The girl behind her diplomat..

Paris mon amour....

2011-06-29T17:06:00.001+01:00

To visit Paris and climb up the Eiffel tower is just one of my dream come true...now I can check the box.

The Louvre Musee

on our wedding anniversary.

a top of Eiffel Tower the view of Seine River

the champ du mars garden

View of the Arch de Triomphe from the 2nd level of the Eiffel tower

The illuminated Eiffel Tower at night

Breakfast at Bistro Ribe

Admiring the huge art "Les Noces de Cana painted in 1562 by Paolo Caliari

The Mona lisa at Louvre Museum

Climbing up the 669 steps of Eiffel Tower

Coffee break on the second level of the Eiffel tower

Lovers at the summit of Eiffel tower

cheers to us baby

113th Philippine Independence day Celebration

2011-06-13T18:21:00.000+01:00

Another Birthday spent in Yaounde

2011-04-25T18:02:00.000+01:00

Every year I throw a birthday party for my husband. As much as possible I want it to be a surprise but this year it wasn't that successful. A day before his birthday he already suspect that I’m doing something, he think I’m being sneaky,and when I'm in the kitchen doing something for the preparation he just want to be there beside me and wanting to help around but at the same time keep asking me repeatedly of "are you doing something for me on my birthday? so I guess his persistent make me give up and admit that yes I’m throwing you a birthday party baby!
He start his day with abreakfast in bed, Claire picked some flower in our garden and I made an omelette and bagel with cream cheese that goes with his favorite brewed coffee, and while he's having breakfast in bed Claire is massaging daddy's foot. He just love the VIP treatment and he deserve it..
We had some friends over from the embassy and of course my little Filipino community is always present. Our driver and housekeeper came too and I think that is a surprise to Jeff he had no idea I invited them and he's glad I did. I made some Filipino dishes and a mango cheese cake for dessert but I hired a local chef to do the brochette for me. Good food, great friends everybody had a goodtime. We sang happy birthday and Claire our 5 years old daughter lead the song in French they thought it was cool. We went to bed midnight already and Jeff just can't thank me enough. Well anything for you baby. My husband use to say this to me always
“Grow old along with me baby and the best is yet to be.Happy Birthday Baby!

International Women's Day in Cameroon

2011-03-08T20:10:00.003+01:00

with our pink and green pagne for the event.

March 08 is the date established since 1977 by the United Nations as International Women's Day. Cameroon adopted 8th March from 1986, a year after France. For 25 years Cameroon has had a very colorful and unique way of celebrating International Women's Day. Once again the USE Yaounde group of women marched at the event that takes place on May 20th Boulevard, where the marching is held every year. The March Past Train start at 0945.The theme for this year is Equal Access to Education, Training, Science and Technology. Dancing on the street wearing the green and pink special print pagne truly makes this celebration unique for the women in Cameroon. In the evening restaurants and bars are filled with women who are having a good time celebrating the day, our neighbor is playing loud music and it seems a big group of women are having a party there. Jeff and I went to our local "sports bar" for a burger after we got home. Last year I marched too and wear the pink pagne, this time I choose the color green. I am so glad to experience and be among the women of Cameroon to share the pride of this event. Will post Photos from this event soon. To All Ladies out there Bonne Fete de la Femme!!!!

Guess where the Stricklands are going next post!

2011-02-07T16:40:00.001+01:00

2010-12-26T21:33:00.001+01:00

Its like being with a big family on christmas. The Strickland just had another year of christmas spent in Yaounde but this time is more special. Our Friends from Duoala spent and Celebrate Christmas with us.. for the last 2 days I did a lot of cooking, Jeff helped me a lot in the kitchen he even bake cheese cake and he is a wonderful host entertaining our friends and being sensitive to their needs, making pancake for breakfast, my baby is awesome!
We had our little family tradition which is on the night of christmas eve after dinner Jeff will put the topper on the christmas tree then Jeff and Claire will bake cookies for santa before going to bed and in the christmas morning opening presents under the christmas tree. As usual santa has been good and generous to me this year I got what I wish for, many thanks to my mom in law whos been a santa to us all year round... and now we are looking forward to welcome 2011!

Hoorah!!

