The Beginning

To clarify, this scene hasn’t actually happened. Well, yet at least. Picture me on a bus somewhere in the African countryside. The bus, perhaps the country’s pride in the early 80’s, is remarkably still a convenient way to traverse the country. Convenient in that same way that when you reach for a stick of gum in your purse, it’s actually just an empty pack. As we crawl through the terrain, I wonder if it would be faster to get out and walk. But then I’d miss the show. As everyone piles on the bus, a woman looks at me with those longing eyes beckoning for my help. I exchange a knowing glance with her, and respond, “Sure I’ll hold your goat.” Instantly we are bonded—all because I held her goat. Or something like that.

Anyway, that’s the premise for this blog: “sure I’ll hold your goat.” It’s my new mantra. Why not—I’ve never held a goat before, but it seems like something I should probably try. The next 27 months should be filled with new goats. This is true not only due to the circumstance of stranding myself in Cameroon (marooning myself if you will), but also because the good ole Corps of Peace doesn’t seem to be so keen on providing information. But that’s okay because the little bit of information that they have sent, I’ve lost prior to reading. We’re a perfect match.

I’m an agro-forestry volunteer—meaning that I’m working with agriculture and forestry. I know that you might think that self-explanatory, but I myself was confused by the term. This is because I know nothing about agriculture or really forestry. My endeavors into both fields should be hilarious. I’m not sure what’s in store for the next 27 months, but I promise to keep you all updated with the trials and tribulations of life in the ‘roon!