HeatherSegale

Phew! We made it home. I think it took about 4 days of travel to get back home, but we arrived home around midnight on Saturday, January 17. My luggage didn't make it, but that is just fine. It is expected to arrive later. It is so good to be back home and to take a warm, clean shower. My feet may never come clean again, but it is a small price to pay for all the wonderful experiences and a successful project in Nkambe. See you soon, Heather... read more

Typing using a French keyboard so difficult to use... will keep it short. We just traveled 12 hours by van in two separate middle of the night trips to get from Nkambe where the well project was completed to Bamenda and then back to Yaoundé where our flight departs at 2340 hours tonight. Legs 1 & 2 of the 6 leg journey complete. Next up is Brussels, New York, San Francisco, Truckee to Tahoma. I cannot wait to get home. Was an amazing experience, but I am missing John (and Kenya and Webster too) and home where my heart is. That shower at home is going to be the world's greatest. Travel is somewhat arduous with much heat in the cities, bumpy dirt roads, too much dust, crazy drivers and less energy than on the way ... read more

The well has been successfully drilled and we are currently developing it. Pump is installed and the concrete pad goes in today. Hurray! It is pumping clean water and we have tested it for many water quality constituents. Will need to wait 24 - 48 hours for bacteria analysis, but it is looking good so far. Water hygiene education program is going very well. The Council Member in charge of sanitation and hygiene is so excited about the materials that I brought to share. He has been going to the radio station to announce more workshops and so the information dissemination is really taking off. We have been having trouble using internet. There have been many power outages and then problems with the computers and network. On Wednesday, we will begin our multi-leg journey home. Can't ... read more

Our road trip was painful but safe. My back went into spasms and my ass had a stroke! The first trip was about 7.5 hours on dusty, pot-hole roads, with 9 people and 14 bins and bags stuffed into an old toyota previa. We each had about 1/2 seat. But we made it to Bamenda safely. Then, the next day was 6.5 hours on an even worse dusty, windy, mountain road. This time we each had our own seat, but it was so dusty, we had to cook inside with the windows closed or risk respiratory failure! Again, we made it safely. The family we are staying with is about the most wonderful group of people I have ever met. They are welcoming, loving, and very kind. We are paying the equivalent of about 20 US ... read more

We made it safely to Yaounde' Cameroon after almost 3 full days of travel. We had two overnight flights and had some restless (seated) sleep on the planes. Exhausted to the point of brain damage. Tantoh, the man organizing the work we are conducting and community leader from the village we will visit, is an amazing personality. He is very animated, lively, and is excited that we are here. He has mentioned that the TBI program he participated is finally creating impact by all of us arriving. Bryon VL would be so proud and excited to hear him talk about the impact the program has had (even if it is 1.5 years later that the major impact is felt!). All of our luggage made it safely except for Cathy's personal bag. I feel terrible for her ... read more

Map of travel route attached.... read more

Visited Countries Map ... read more

Getting ready to leave tomorrow. Wanting a way to keep in touch without having to memorize everyone's email addresses! Be back in 2009. ... read more