2010-11-06T11:29:00.012+01:00

Once again MSG Yaounde did a great job last night in celebration of the 235th Marine Corps Ball. It was held at Hilton Hotel. Our 2nd time to attend the ball in Yaounde and it was just as good as the first time. This year we brought a few guests with us…some Filipino friends we have made here. They really enjoyed it as well! Also, our friends the Nicholson’s and Royster’s were there this year…they were both away last year, so it was great to get to enjoy this night with them. A good time was had by everyone…Happy Birthday Marines!Your Country is so lucky to have you. Hoorah!!

Cracking joke with a very good friend who is a retired Marine

Another Blessed Year

2010-11-06T09:23:00.005+01:00

with good frieds

Comes Nov. 5th Friday my better half threw a birthday party for me, its supposed to be a surprise party until 4 days before my birthday friends started to greet me telling me that they’re coming. Coming where? I’m not having any party!! Haha…
what happenn is that Jeff emailed the invitation to all our friends but forgot to mention to keep it secret from me.Some of our Filipino friends helped Jeff out preparing the food and everything…we even had lechon!! Plus a lot of other good food…I ended up helping out and cooking some coconut shrimp. I even had a birthday cake given by a friend…delicious!
I had a great time and was really happy to have friends over. My baby did a great job!!

It's Bidding Season!!

2010-09-25T14:47:00.004+01:00

Its bidding season! Amazing how time flies by so fast...thinking that we only have 9 months left to do here in Cameroon. Specialist and Generalist who are transferring next summer are bidding now for their next post 2011. The list for Jeff came out just after he got back from R&R, Claire and I were still in the Philippines. He emailed it to me so I could look at it and think about it. When Claire and I got back, we really worked to get our list together. Jeff has to submit 6 "core" bids...those are jobs that he meets paygrade and skills requirements. Anything after that is considered "non-core". Of the 6 core bids, only 3 can be in the same bureau or geographic region...and you rank them high/medium/low. So only 3 EAP bids!! After the 6 core bids, anything goes...they could all be in the same region and they don't even have to be in your skill code, but you're kind of wasting your bids if you do that. There are also rules about "fair share", and 5/8...these refer to people who haven't been posted to a hardship post for a certain number of years, or to people who have been in DC too long. We don't have to worry about those issues because this is our first post and we're at a differential post already! So we ended up submitting a total of 10 bids. We think we have a good mix of places...Asia, Central/South America, India, North Africa, Europe.In bidding for your next post there are things to consider like schools if you have kids, and if a family member has a respiratory problem then you can't bid on the post that has a high % of pollution...not to mention everyone has to have a Class 1 medical clearance (most of the time). The only thing we are concerned about when going to our next post is the school for our little Claire. If we get any of the posts that we bid on, that's fine with us. We can only express our preference for posting, diplomats must be willing to serve worldwide according to the needs of the service. Hopefully by December we know where we're going but of course before the next post is HoMeLeave first!:)

The Stricklands are back from R&R!!

2010-09-05T22:29:00.006+01:00

One of the many good things in the FS is the R&R!!
Banca ride to Boracay island.

