Hello Madame Ruud's French class, and anybody else who may be reading! First of all, thank you so much for your willingness to follow along during my experience in Cameroon! My love for the French language and my curiosity about Francophone cultures blossomed in Madame Ruud's French class when I was her student, so it means a lot to me that now we get to learn about this country together.
My name is Jackie, I am 22 years old, and I recently graduated from Bates College where I majored in French & Francophone studies and minored in Teacher Education. This year, I am embarking on a nine-month-long grant through the Fulbright Program where I get to work in a local high school in Yaoundé, Cameroon as an English teaching assistant. I want to become a teacher, so the Fulbright program aligns perfectly with my goals and interests.
My desire to travel to Cameroon began when I was studying abroad in Senegal during college. There, I had the chance to live in both urban and rural settings. I loved it so much, so I knew that I wanted to return to Francophone Africa after college. In Cameroon people speak both English and French, depending on the region.
Cameroon is interesting geographically because it lies in betwen West Africa and Central Africa. There are also 10 different regions in Cameroon, each spanning across diverse landscapes, such as deserts, savannas, tropical jungles, and volcanic mountains. Culturally, Cameroon is home to approximately 250 different ethnic groups, which means that there are more than 250 languages spoken within one country! In Yaoundé, where I am living, many people speak Ewondo.
The incredible diversity of Cameroon has led people to give it the nickname "Africa in Miniature" or "le continent." Together, we will discover Yaoundé, and hopefully several other regions of this fascinating country.
Want to learn how you could be a Fulbright Scholar like me? The Fulbright Program is the United States government's flagship international exchange program. Fulbrighters foster mutual understanding between the United States and partner nations, share knowledge across communities, and improve lives around the world. Learn more by clicking here!
