Saturday 28 July 2012
Africa .... One Week Update
Hello Everyone!
It has been a long and interesting first week here in Limbe Cameroon; but I made it!
After a long awaited Toronto departure, the stresses of living in Africa for 3 months started no more than 20 minutes after landing. The drive from the Douala International Airport to Limbe was a rude awakening to the living conditions I will need to get used to while in Cameroon. The conditions of the vehicle I was in (the centre console was removed and I could see straight through to the engine block) and the others on the road (clouds of black smoke filling the air) gave me an idea of the tools and resources available. Scary stuff. Makes me think about how lucky we all are to have what we do...
As the days fly by they get easier and I can feel my level of comfort rising, slowly but surely. A few amenities have been introduced to my living situation including a fan, a television complete with rabbit ears, and a second working bathroom. Of course when I say "working bathroom" I mean a room with a sink, a toilet, a toilet seat (apparently sold separately here), and a shower handle that spits ice cold water at me. Important lesson of the week here is that toilet paper is a LUXURY never to be taken for granted!
Sleep comes easier now than in the first couple of nights which gives me hope for the coming weeks. Andy, myself, and some of the kids who live near by got a glimpse of the Olympic opening ceremonies last night and I was very excited to see Cameroon come out followed by Canada. It was very cool to think about where I was at the last Olympic Opening Ceremonies (watching them on my couch in Guelph with BFF Ben Kanee) and to think that at the time how hard I would have laughed if you told me that by the next Olympics I would be in Africa.
Working with the kids has been a healthy combination of excitment, frustration, sadness, nervousness, and a humbling realization of how unbelievably lucky I was to have been able to play so many sports growing up. THANK YOU MOM AND DAD.
Everytime I see the kids playing I can see the passion and excitement in their eyes and it just pains me to think about how many kids in the Western world are playing with brand new shoes on state of the art fields and just totally oblivious to how lucky they are. And still I do not know what is more upsetting the fact that the kids here have so little or the fact that there are still so many in Africa who have less. It is a terrifying realization that there is only so much I can do here. The kids that have asked me to buy them water, food, or new shoes break my heart because of how badly I want to help them but know that if I were to give in and purchase them what they want that it would not end there and I would soon be the one going hungry.
It is however very exciting to get to see how the kids live and interact with one another. Andy and I have made friends with some of the kids who live pretty close to us and they are awesome. So much fun. So full of life. So excited to play with my camera. Always laughing and encouraging me to get involved and trying to teach me phrases in their native Pidgeon English. I am getting more excited as I think about what kind of programs I can run with these kids and the effect that they may have on them and their lives.
All in all, I think it has been a good first week full of horrible lows and hopefull highs. I am, as always, looking forward to getting comfortable in my surroundings and the more days that go by the sooner I see that happening.
Cheers to all. And trust me. Take a look at what you have around you right now and BE THANKFUL.
-Josh
It has been a long and interesting first week here in Limbe Cameroon; but I made it!
After a long awaited Toronto departure, the stresses of living in Africa for 3 months started no more than 20 minutes after landing. The drive from the Douala International Airport to Limbe was a rude awakening to the living conditions I will need to get used to while in Cameroon. The conditions of the vehicle I was in (the centre console was removed and I could see straight through to the engine block) and the others on the road (clouds of black smoke filling the air) gave me an idea of the tools and resources available. Scary stuff. Makes me think about how lucky we all are to have what we do...
As the days fly by they get easier and I can feel my level of comfort rising, slowly but surely. A few amenities have been introduced to my living situation including a fan, a television complete with rabbit ears, and a second working bathroom. Of course when I say "working bathroom" I mean a room with a sink, a toilet, a toilet seat (apparently sold separately here), and a shower handle that spits ice cold water at me. Important lesson of the week here is that toilet paper is a LUXURY never to be taken for granted!
