	Book Sorting/Storing Venue		per day	5	30 000	150 000	$300
	Training Material		per person	50	3 000	150 000	$300
	Labor (library organization)		per person	200	2 500	500 000	$1 000
	Library Preparation		per school	25	100 000	2 500 000	$5 000
Total						4 025 000	$8 050

TOTAL PROJECT COSTS		500 f cfa = 1 usd
	% Contribution	Total Cost (f cfa)				Total Cost ( usd)
Partnership Contribution	59%	5 750 000				$11 50
Community Contribution	41%	4 025 000				$8 05
Total Project Cost	100%	9 775 000				$19 550

Budget Footnotes – Expanded Descriptions
Book Inventory
Shipping Charges: Books For Africa have committed to send a 40-foot container of 22,000 books.
Port Charges: administrative costs involved to clear the container at the Douala port.

Implenmentation
Tranportation (Books): transporting books from Douala port to the West province for sorting. Rate based on bus-depot from Douala to Bafoussam
Transportation (Volunteers): transporting volunteers and books to each school.
Book Sorting/Storing Venue: Venue in the West for initial storing and sorting of 22,000 books from BFA.
Training Venue: to train staffs of each school on library management; 25 schools x 1 per day = 25
Training Material: photocopies of library management material. 25 schools x 2 per school = 50
Labor (Library Organization): to clean and prepare the appropriate space for a functioning library. 25 schools x 8 per school = 200
Library Preparation: costs per school to preapre a secured space with bookshelves ready for all incoming books.

Books For Cameroon Project Description

UPDATE [August 14, 2009]
Over the past few months, the project has grown! And here is a brief update.

• At the end of April/May, PCVs Kate Cook, Siobhan Perkins, Laura Hurley and myself had selected a total of 25 community and school libraries for this project.
• Mid-June, Mr. Fondugallah, a Cameroonian living in St. Paul, MN contacted me and we added the Limbé and Lewoh City Library.
  
• Mid-July, RELUFA resource library in Yaoundé was added to the project.
  
• Late-July, a community in Kognoli, Adamoua was added in collaboration with a RELUFA contact.
• Early August, final library is added to the project for the clan of Fondonera in the West Province.

Here is a complete list of participating libraries!

The project is now covering 30 school/community libraries. Library management training will take place in the early months of 2010. We are still raising money to fund the tranportation cost for Phase I. Phase II is underway in collaboration with Biblionef and l'AESCO. If you are interested in making a tax-deductible donation to help us along, please click here.

[May 1, 2009]
In a nutshell...

• I am bringing 30 libraries to Cameroon.
• We need $11,500 in collaboration with Books For Africa.
• It takes 2,300 people to donate their next $5 latte/beer/burger to make it happen!
• Now, please help us: Http://www.booksforcameroon.org
• Donation is 100% Tax Deductible!

If you care enough, below is the rest of the blah blah blahs. Enjoy!

Budget

Timeline

École Catholique of Batié

The project began with my desire to fill a 4-room school near my house with some books and begin programs to help students discover the joy of reading and learning. After contacting several NGOs, Books For Africa replied and say they would supply a 40-foot container full of English books (approx. 22,000) if we can raise the shipping and custom fee of $10,000. Since it is an all-or-nothing deal, I sent out a few emails to fellow volunteers and expanded the project across three provinces and reaching 30 schools/community libraries.

Since most of the participating schools are in the Francophone region and Cameroon is a country striving for its bilingualism, we have split the project into two phases with this first phase focusing on the English books and the 2nd phase with French books. Volunteers participating in this project have sent out project applications to ensure each school is dedicated and meet the following criteria: supply in-country transport cost, supply a well-secured classroom complete with shelves, tables and chairs for a functioning library, and committed staff who will participate in library management training.

Lycée of BatiéCetic of Batié

Thoughts After 48hrs of Plane Ride

Time continues to fly by. My 3 weeks of vacation came swiftly to an end. For the first time in a month, I am sitting in complete solitude, reflecting upon the events of the past few weeks. I am back in Cameroon, a place that felt like a distant dream while I was on vacation. Now, it's my vacation that feels like a surreal happening. Below are some of my thoughts and observations from these past two weeks, traversing half way across the world.