Our R&R was spent entirely in the Philippines!! Claire and I left Cameroon first, Jeff had to stay until after the 4th of July festivities. Claire and I went to my hometown to visit granny and the rest of the family and relatives. Our little Claire had a great time meeting her cousins, and getting spoiled by everybody. She was even a flowergirl in two weddings! Jeff was able to make it in time for our village fiesta so I got to cook and meet up with old friends who stopped by our place for fiesta.
For our real vacation our first destination is Boracay Island!! Been to this island 8x and this time we stayed at Nigi Ngi Nu 'Noos resort located at boat staion 2. This resort is all native made cottages which is really beautiful.
Boracay Island is off the northwest tip of Panay Island in Western Visayas region in Philippines. The Island has a dozen beaches and coves but our favorite is the white beach, a 3km long beach with powdery soft white sands and the crystal clear water is the main attraction. We met our old friend Victor, he is a local guy working as a bartender in Barracuda bar, now he's working at Victory Divers. We met Victor in 2003 when we first went to Boracay, so glad to see him again. The food there is great, lots of good restaurants...burgers, bbq, pizza, mexican, steaks, seafood of course! Lots of seafood buffets to choose from for dinner...all you can eat for $5! There's also a place near the wet market where you buy your fish or shrimp or whatever, then you give it to the restaurant and they cook if to order for you...grilled, steamed, fried, anyway you want. Our favorite is coffee and cheesecake at Cafe del Sol...next to Aria. Anything you want to eat, it's there! We did Island hopping, snorkling, swimming everyday rain or shine the water is still great to swim. Lean season runs from May to October because of habagat (rainy) season in Philippines, but whatever season you're going you will still have a great time there. Jeff and I are pampered with massage almost every other day, just $7 for 1 hour. We went sailing and the boatman took us to Balinghai a secluded or private beach with a bar sorrounded by cliff. When you order food or drinks, you write it in a piece of paper and put it in the basket then pull the string and up the basket will go to the restaurant high above the cliff, they also have cottages that sit on the rock atop the steep cliff...maybe we'll stay there next time. One of the best things we did while in Boracay was play golf at Fairways and Bluewater resort...they call this course the golfing jewel of the pacific. World class 18 hole par 72. We started at the back nine, it's more hilly but less hazards with a spectacular view of the ocean, front nine is fairly flat with plenty of water hazards...my favorite is hole 4 because I made par. Jeff and I really had so much fun on that course. We played 18, tee off at 9am. the green fee is quite expensive but we had a 50% discount courtesy of the resort where we are staying and did I say that all thier caddies are female. Our last couple of days on the island we did some scouting of property saw some...from house and lot, condo to just a parcel of land. Wheww..properties on Boracay are so pricey but all are nice with a panoramic view, the lot we looked at is quite tempting to buy...hmmm..will see...house and lot and condo in Boracay is just ridiculously over priced...anyway the island still lovely to live in and retire.Two weeks on the beach is over. Time to leave the island and go to the City. We went to the oldest City in the Philippines, Cebu. I love Cebu more than Manila. Did a little...ok a lot...of shopping. The next day we did the Bohol day tour, took a supercat (fast boat) at 8am and already in Bohol by 0930. First stop is the place where Rajah Sikatuna, a datu or chieftain in the island of Bohol made a Blood Compact with the Spanish explorer Miguel Lopez de Legazpi in 1565. We also went to see one of the oldest stone churches in the Philippines built by the Spanish in Baclayon Bohol. We had lunch at the Loboc River on a river cruise boat, and got the see the Tarsiers...they are in the smallest family of primates. We also went to the Chocolate Hills, very unique limestone formations. They are called chocolate hills because they look like Hershey's chocolate kisses! Then back to Cebu to watch a movie and eat at TGI Fridays! In Cebu we also went to see the 485 yrs old cross that is planted by Spanish explorer Ferdinand Magellan when he set foot on Cebu. Its not difficult to find your way there, the easiest is to take a taxi and will only cost $3 from anywhere in Cebu City..Cebu has a lot of interesting historical places that you can visit. We also had the chance to played golf at Mactan Island Golf Club. The course is inside the Benito Euben Airbase of the Philippine Air Force, an 18 hole Par 72 fairly flat but lots of hazards and the island green on hole 15 is really a challenge but Jeff did par. We had a great time in Cebu until Jeff has to go back to Cameroon, and Claire and I went back to my hometown.
And for the last part of my vacation in Philippines, Claire and I went back to Boracay, stayed at pito Huts and yes!!...we bought the property that Jeff and I like. It's a 540 sq.m piece of land on the hilltop about 5 mins ride to the white beach and it has a fantastic panoramic view overlooking the island and the jetty port. The spectacular view from the property is what made us decide to buy it and its now or never considering the price in boracay is increasing every year. Everything went smooth with the transaction. I got to meet and ate breakfast everyday with the whole family of the owner of the land and what a great family they are. We all meet up at the lawyers office, they all signed the deed of sale and then I handed the money to them. For three days I went back and forth from the resort where I'm staying to the lawyer's office to finish up some documents with Claire in tow...who says nothing but mommy let's go swimming please...The land that we bought.
Pretty much in 3 days I have the documents such as deed of sale, seller/buyer transfer, adjoining lot owner signed, and the sketch plan of the property and even finding a Geodetic engineer to survey the land area, I have it done. As soon as I have the deed of sale with me, I right away hire 2 guys to clean the land and fence it. I only have 5 days to deal with all of this stuff because I have a flight back to Cameroon. Owning a property in Boracay is one of mine and Jeffs ultimate dream, and until now that I'm back in Cameroon I still can't believe that we made our dream came true!! We are looking forward in building our dream beach house, should be 3 levels with a panoramic view in every room ohh yeah baby!! and it should be 90% native materials from the structure of the house to the furnitures and the master bedroom in the 3rd floor should have a 180 degree ocean view ahh..dream Maria dream...its free to dream anyway!! and oh if you have any querry about Boracay Accommodation or anything about the Island just feel free to ask me.