Sleep comes easier now than in the first couple of nights which gives me hope for the coming weeks. Andy, myself, and some of the kids who live near by got a glimpse of the Olympic opening ceremonies last night and I was very excited to see Cameroon come out followed by Canada. It was very cool to think about where I was at the last Olympic Opening Ceremonies (watching them on my couch in Guelph with BFF Ben Kanee) and to think that at the time how hard I would have laughed if you told me that by the next Olympics I would be in Africa.
Working with the kids has been a healthy combination of excitment, frustration, sadness, nervousness, and a humbling realization of how unbelievably lucky I was to have been able to play so many sports growing up. THANK YOU MOM AND DAD.
Everytime I see the kids playing I can see the passion and excitement in their eyes and it just pains me to think about how many kids in the Western world are playing with brand new shoes on state of the art fields and just totally oblivious to how lucky they are. And still I do not know what is more upsetting the fact that the kids here have so little or the fact that there are still so many in Africa who have less. It is a terrifying realization that there is only so much I can do here. The kids that have asked me to buy them water, food, or new shoes break my heart because of how badly I want to help them but know that if I were to give in and purchase them what they want that it would not end there and I would soon be the one going hungry.
It is however very exciting to get to see how the kids live and interact with one another. Andy and I have made friends with some of the kids who live pretty close to us and they are awesome. So much fun. So full of life. So excited to play with my camera. Always laughing and encouraging me to get involved and trying to teach me phrases in their native Pidgeon English. I am getting more excited as I think about what kind of programs I can run with these kids and the effect that they may have on them and their lives.
All in all, I think it has been a good first week full of horrible lows and hopefull highs. I am, as always, looking forward to getting comfortable in my surroundings and the more days that go by the sooner I see that happening.
Cheers to all. And trust me. Take a look at what you have around you right now and BE THANKFUL.
-Josh
Monday 23 July 2012
I have seen the light ... literally
The sun came out today in Limbe for our first training session with the AVFAL kids ... and it was awesome. Watching a group of Cameroonian kids pray and thank God for their ripped shoes, illfitting tshirts, self made field, and 20 year old ball is extremely humbling.
The spirit these kids have for the game is beyond inspiring. It renewed my faith in why I came here.
I have noticed in the past 2 days that things in Cameroon are the same as in Canada ... but different. We still go out to bars and hang out with friends and play sports during the summer. They have sidewalks, that no one uses, they have sewers, that can be seen through 3 foot wide gaps in the sidewalks, and they have taxis that honk at you and squeeze up to 7 strangers into a car. I also once saw a family of 5 squeeze onto a motor bike ... crazy. Things are the same and are not worse, but just in worse condition.
It is an interesting cultural experience so far.
Just a quick thought. Running out of internet on this comp. Still no facebook.
Updates soon!
The spirit these kids have for the game is beyond inspiring. It renewed my faith in why I came here.
I have noticed in the past 2 days that things in Cameroon are the same as in Canada ... but different. We still go out to bars and hang out with friends and play sports during the summer. They have sidewalks, that no one uses, they have sewers, that can be seen through 3 foot wide gaps in the sidewalks, and they have taxis that honk at you and squeeze up to 7 strangers into a car. I also once saw a family of 5 squeeze onto a motor bike ... crazy. Things are the same and are not worse, but just in worse condition.
It is an interesting cultural experience so far.
Just a quick thought. Running out of internet on this comp. Still no facebook.
Updates soon!
Sunday 22 July 2012
African Arrival!
So, apparently here in Cameroon, they take the Rainy Season very seriously. For those of you who did not know this, the sun does not exist here. So much for my new sporty sunglasses!
I MADE IT! I am here and have spent my first night in the volunteer ... 'house'. It definitely is not the Ritz, and at first glance was overwhelmingly upsetting, but after a couple of beers and good long talk with my fellow volunteer Andy and our lead coach/host Lucas, I felt a lot better and was able to grab a rare 8 hour sleep.
