The Value of Time

We all can question why Cameroon is not as developed as other countries if they have a lot to give, great coffee, excellent cocoa, tea, petroleum, etc., the people here are smart, they are nice and so on an so forth.  Then you start to think...maybe they don’t have opportunities, maybe they don’t get any help, maybe they don’t have the education…but after one month and a half here I kind of figured out what the problem is.

We are used to (most of us) get things done efficiently and effectively , we analyze things, we think that time is money, so we learned that if you want to live well, you have to work hard and as much as you can to get what you want.

I have been able to notice how Cameroonians (most of them, not all) don’t appreciate the value of time, they are always...always late for everything, they wait hours, days, weeks and even months to get something done...something that could have been finished in 1/3 of the time they have been waiting, they are so relaxed (which is good sometimes, but not in excess…like it happens here), that they don’t care if they wasted precious minutes and hours just doing almost nothing, instead of analyzing all they could have done during that period, all they could have gotten, all they could have gained.

A few minutes ago I was talking to Luca, one of the German volunteers here, we were discussing about this and he was telling me that one of his Cameroonian friends visited Germany long time ago and when he (Luca) asked him what was the most impressive thing he saw in Germany, and his friend told him: “People are always on time”. He could have said, the infrastructure, the cars, the clothes, good living, etc., but no, he was impressed with something even better, the value of time. Maybe he realized that all that amazing infrastructure, the cars, clothes and good living…all that can be obtained just by appreciating every minute you have.

I am not saying that having all those things is important to have a great life, I’m just pointing that people could have a better quality of life if they were conscious about what they could achieve by doing things  efficiently and effectively.

Cameroonians live happy (most of them), they live with the basics and have love and God, and I admire that, but they definitely could live better if they were taught that if you want something, you always have to give your best, analyze all situations and possible outcomes and do things as soon as possible.

I hope I can help some of them understanding those concepts and maybe …maybe…make a difference on their lifes.

Good and bad

So not all we live is good…we have bad times too...and it sucks…yes, but everything happens for a reason right?

Last year and part of 2010 were the worse years of my life and at the moment I was so upset, I was upset to the world, to life, to God, I just couldn’t understand why was I going thru all that…why my family was going thru all that…and after everything I learned that sometimes you don’t have to understand things…you just have to accept them, even if it doesn’t make any sense…you will get it later.

Good and bad…every moment is an experience, something that you could use to get strengths and keep fighting, something you could use to motivate yourself and others to get what you want or something you could just use to get sad and depressed.

I’m having a tough time, I miss my family, my friends, my home, but I know that if I’m here is because here is where I wanted to be, where God wanted me to be and it was part of my destiny, of my purpose on Earth …and I’ve decided to see the positive side of missing my people…just made me realize how much I care for them and opened my eyes to the important things of life, so I will get the strengths to keep fighting, to help as many people as I can, to get closer to God and to get the good experience so I can use it later to work with my friend Anguile (Bruno) in our project of building a new NGO to help countries in Africa and other parts of the world.

 I can say that Africa has helped me more than what I’ve helped Africa so far…I’ve met great people, I’m growing spiritually…the good and bad moments are making me stronger and I can’t thank enough to God for listening my prayers and to my people for supporting me at all time. Love you all! And as the song says and I will apply…Don’t worry be happy! :-D ...PS: the picture was taking after removing the braids out of my hair...thats why the Afro...lol

34 million tons vs 7300 pounds

A couple of weeks ago we went to Tole, a small village not too far from Buea, where most of the people living there work on the tea plantations located just right there.

A donor from Australia sent $200 to put light at the Home Solace, to get gifts of the kids for Christmas and to help a couple of families in Tole.

The families One is integrated by three adults, an elder lady and her two sons, all of them blind, but smart and very independent, they make soaps to sell and get an income to pay for their food and everything else. The other family is integrated by four members, the mom and three little kids, a girl of about 6 years, a boy of 4 years and a girl 2 years. The mom is blind and doesn’t have the support (economically or morally) of her children’s father.

We went to the village with the purpose of give the first family money so they can buy materials to make more soaps and get money from them and give food and clothes to the other family, but while I was there I saw something for the first time in my life, something that made me think on what I’m writing now...an old man was cooking a dog!!!..yessssss!!! a dog! He was cooking the dog on fire and pealing it with a machete.

And here it comes…when I asked why they eat dog, they explained me that a dog will give them enough meat to feed a lot of people and since they can’t afford to get cows, well, they have to eat dogs.

It might seem wrong, against animal rights, not healthy, etc., but the truth is that they need something to eat, they must survive and we can’t judge them for it…we can’t say anything…Why??... Because while US generates every year 34 million tons of food waste …34 million tons!!! The people in Tole have to eat a 20 pounds dog because they don’t have another option! Even if they kill a dog each day, that would be 7300 pounds a year.  Who are we to jugde?!

Now…think about it, 34 million tons vs 7300 pounds!!