• When I landed in Hong Kong to take the connecting flight to Taipei, I was overwhelmed with all the Taiwanese people. It's been years since I've been around this many Taiwanese, and there are certain nuances of this culture that I had to readjust. They were loud; within 5 minutes of sitting next to a tour group, I knew exactly who bought what for whom. However, there is a very comforting familiarity listening to Taiwanese being spoken among the women and the Chinese with a Taiwanese accent. Also, Chinese/Taiwanese people are so scared of the Swine Flu. I heard it on the news a lot, but I saw no signs of face mask until in Hong Kong. It was almost funny how many people were wearing it, and not just the passengers, but also flight attendants. When I landed in Taipei, even the people working customs were wearing it. I suppose they are scared by the scar left by SARS a few years ago.
  
  
• Since we have families all over the island of Taiwan, each year during our childhood, we had to do a tour of Taiwan over Chinese New Year. And now, each time we come back for a visit, the same process takes place. For two weeks, we visited 5 cities and made our best attempt to see all the families and family friends. The Chinese culture is all about taking your guests our to dinner when they are in town for a visit. So, for two weeks, our itinerary was, "who are we having lunch or dinner with today?" The feasting was non-stop. While the meals in restaurants are fantastic, my sister and I prefer the street food. So in between meals at the restaurant, we would find opportunities to run to the market and have snacks. The food is so cheap and so good; especially when thinking in US dollars. 10lbs. and two weeks later, I have to say the food scene in Taiwan is unlike anywhere else I've visited in the world thus far.
  
  
• I found more difficulty to say goodbye to the families during this visit. My cousins' kids are so cute and I'm quite sad I can't see them more often. The next time I see them, they will be quite big, and it won't be the same. On the other spectrum, I wish I can visit my 91-year old grandmother more frequently. She is an amazing woman. At 91, still in great health. Her eyes are sharper than my parents. I showed her a group picture of me and fellow Peace Corps volunteers and she found me without using glasses. While my parents are discussing with my aunts and uncles about the meds they take for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, etc., the only meds my grandmother takes is some vitamins. Besides not able to hear very well and bad teeth that prevent her from eating everything, my grandmother still knows exactly what's going on with everyone and everything. Here's the kicker: she still runs her little grocery store. The store isn't profitable by any means, and her kids advise her to give it up. She said, "so I can sit in my chair, fall asleep all day and become dumb? no." Also, this 91-year-old lady is still trilingual. Grandma is Hakka and that's her mother tongue. But since she had Japanese education during the occupation, she speaks Japanese quite well. Later, because of business, she learned Taiwanese. Since my mother and us don't speak Hakka, we communicate with her in Taiwanese. At first we thought she had lost her Taiwanese, but within a day, she had it back. Also, my sister wrote some Japanese phrases she had learned in school to Grandma, and Grandma wrote in return "thank you" in Japanese. I hope I had inherited this superwoman gene and can live well into my 90's and capable of so much.
  
  
• During this visit, I really noticed the power of family. I was amazed how easily the conversations flow with families that I haven't seen in 4 years and have had minimal contact. Families are like great friends. We can pick up things exactly where they had left off because of the blood connection, and the history of the past. I read somewhere once that traveling/moving abroad is a very selfish endeavor. You have this idea that people are staying the same living their "mundane" life while you are out there discovering the world. Yet the truth is, while we are out there, people are changing, kids are growing up. We miss out on a part of something. That's the tradeoff we must take as travelers. But in the end, it's still comforting to know that families are families; they are there in one form or another, no matter where you've been.
  
  
• While it was good to visit the land where I grew up, I realize I'm quite far removed from this culture. For two weeks, people insulted me for being too dark or too big (both fat and too athletic). My sister said, "this is how they are all so skinny, because if you aren't, they tell it to your face without hesitating." Aside from standard of beauty, my values are now very different. My ideologies and values on life are shaped by my experiences, and suddenly, I felt that moving around the world has now made me not fit in - anywhere-. I suppose I just need to find another lost soul to wander the world together.
  