The first few hours in Cameroon were STRESSFUL. After a lost baggage situation (not mine), 3 road-side wildfires, watching people hang off the back of 18 wheelers, the seemingly endless rows of shanty/huts filled with people just having a good time. I have learned that while front doors, bathrooms, and food are not what we Canadians are used to; Cameroonians and Canadians have some great similarities in that we love beer and on a Friday and Saturday night we are out looking for a pub to drink beer and yell over the loud music while we converse with close friends.
The people so far have been very very nice and welcoming. Some of the cultural differences include public yelling matches and snapping/other random sounds when trying to get someone's attention. Seeing that the native language in this city is a combo of English, Cameroon Dialects and German niether myself or Andy have any idea what anyone is saying half the time or with what emotion they are trying to convey it in.
Later today we will be going to the local soccer field/football pitch to watch a Cameroonian Premiere League Game ... it should be interesting. But I am very excited to see what a public sporting event is here as I grossly underestimated how much they love soccer here. It really is all they think or care about ... besides beer and church.
I am having facebook difficulties so for those of you who were expecting a facebook message ... stay tuned. As soon as I get a chance I will also be posting some pictures to the blog.
For now that is all I am going to report but I am here, I am safe, I am adjusting and I am very excited for the events of the coming 3 months to unfold.
Also, if by any chance she is reading this I would like to extend a thank you to Tina Fey whose book helped me through my first night here.
Love to all ... speak to you soon.
Josh
I MADE IT! I am here and have spent my first night in the volunteer ... 'house'. It definitely is not the Ritz, and at first glance was overwhelmingly upsetting, but after a couple of beers and good long talk with my fellow volunteer Andy and our lead coach/host Lucas, I felt a lot better and was able to grab a rare 8 hour sleep.
The first few hours in Cameroon were STRESSFUL. After a lost baggage situation (not mine), 3 road-side wildfires, watching people hang off the back of 18 wheelers, the seemingly endless rows of shanty/huts filled with people just having a good time. I have learned that while front doors, bathrooms, and food are not what we Canadians are used to; Cameroonians and Canadians have some great similarities in that we love beer and on a Friday and Saturday night we are out looking for a pub to drink beer and yell over the loud music while we converse with close friends.
The people so far have been very very nice and welcoming. Some of the cultural differences include public yelling matches and snapping/other random sounds when trying to get someone's attention. Seeing that the native language in this city is a combo of English, Cameroon Dialects and German niether myself or Andy have any idea what anyone is saying half the time or with what emotion they are trying to convey it in.
Later today we will be going to the local soccer field/football pitch to watch a Cameroonian Premiere League Game ... it should be interesting. But I am very excited to see what a public sporting event is here as I grossly underestimated how much they love soccer here. It really is all they think or care about ... besides beer and church.
I am having facebook difficulties so for those of you who were expecting a facebook message ... stay tuned. As soon as I get a chance I will also be posting some pictures to the blog.
For now that is all I am going to report but I am here, I am safe, I am adjusting and I am very excited for the events of the coming 3 months to unfold.
Also, if by any chance she is reading this I would like to extend a thank you to Tina Fey whose book helped me through my first night here.
Love to all ... speak to you soon.
Josh
Thursday 19 July 2012
The next post will be from Africa ...
So, in these final hours leading up to my long awaited departure I am currently battling levels of anxiety, nervousness, and excitement that I never thought were possible. But with the continued support of my friends and family, I was reminded that after 1 day in Limbe I will feel at home and comfortable with the people I am there to connect with.
I can not describe the kind of excitement I feel right now, it's a combination of fear and anticipation to experience the unknown and embark on an adventure that is so foreign to me yet so similar in so many ways. The concept of spending my summer days playing sports with kids is one that I am all too familiar with, however being in Africa while I do so changes things. The inherent risks of being in a place like Africa seem to consume my mind in these final hours as opposed to the possibilities behind such an exciting adventure; which I am sure will be in the forefront of my mind in a few short days.
So for now, I will spend my last night among friends (the ones that are left in Toronto at least) and watching episodes of 30 Rock and Community because clever humour seems to calm me.
The next time I post will be from Cameroon and hopefully include pictures of my volunteer residence.
