Clearly, the aim of keeping this blog up to date took an "unprecedented" turn towards the grave. Nonetheless, I have had it in the back of my mind and need to revive it for its real purpose: to use as a journal and as a window for friends and family to be aware of my fortune and misfortune while I am away for 2 years with the Peace Corps. Here is a quick account of what you may or may not have missed:
I moved to Brussels towards the end of September of '08 to take courses with L'alliance Française with the goal of getting my French up to scratch in time for my possible acceptance into Peace Corps service towards the end of the year.
I was rejected by the Peace Corps in November '08.
I took a job as an accountant with Africalia asbl, a Belgian NGO that fund and promote African arts and culture in various African nations. I got headaches from trying to comprehend the exchange rates of the Zimbabwean Dollar (USD 1,200 : ZWD 18,000,000,000,000,000,000 at one point I believe), but the experience was enlightening and I thank the Africalia team once again.
Paul Biya, president of Cameroon with his wife, Chantal.
In March of '09 I received an invitation from the Peace Corps. I was cordially invited to go to Cameroon in the capacity of a small business advisor in June of '09. I will be working in a bank somewhere in the country and within the field of micro-finance and credits. Frustratingly, not many more details were given. I will be attending pre-service training for 10 weeks, starting the moment I arrive in Cameroon. I will hopefully learn the tricks of the trade while I am there.
April and May of '09 I travel just a little bit too much. Starting with the Hague, I head out to London, Cornwall, Paris and Lisbon to see friends, take another stab at a UK driver's license and to go to a good friend's wedding. I enjoyed it all immensely and reacquainted myself with people that I have not seen in years. Towards the middle of May I headed back to Madrid to spend time with family and friends, some of which I may not see for 2 years. Hopefully I will see more in Cameroon.
It is now 2:57 am, 26th of May of 2009 and reckon that, though short, this is an appropriate update. 63 hours from now I will be on my way to Chicago to visit my American family. 11 days from now I will be on a plane to Cameroon and to new experiences, new acquaintances, new everything.
You will henceforth be hearing from me on a more regular basis. Either that or I will be receiving a lot of hate mail for not doing so.
Nick