  
• This trip also makes me realize that I enjoy luxury much more than ever. I see my two years in Africa purely as an experience, not a lifestyle that I can endure forever. I am willing to take luxury and the stupid problems that people have in modern life and trade the simple life with not much of anything, but also not much of any stupid problems. What can I say. I am simply not saintly enough to give up the material goods of everyday life to help people. I want my cake and eat it, too. I want to be able to have the luxury, and also have the means to help people. Is that bad? Thanks to a discount from a friend, I was able to stay at a really fancy hotel at the airport in Paris. I splurged a bit under the name of my "last night in civilization." And my god, I felt so at home. I like to think I am a girl who can rough it without running water, and having to crap in a hole, but also one that feels right at home with a down comforter bedding and a marble bathroom that has both a shower AND a bath tub.
  
  
• When I got into Paris after Taiwan, the passport line was ridiculous at the Paris CDG airport. At one point, the airport authority came out and mobs of angry, impatient French were yelling at the authorities, causing quite a scene. I secretly laughed and thought that only if these people ever had to live in Cameroon, where waiting for something is half of anyone's life. Cameroon had certainly trained me well for such situations. The next day, when I was walking to the gate for my plane back to Cameroon, I heard some guy yelling loudly, and everyone was looking toward the direction of my gate. I approached and saw a Cameroonian guy yelling on top of his lung at someone about something, he didn't have a shirt on, and was being escorted out by airport police. I thought, "welcome back to Cameroon, and I haven't even boarded the plane."

So now that I am back, and recharged (I think). Bring on the adventures, Cameroon. I can take you for another year. Aucun problème.

Returning to the Motherland

After four years away from Taiwan, I returned to this homeland at last. This family reunion was quite international. I flew from Cameroon via Paris, my sister Sherry flew from Boston where she is going to school, and my parents came from St. Louis where they live. We all met up in the airport in Taipei. I was first to arrive, then few hours later my sister, and finally my parents. It's been nearly a year since I've seen my immediate family, making this meeting in Taipei extra special.

Once out of the airport, we took a car directly back to the city where I grew up – Taichung. Since we sold our old house to my cousin, we were able to go back to our childhood house for a few nights. Once dropping off our luggage at midnight, we headed down the street for some late night snack before going to bed. Late night snack in Taiwan is a legit meal of its own. And this very meal began my streak of stuffing my face all day long with amazingly good food. It is no longer about whether I am hungry but rather whether I can eat more without getting sick.

For the next few days, we stayed in Taichung. While my parents took care of some business, my sister and I roamed around the city. Since I left Taiwan when I was somewhat older, I still had rather clear memory of the roads. In fact, it's amazing how much I remember. I suppose you never quite forget where you grew up. Many things have changed from just four years ago, much less from the time I was a kid. Every inch of the road has been built up with high rises. The few block of rice field during my childhood has long been extinct.

Sherry and I traced the road to our old school and even climbed the overpass for old time's sake. For the most part, 80% of our time in Taiwan consist of eating. The food scene in Taiwan is just downright ridiculous; ridiculously awesome. I can't even describe it; you simply need to be there. For 3 US dollar, Sherry and I can both have a delicious meal. The choices are endless and for 24 hours a day, there are delicious food to be found.

The one thing I don't understand is how people are, for the most part, so freaking skinny here. The girls are all pale and fragile as if a strong wind will blow them away. Coming from Africa, I am super dark and athletic looking – the exact opposite of their standard of beauty. The last time I was in Taiwan, I had just finished freshman year in Uni. and naturally suffering from the Freshman 15 or thereabouts. People told me I was fat last time, and this time, after going through the “Africa Diet” I am now too dark and apparently still too big. People, give me a break. If I ever plan to settle in Asian, I have got to find myself a man before I return to this continent!