Thank you to all for your continued support before and during this experience ... I love you all.
Cheers, for the last time, from Toronto.
Josh
I can not describe the kind of excitement I feel right now, it's a combination of fear and anticipation to experience the unknown and embark on an adventure that is so foreign to me yet so similar in so many ways. The concept of spending my summer days playing sports with kids is one that I am all too familiar with, however being in Africa while I do so changes things. The inherent risks of being in a place like Africa seem to consume my mind in these final hours as opposed to the possibilities behind such an exciting adventure; which I am sure will be in the forefront of my mind in a few short days.
So for now, I will spend my last night among friends (the ones that are left in Toronto at least) and watching episodes of 30 Rock and Community because clever humour seems to calm me.
The next time I post will be from Cameroon and hopefully include pictures of my volunteer residence.
Thank you to all for your continued support before and during this experience ... I love you all.
Cheers, for the last time, from Toronto.
Josh
Saturday 14 July 2012
Quick thoughts...
In the past 2 weeks I have watched 2 documentaries about sport in the third world and using sport for development. The first was called Town of Runners and the second was an ESPN documentary following the events of the 2006 Homeless World Cup of Soccer in Cape Town, South Africa.
Town of Runners followed the lives of 2 teenage girls living in the rural village of Bekoji in Southern Ethiopia. This particular town has produced some of the world's best long distance runners many of them holding Olympic and World Records as well as Olympic medals. In this town, running is everything, including a way out. This film got me thinking about how my trip will affect the children in Limbe. How will my 3 month trip affect the way they live their lives and their goals. It made me scared, excited, anxious, sad and happy all at once.
The Homeless World Cup was a tournament that I had never heard of before and after reading the explanation immediately googled it. As it turns out 73 international partners team up with the Homeless World Cup to bring nations together to use football/soccer to battle international homelessness. By funding programs to help feed, clothe and shelter the homeless as well as bring disadvantaged individuals the opportunity to compete in an international tournament, the Homeless World Cup is a (comparably) small-scale account of how sport can transform and affect the lives of those involved.
Both documentaries got me thinking about the differences between my experiences in sport as a kid and the experience that the kids I will be working with in Limbe have had.
Town of Runners followed the lives of 2 teenage girls living in the rural village of Bekoji in Southern Ethiopia. This particular town has produced some of the world's best long distance runners many of them holding Olympic and World Records as well as Olympic medals. In this town, running is everything, including a way out. This film got me thinking about how my trip will affect the children in Limbe. How will my 3 month trip affect the way they live their lives and their goals. It made me scared, excited, anxious, sad and happy all at once.
The Homeless World Cup was a tournament that I had never heard of before and after reading the explanation immediately googled it. As it turns out 73 international partners team up with the Homeless World Cup to bring nations together to use football/soccer to battle international homelessness. By funding programs to help feed, clothe and shelter the homeless as well as bring disadvantaged individuals the opportunity to compete in an international tournament, the Homeless World Cup is a (comparably) small-scale account of how sport can transform and affect the lives of those involved.
Both documentaries got me thinking about the differences between my experiences in sport as a kid and the experience that the kids I will be working with in Limbe have had.
Friday 6 July 2012
INTRO
Hello friends! Welcome to my attempt at blogging! This blog has been set up as a way for me to communicate to my friends and family about my upcoming trip to Limbe, Cameroon as a volunteer soccer coach.
I will be posting my experiences as well as any pictures I hope you will find interesting.
Please post your responses in a professional fashion ask any questions and enjoy and learn what you can from my experiences!
Thank you in advance for your continued support and I look forward to sharing my experiences with all of you upon my return!
This is Josh Budish signing off 2 weeks before departure!
I will be posting my experiences as well as any pictures I hope you will find interesting.
Please post your responses in a professional fashion ask any questions and enjoy and learn what you can from my experiences!
Thank you in advance for your continued support and I look forward to sharing my experiences with all of you upon my return!
This is Josh Budish signing off 2 weeks before departure!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)