Fairway & Bluewater Golf Resort
Balinghai
the sky meets the ocean
Loboc River,BoholChocolate HillsTarsier in Bohol the smallest primates Mactan Island Golf Club

112th Philippine Independence Day

2010-06-13T14:33:00.008+01:00

The Barong tagalog
Pinoy Ako, Pinoy Tayo!

On Saturday June 12th Jeff and I hosted a party in celebration of the 112th Philippine Independence Day! The Philippine Declaration of Independence occurred on June 12, 1898 in Cavite, Philippines. The Filipino revolutionary forces under General Emilio Aguinaldo proclaimed the sovereignty and independence of the Philippine Islands from the colonial rule of Spain, which had been recently defeated at the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War.
We have a very small Filipino community here in Yaoundé…but what we lack in size we make up for in spirit and enthusiasm! We rounded up around 20 Filipinos and another 30 guests and made a party to celebrate our independence day! Our fellow Filipinos come from the Catholic church here in Yaoundé, ASOY, EDMARK, SORAWELL, and VSO. Our VSO colleagues came all the way from the North-West province of Cameroon and stayed the weekend at our house. Father Naz, from a local parish, is the president of Filipino Community of Cameroon (FCC), Yaoundé chapter. Our guests represented Cameroon, France, Tunisia, Japan, Belgium, and of course the US Embassy!
Our food was totally Filipino…headed of course by some lechon…roasted pig which was cooked over an open fire at our backyard right before the party. Other dishes included, chicken adobo, beef machado, bicol express, pancit, menudo, papaya achara, cassava cake, leche flan…not to mention the rice! Haha.
We performed some tinikling dancing, and of course all the Filipinos danced proudly to PINOY AKO!!! A great time was had by all and we are already looking forward to next year’s celebration!

Celebrate the first day of World Cup 2010

2010-06-11T20:18:00.005+01:00

US Embassy Cameroon Celebrate the first day of world cup 2010.

Catch up....and Golf!

2010-05-12T17:39:00.013+01:00

The Embassy in the background

Teeing off hole one.
Hole in One Prize

I know it's been awhile since I last posted...my apologies. Jeff has been TDY a couple of times since last post to Bangui and Malabo, and is getting ready to go again to N'djamena. Though I only work part time at the Embassy, I've devoted my time to my work and when I'm not working Í'm either in the kitchen or the garden...not to mention I'm taking golf lessons every Thursday and Friday. Yaounde has a nice golf course at the foot of Mt. Febe, adjacent to the Embassy. Last Friday Jeff and I played 9 holes. We're just out there to have fun, but next time we play we'll write down our score. I never thought golf would be so fun and relaxing just because the course itself is sorrounded by nature. Before I always thought it's a boring game and considering it's an expensive game to begin with. Didn't imagine myself getting into golf until Aunt Shirley gave me her used clubs when we visited her in WV. I'm glad I decided to give it a try and here I am now loving golf.
Today I just walked 13 holes and watched the opening day of the International Golf Tournament, which is being held at Yaounde Golf Club. It's the first annual tourney and it falls within celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of Cameroon's independence. The competition will take place in both the professional and amateur categories. Around 43 professionals from Congo, Cote d' Ivoire, Senegal, Nigeria, Ghana, Morocco, Kenya, South Africa and of course Cameroon. My golf instructor is one of the participants from Cameroon. Cameroon and Nigeria tee'd off first at 0845H.
The course is very green, and very hilly. Lots of up and down. The rough here is real rough...not like rough in the US. We even had 2 sand greens until just a few weeks ago. Narrow fairways, lots of sand traps. But if you can play decent here, you can play well anywhere else.
Tomorrow is the 2nd day of the tourney. Jeff and I will watch in the morning. Tee off will start at 0845H . I'll post pictures later.

Cameroon Celebrate International Womens Day!

2010-03-08T21:06:00.003+01:00

With the Ambassador and Yes We support and Promote Equal Rights and Opportunity for all!

Kribi Beach

2010-01-11T23:33:00.005+01:00

Where you turn left to Kribi (EDEA)off to Yaounde-Douala road

The dip...Silhoutte.

Happy 4th birthday!!