We go to a restaurant and order food and if we don’t want anymore, we just leave it there and it will go to the trash, we cook at home and we have leftovers...they go to the trash, all the fast food and buffet restaurants make food that they don’t even use, no one eats it and it goes to the trash…that’s only prepared food. What happens to the expired food?...Goes to the trash as well.

Human beings can be smarter than the rest of the animals, but we haven’t found a way of feeding millions of persons who suffer of hunger and knowing that millions of tons of food waste are generated every year in the World.

So let’s do what we can to help others to eat well! There is always something we can do.

What makes Cameroon so hot?

The day I arrived to Cameroon I felt I was inside an oven…it was really really hot, at the airport Esther was waiting for me, as soon as she saw me, she waved and gave me a big smile…she was outside.

I took me about one hour to get my luggage, then had to go through customs and finally out!!!!

There were tons of people, they tried to help me with my luggage to take it to a taxi or to the car waiting for me, there were kids asking for money, there were women selling food, but most important…it was hot.

I knew it was going to be hot, but I didn’t realize until today what’s the reason for it and I will tell you what I discovered.

I was talking to my friend Eric, a volunteer from Canada here at Reach Out, about Cameroonians, we were talking about how direct and upfront they are (most of the times) and how serious they look.

I was getting my hair braided today and the owner of the place wasn’t talking to much at the beginning, but after a while she was asking me things, she was looking for a Cameroonian husband for me…hahaha..and making jokes…I had a great time, I ended up taking pictures (snapping…how they say it) of me with her and her sister and that made me think on how rare it’s to see people here walking and smiling …or simply smiling, BUT…once you walk by them , they will greet you with a “Hi”, a “Good morning”, “Bonsoir” and if you get the chance to talk to them for a while, you will find that most of them are sooo nice, always want to share something with you, interested on knowing about you,  your life, your country, your family…they are very cheerful people, they need a lot of things to live better, but in the other hand they live so simple, so full of love, so full of God, so full of life…that many of us would like to live the way they do. Of course they are used to limitations, and most of us are not, but still, they are happier than a lot of us and that can only prove that money doesn’t come with joy.

So my conclusion…Cameroonians are direct, kind, simple, happy and WARM…and that’s what makes Cameroon so hot, not the humidity crossed with the heat, not the dryness…but the amazing people who live here.

All you need is there…

Before coming here I realized that the support of your family and friends, plus the willingness to do it and God by your side, is all you need to accomplish all the things you want.

I’ve never been much of “friends’ person”, but having people who cares about you, who encourages you is amazing, it just makes it easy…much easier. I can’t thank enough to my friends from SJ:  Lili, Caro, Dai, Gia, Chino, Carlos, Gargui, Tati, Rebe, Arye…my friends from work: Mau, Lau, Cin… my friends from life: Luis, Javi, Filo…my friends from Zarcero: Leo, Diana, Hermes, Nayu, Murillo, Daniel, Eli…my friends from University: Meli, Andre y Meli …my African friends: Esther , Bruno  and to all those who supported me in any way to pursue my dream.

Family…well family it’s just indispensable, you need , you must have the backing from your own blood…know that they will be there at all times.  Mami, papi, Sil, Rigo, Adri, Emilio, Raquel, tia Benny, Alex, Andrew, Kailie, all my aunties and uncles, grandma and cousins…you are a blessing to me!

Willingness to do it, you just need to find ways, there will always be at least one…it might take one sacrifice…or many…but if you really want to do it…go for it.

And last but not least GOD, it doesn’t matter who your God is…what’s your belief…you gotta have it by your side, because when you don’t understand why things happen, HE is the one who helps you to accept it and deal with it, human beings don’t have the capacity to deal with some major issues.

I’m telling you…all you need is there…you just need to realize it.

Get it done!

It was at Church in Zarcero, Costa Rica where a Priest asked during a mass to pray for a girl from the town whom was going on a trip to Africa as a missionary when I decided I wanted to do the same, go to Africa, not on a religious mission, but on a mission to help others, it became my dream, I was 10 or 12 years old.

After the worse year of my life, five months ago things were finally calmed and I realized that it was time…it was time to make my dream come true, it was now or never.

FIRST COME FIRST. I needed to calculate how much money I could count on (I will tell you later where the money will come from) if I wanted to go as volunteer for at least one year,  then find a serious NGO willing to accept  me as volunteer within my budget and lastly…get it done.

I talked to my sister Adriana and she told me she had a friend whom was in Kenya helping with an organization there, she gave me her friend’s email and I immediately wrote to her.  She gave me the contact at the NGO and after a few emails back and forth I noticed the lack of interest of having me as volunteer.

I was a little sad, but my best friend, sister, confident Rachel, encouraged me to keep on looking and accomplish my goal, so I did it, I started to send emails to a lot of organizations all over Africa, prayed to have what I was meant to be for me, and waited.