American Girl in Paris – Part II

My first activity in civilization aside from my latte at Starbucks was a movie in a cinema. The documentary "Lets Make Money" featured quite a few scenes in West Africa and thus provided an interesting contrast and transition for me.

After the movie, Gary took me to Le Pain Quotidian for a very Frenchy lunch completed with salad, soup, sandwich, cheese plate and of course, a carafe of wine; and to top it off – dessert and espresso. I drank three coffee during my very first day in Paris not because I needed it, but because they are simply so delicious.

The walking tour of this romantic city began after lunch. I was glad Gary was there to be my tour guide since I was absolutely not in the mood to use a map to find my way around. A funny thing happened on the way to the métro. I was stopped by a camera crew from some people who was doing an interview on shoe fashion. Since I had no idea it'd be cold, I was sporting my Cameroonian sandal and apparently that was of interest. They asked me where I am from and why I was wearing the shoes, etc. It was really hilarious that I was getting on TV after being in Paris for less than 24 hours. I told them I just got in from the airport that morning and I had no idea it's this cold in Paris... Gary helped me out when my French was getting stuck et voilà, there is my 3 minutes of fame. I even signed a waiver and all!

We continued the stroll through Paris making our way to a great park in La Republique with an amazing view overseeing the city, then the Canal St. Martin that's featured in Amélie and of course along the River Seine. I'm quite lucky to have befriended this group of Frenchies and was able to experience Paris from a non-touristy perspective.

The next day I met up with Jerome, who is still a volunteer in Cameroon but also on vacation. Since he's also French and also had lived in Paris, I got another tour from a local. We had a lot of fun comparing life between Cameroon and France and how we will react after this grand vacation. I can already tell that after my time in Cameroon, finding people who can relate to this period of my life will be very important and perhaps challenging.

That evening, I experienced another side of Parisian culture. A football match was on - Barcelona vs. Chelsea. Sebastian and Aurelian - my hosts - had a little football gathering at the flat. I'm not a big football fan, but I am a fan of watching boys watching football. That, I tell you, is entertainment in and of itself. I've seen English football fans go mad, but seeing a bunch of French boys going nuts at the TV screen in French is a whole other hilarious story.

My layover in Paris was very low key. I didn't deviate from from where I was staying and mostly stayed within the 1st and 2nd arrondissement. Since I've been to Paris before and had done all that touristy stuff, I took it easy and did a lot of strolling around the streets and people watching. One afternoon I found a delightful café in some little alley. Don't ask me where it is because there is no way I can relocate it. It was perfect - quiet and charming. Some nice jazz music were playing and just one old couple eating their light lunch. I found a perfect place by the big open doorway for people watching. Then the lovely middle-age lady owner came and suggested a refreshing salad combine with some cheese and deli. I ordered a glass of Chardonnay with it. For the next 4 hours, I spent reading my Vogue, eating my cheese, drinking my wine and watching people coming and going. Rambunctious school ages boys would walk by and say bon appetite to me. Cute old couples would walk by as if on their way for an afternoon drink. Perky young girls would excitedly saw friends on the street, give each other bisous and catch up a bit.

I do miss life in the modern world. Later in the day, I bought some ice cream and sat at Centre Pompidou for a while. It was a gorgeous late afternoon and lots of people about; perfect for people watching. After a while, an older age guy was asking me for the time, and then started talking to me, and then obviously hitting on me. After a while it did get annoying, but I still put up with him for a good 20 minutes, half an hour. After all, the dude did play me songs on the guitar for quite a while and was not being obnoxious asking me if I am married and telling me that he loves me.

I soaked up every bit of Paris that I could for the last few hours before I took the 21:30 RER back to the airport for my flight to Taiwan. I love Paris a lot more this second time around and the fact Parisians understood my French for the most part, and didn't look at me as if I came from Mars instilled quite a bit of confidence. I quite welcome the opportunity to spend some time in France after Cameroon to absorb more of the French culture while polishing up my French. We shall see how life unfolds and if such opportunities present themselves.