Yaoundé: you'll never know until you go Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I was left satisfied and yet unsatisfied by my educational experience in Yaoundé. A student's experience will depend a lot of what classes they choose to take. For example, one of the two classes that I took at the local university (UCAC) required a lot of work- papers, projects, and very serious presentations...so while I was busy stressing and typing away, other students who did not take that class had absolutely no work to do. Also, the French educational system is difficult for American liberal arts students to adjust to... In lieu of another class at UCAC, I chose to do an internship, which required 120 hours spent on site and a long final paper (30 pages), so again I often had more work to do than other students on the program. Middlebury courses covered a large amount of material (centuries in history, and Cameroonian texts in literature), required a fair amount of writing, reading, and presenting. All in all, though I didn't always enjoy the work I was doing, looking back on it now I realize I learned quite a lot in the process.

On-site administration of your program

Ariane the program director is amazing at what she does- she is welcoming, very well connected, knowledgable, and always contactable. In terms of the program, she is organized and makes a large effort to provide students with as many interesting, educational, and cultural opportunities as possible.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Though there were occasional challenges and awkward moments, living with a host family was definitely the best way in which to become acclimated to, and to get to know the city and the culture. We lived in an area that was (without traffic) a 15-20 minute taxi ride from the Middlebury Center/university, so living a bit closer to the city center might have been nice. I enjoyed living with my host siblings (teenagers and young adults) because

I absolutely loved the food in Cameroon. At my host family's house I had daily opportunities to try traditional dishes, and when I wasn't at home I could snack anytime, anywhere, on any street. Cameroonian food isn't the healthiest (vegetables exist but they are often cooked with a lot of seasoning and oil), and many of the tastiest foods are fried. I think being vegan would be extremely difficult there, but a vegetarian could manage.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I felt very integrated into the society and culture (as much as a white, middle-class American college student can be). Taking taxis, spending time eating our way around different neighbourhoods, living with a host family, and going to a local university with students from all over Central Africa facilitated this true immersion.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

At one point during the semester I thought I had malaria and the program director took me immediately to a well known clinic that serves predominately expats, and then to the cleanest, biggest, and most Western lab in the city to get blood work done. It was very comforting to know that if there were ever any medical problem, Ariane would drop everything to make sure we'd receive the best care possible.

I can honestly say that I never once felt unsafe in Yaoundé. Everyday I would be in situations that could be considered unsafe by American standards (driving in very, old cars without seat belts, crossing busy streets with crazy traffic, getting into a taxi with riders you don't know, eating street food) but those necessary daily activities soon became normal to me. I also took precautions to stay safe and secure- like not pulling out my phone in busy places, not carrying a bag in the market place, and not taking taxis alone at night. My experiences as a white woman in Cameroon were sometimes challenging, tiring, and frustrating- I received a lot of unwanted attention from men almost everywhere I went, but I never felt threatened or afraid. However, the experience of living as a member of a minority group was a valuable, eye opening one.

As an Africana Studies and French double major who wanted an academically rigorous, totally immersive study abroad experience in a French speaking country on the continent of Africa, I am confident that there is no better program!

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Yaoundé was a very inexpensive place to live. On average, I would say I spent about $ 2 a day on transportation and $2 on food, $20 a month on phone service/internet access, and a fair amount of money getting clothes custom made by a local tailor.

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

We signed the Middlebury Language Pledge after our first week there, and it was nice to know that we were all in the same place and program because we were committed to speaking French and improving our language skills.

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• Host Family

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• Host Family

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• Local Students
• Americans
• International Students

• the other students on the program
• the culture (the hustle, taxi etiquette, constant noise, food, etc)

• classes
• more free time to travel the country

The Avid Adventurer