Most of the NGOs accepted me, but it a cost fee of 300 or 400 euros a month, plus the plane ticket and all other things, so it was impossible for me…again I was sad...and again Rachel stood by me and cheered me up.

Suddenly, I got the magic email, one from Reach Out Cameroon, with a blessing from Esther Omam, the Executive Director of the organization stating that my profile was a perfect match to what they needed, they were looking for a Communications Officer, as the one working for them was about to leave, he was a volunteer and he couldn’t stay any longer.

She gave me the costs, and I had to thank her for the opportunity and explained her that it was impossible for me to pay that much, so she told me she could sense from my emails that I had a good heart and willingness to help and they also needed me, so she offered me a great deal and I accepted it.

Next thing…I was calling my mom to tell her that I was leaving to Africa, at first, she was shocked and, she thought I was crazy, I reminded her that it was my dream since I was a little kid and she told me “I know, I just didn’t think you were going to make it happen”, after a few minutes, she understood that I was going for it, so she supported me.

Now, I needed to get enough money to pay $2000 for the plane ticket, one year of accommodation, food, water and everything else in Cameroon, $275 for the six months visa (the other six months will go thru a renewal) among other things I needed to get for my trip…and a loan I had with the Bank.

How was I going to get that much money? How was I going to survive for one year with no payment and having to pay for my entire living costs? Easy!! I had to sell everything I had and save as much money as I could during my last months in Costa Rica (I decided to leave to Africa in December, 2011).

After four weeks I had sold everything…everything I had...was living back with my parents in Zarcero and traveling two and half hours by bus to Santa Ana in San Jose.

BIG SACRIFICES.I had to wake up at 4am to get to work at 7am, then traveled back to Zarcero and was there around 6.40pm, luckily I had a great job at Oracle that allowed me to work from home two days a week, and so I could sleep longer those days...wooo hooo!

I also missed not being able to cross the street whenever I wanted and go to Rachel’s house and chat with her and play with Stephan, her baby, my nephew.

Not having my independency after almost 10 years of living by my self was also very hard, although I love my family and love to spend time with them; I was used to have my own things and my own place.

Never the less, JOY was my main feeling for the three months after getting the invitation letter from Reach Out Cameroon and watching my dream coming true so many many years later. I experienced amazing things during my whole life, but what changed my life, happened from July to December 2011 and I must say…I had to get it done!!

Who is the crazy, sensitive B?

It was November, 1984, in Grecia, Costa Rica, when and beautiful, really light skin, big black eyes and a lot of black hair was born, it was an angel...it was me…Yanin Rodriguez…hahaha

I am the third girl from a family of six, where I have two elder sisters: Silvia and Adriana, and one younger brother: Emilio and my parents: Leidy and Emilio.

I am divorced, since 2004, was married for two years with a guy who never worked, which lead the marriage to failure as I got tired of carrying things out for both…and at the end kind of discovered he also cheated on me…while I was working…funny eh?..hahaha

As a kid I was hyperactive (I think I still am…at least a little...hehe), always running all over the house, getting in trouble and giving some gray hair to my mom’s head.

I was very manly, always played with boys, loved ruff sports, had all kind of boy’s toys and hated dresses, Barbie’s and playing with girly stuff.

During my primary school years I was a very good student…excellent grade marks, student of honor almost every year, but terrible in matters of paying attention to the teacher and not talking or playing with my classmates...and started to have some trouble because I wanted to defend my friends…which caused fighting with some boys.

High school, wasn’t that much different, I was still getting great grades, not talking too much to class mates, but still having trouble for trying to get justice out of any wrong situation.

Much more mature, I started University with all the desire of getting my degree as quick as possible and giving 100% to graduate as a Journalist with a good academic record…but kept on fighting for justice, which lead me to great things, as having the university open a night course for those like me who worked during the day time and went to class at night time and finally graduated becoming the first of my family getting a University degree and making them really proud of me. I love the fact that I caused happiness to them :).

After a short break, I continued with my education, had a really hard time getting my post degree as the university I chose was a very bad one, teacher’s efficiency speaking and as I have always had that little bug who makes me fight for justice, I had problems with some of them and even with the Univeristy Area (Communications and Marketing) Director…thank God there were also great professors, and at the end…succeeded getting my Licentiate Degree on Marketing Communications.

I have worked since I was 17 years old, I considered myself a very responsible, loyal and ethical employee and always giving my best to the company and to the people I have worked with.

I love helping others, putting a smile on people’s face, I have a good sense of humor, I’m very sensitive and honest and hate layers, hypocrites, I get upset pretty easily, but it’s hard to make me really angry  and when I’m really angry, I almost can’t control what I say or think(so don't make me angry..hehe)…I’ve always said that I don’t have good luck at all (also my friends say it...LOL), but thank GOD I have many blessings in my life…I’m making my dream come true…I keep on fighting for others, for me and I will always be that crazy BRAVE girl!