Healy in Africa: My Cameroonian Adventure

As I sit waiting to board the plane to Addis Ababa, I still can’t really believe that I am getting on a plane to A.F.R.I.C.A. Not sure when reality will set in but in the meantime, I’ve been able to do some thinking about what I want to get out of this trip/my game plan for the next ten weeks. (In no particular order of importance, just stream of consciousness)

1. Collect meaningful and detailed data that I can really say something with when I return to the states.

2. This sort of follows number 1, but per my advisor’s advice, remember that everything is data. Keep all five of my senses alert to my surroundings. An anthropologist never really stops observing and taking notes, even if they’re just mental.

3. Get as many of the herders to let me go out on their daily routes as possible. And impress them when they discover that white girl can keep up.

4. Hone my haggling skills. In French AND Fulfulde.

5. Earn a nickname. Even if it’s embaressing.

6. Get an “OH-IO” pic with at least one of the herders where the H is a cow. Totally copying this idea from earlier student researchers (shout out to Daniel Ewing and Emily Walz) and want one of my own. (I’ll post their sweet pic later if I can find it)

7. Go to Waza National Park to see some sweet wildlife and other points of interest around Maroua . I don’t know when I’ll be back to this part of the world, so I want to see as much as possible.

8. Got this idea from Becca (thanks, girl!) but find an item everyday that represents something that happened on that day and add it to the tumblr. I think it will be an awesome way to look back on my trip for years to come.

9. While learning a lot about the herders of the Far North, learn a lot about myself as well. I’ve decided 2012 is a year to really blossom into my own person, do things that challenge/scare me- and this is a spectacular opportunity to start that journey off with a bang.

10. Avoid hyenas, lions, and malaria.