Haina,Elsi,Istah,Claire and sylvi

Claire's writting her name on the sand

Ocean foam all over a pretty lil girl

A plate of Crevettes for Lunch

Behind us is The Lobe Waterfalls

Lobe Waterfalls

We just spent our weekend at Kribi beach in the southern part of Cameroon. It's a nice place just to be able to get away from the city life...the 3 hour drive is worth it and the road is not bad, espescially once you make the left turn off the Yaounde-Douala road. We stayed at Serena Hotel, which turned out to be pretty nice. It's just a basic room with AC, not really hot water but we didn't need it so it was ok. The place is really right on the beach...the outdoor restaurant was good too! We just enjoyed sitting there and relaxing and feeling the breeze thats all we want. We ate seafood for lunch and dinner and it was really good! We had originally tried to get a room at the Illomba Hotel, but it was booked...the Serena is defenitely a good backup. We walked 3km along the South beach of Kribi to see the Lobe waterfalls.The sorrounding nature is very beautiful Very relaxing and we will defenitely go back!!

Welcome 2010!!!

2010-01-02T19:25:00.003+01:00

Full moon on new years day

New Year! New found filipino friends in Yaounde!

Yes Swimming on New Years Day and Cheers to 2010!

Christmas in Yaounde!!

2009-12-27T11:03:00.011+01:00

Milk and Cookies for Santa

Baking cookies

Our family little tradition on Christmas Eve

Our Family Christmas ornament every year

Glad to spent Christmas in Yaounde!

Claire with her new red dress and her outdoor goal set

Wii game for Christmas who could ask for more!

Showing off my Cameroon home jersey!!

　
Our first Christmas in Yaounde is not bad at all!! Wherever we are we stick with our little tradition that we started since Claire came into our life. On the night of Christmas Eve I usually prepare a good dinner...after dinner Jeff will put the star topper on the Christmas tree and then later before going to bed Jeff and Claire will bake a cookies for Santa and we put claire to bed...of course Jeff eats the cookies and drinks the milk to make Claire think that Santa stopped by and brought her presents. Christmas morning we woke up with excitement especially Claire and I! So still in our pajamas the three of us sat under the Christmas tree and start looking for our name on each gift. I'm happy with what I got this year, the Cameroon home soccer jersey is so cool!!! Thanks baby! I also got a wii which is the reason my shoulder is hurting now hehehe..and of course my swiss army watch that is on my wish list and to top it all my Bobby Flay collection has expanded and I thank my loving Mom in law for that beautiful gift. Claire got a outdoor goal set with a soccer ball and some accessories for field hockey and lacrosse. She really likes it and is kicking the ball all the time now! She also got a KidJam musical toy from Grandma...she's really enjoying that too, and is already making different music and mixes. We went over to our friends place in the afternoon and had a BBQ...some burgers and chicken, plus some fish and my ratatouille. We had a great time...Claire and the girls went swimming...on Christmas day! Then we all went swimming again on the 26th!! Only in Yaounde!! I'm sure we'll jump in on New Years day as well!!

The Fon du Mankon!

2009-12-21T21:25:00.018+01:00

The Mankon Palace gate

Claire with the traditional dress

We are the Mankonians!

Bowing and clapping 3 times is how to show respect to the Fon

Fo Angwafo III S.A.N

The mankon traditional dance

The gun salute. You can see the real Elephant tusk an entrance to the Fon throne.

The Horse show

The Fon and the steer horn

Beautiful kids

Claire and the d'jambe

Dancing to the beat of the d'jambe

Claire's new found friends

Accident along the way

Two pig sunbathing on the bus roof top

Car Loaded with plantain and banana

Just one of the many beautiful view (overlooking) of Bamenda

We just took a 3 day trip to the North West province of Cameroon. A very interesting experience and a fun time. The embassy got an invitation to attend the 50th year celebration of the Fon du Mankon in Bamenda. We left Yaounde Friday morning and got to Bamenda late afternoon...we went on convoy which makes our trip more fun. A very long drive along some very bad roads! We checked in at Ayaba hotel...our stay at that hotel is really something to laugh about and we learned our lesson never to stay there again! On Saturday we all dressed up and headed for the festival. We got to sit in the covered area with all the local officials and other foreign representatives. Things got off to a late start due to the late arrival of the governor, but it was very interesting to watch and learn. Lots of dancing and shooting of guns! Even the Fon got into the act a little bit. The people were very nice and were happy to see us there. We left and went to grab a late lunch which was another experience in itself...some of us ordered sandwhiches off the menu and it took an hour to get them! For sandwiches! We also were invited to dinner with the Secretary of Health which made up for the sandwiches! On Sunday we stopped at Prespot Pottery before heading home and bought a few things. Then we began the long drive back to Yaounde...finally arriving just after 7pm. We were all quite exhausted from the weekend, but glad we did it and not to mention our car is covered in dirt and dust. We wish Fon Angwafo III S.A.N and the people from Mankon continued success!!

