So, we’ve officially been at post for a month and I’m starting to feel settled in. I fertilized my garden beds and planted almost a week ago, and I’ve now been to countless dinners and tea breaks at the chefferie house. Everyone here has been very welcoming, and go out of their way to help me. I’ve had a lot of help getting furniture into my home (I have a bed frame, armoire shelf thing, and a cooking table now!) and I got my electricity connected a few days ago!

Just last night I went to a football match here, and Casey, Fanning, and Bridget (other PCV in neighboring villages) all came to watch. My village won too! It was tons of fun, and this time I brought a hat. It’s easy to forget how cold it can get here at night. I have to make sure not to water my garden too close to sundown. Since it’s dry season here, I water twice a day. My garden consists of lettuce, cucumber, radishes, squash, and amaranth ands type of nightshade that Peace Corps gave us to grow. Hopefully it all sprouts! I won’t know for another week or so if I’m doing it right but I’m trying!

This Friday I went to the Agricultural Post for the first time to work, and I practiced my fulfulde with my counterpart’s kids. I think I might make that a regular thing. I also asked him if we could start on farm visits, which I’m hoping to do this week. I haven’t gotten to do one yet, as I was more focused on getting moved in and getting my model garden started, but I feel like is a good time since things have settled down after the holiday season.

For Christmas I went with the other volunteers in my cluster to Ngaoundére, and I got a lot more shopping done for my house and overall had a really good time. I also went to a Christian Christmas service while in the city, which was a really cool mix of traditional  English and French music and Cameroonian music. For New Year’s I visited Casey and Fanning, and we hung out under an avocado tree and made some amazing food. We’re starting to get very good at making tacos (our guacamole is to die for and will only get better once my cilantro sprouts).

Now that I’m getting settled in, I’ve officially started my search for a cat. I dropped the hint to the chefferie guys so hopefully that will happened soon. I almost have everything I need to take care of one, and I’m anxious to have another living being in the house. Apparently our stag is unusual for the amount of pets we have already acquired. I’m pretty sure the aggies alone have around 6 puppies so far, and the health volunteers have at least that many cats. It’s going to be a veritable zoo when we all get together.

I’ll leave you all with some of my favorite photos I’ve taken, the lake behind my house is amazing, and a great place to collect flowers for my house. A couple weeks ago Hady (my town guide and friend) took Casey, Fanning, and me on a tour and we saw the lake and the chefferie. It truly is beautiful here!!