Stand out Filipino Dish.

2009-11-15T10:07:00.013+01:00

The cooking Demo start

Showing off my cooked caldereta

Pancit Bihon
Beef Caldereta

Chicken Adobo

. Leche Flan

The coolest Waiter-Bartender
I held a Filipino Cooking class yesterday at our house..My guests are all from the embassy. Everything went well. I started my cooking demo on a Chicken Adobo dish followed by a Beef Caldereta dish and the last is the Pancit Bihon. 3 dishes! I even had some leche flan for dessert, made it the night before but it wasn't part of the class. I can say it was a succesful class. The guests love and enjoy the food and the good company. Jeff is my waiter-bartender for that day and he did a great job serving drinks to everyone and in helping me with my class...wouldn't have done it without him. I was surprise with my skills lol!!!

The Lions Made it with a Big RoaRRRRR!!

2009-11-14T19:19:00.000+01:00

Congratulations!!!!! Victory to the Indomitable Lions!!You Made It to The WORLD CUP 2010!!!!! The team is pretty impressive!!! 2-0 Win over Morocco.
Happy Weekend Cameroon!!! Drive safely :)

Happy Birthday Marine Corps!!

2009-11-08T17:07:00.006+01:00

at the dance floor

Last night the Marine Security Guard Detachment in Yaounde celebrated the 234th Marine Corps birthday!! The Marine Ball was held at the Hilton. Guests started arriving at 1800H. Everybody dressed up so elegantly in their gown and men are in their tuxedo…my Jeff dressed in his Navy Choker whites . The Marines in their Dress Blue and I just cant stop admiring them in their distinctive uniform. The guests got to shake hands with the US Ambassador and the Marines at the receiving area and the ladies got a rose. There are dignitaries and guests from different embassies around town and as well as the FSN from the USE. There were also a group of Navy Seals there who came up from Limbe...they are on a deployment in Cameroon. At 1900H the ceremony started and was done beautifully. The Marines presented the colors, and the ambassadors speech is inspiring and the message from the Commandant of the Marine Corps General Conway was shown on a big screen. The cutting of the cake is a tradition at the Marine Ball, they use a Mameluke sword to cut the cake as it has special meaning to the Marine Corps. It was a three course menu dinner and me and Jeff chose the buffalo steak and it was just ok. A moment after everybody's done with the dinner the dance floor is open and of course the famous YMCA song that gets their feet moving...the Ambassador joined the dance floor too and she dance gracefully and very jolly. We danced the night away until my feet hurts but everybody seems to have a good time especialy me and Jeff. The last time I attended the Navy Ball is in 2004 in Bahrain with my Navy guy and its quite an experience for me. Seems like every year we got the chance to attend the Marine Ball and Im looking forward to it already... Ho-yahh!!

International Day

2009-11-06T23:43:00.002+01:00

Today ASOY Claire's school celebrated the International day or what Im used to know a United Nation's day. When I was in elementary school back in my hometown I always join the program everytime my school celebrate the UN day and for those students who can afford or willing to spend will be assigned a country to dress up in the national dress. I remember I once wear the national dress of Puerto Rico, the program includes parade around my village where my school is. I remember also making a flag of the the country you were assigned by your teacher and that will be credited as your second grading period. We made the flag out of Colored papers and band paper and use a bamboo stick for the pole and we wave it during the parade. International Day is one of my favorite programs/activities when I was a kid and even up to now its always been its a very colorful ,lively and educational event.
Today I got a one of a kind experience in my life perhaps...I carry and wave my own beloved Philippines flag! I was asked to participate in the program and to carry my flag with Claire beside me. I got goose bump and very proud while presenting my flag.I got to wear some of our national clothing(kimona&sarong) for the flag ceremony, and I cooked some pancit bihon as well for the international food tasting after the program.
Claire and her class are wearing the national dress of Kenya. All of them look so cute and adorable in their costume! The students did a great job in their own respective presentations. It was a nice program and so glad to be a part of it. Anywhere Im living, I always am proud to be a Filipino....I even keep a small flag at home..Viva Philippines!! as my good friend Steve says.

Fun Halloween

2009-11-01T09:28:00.007+01:00

USE Yaounde Halloween party with the Ambassador.
RENO 911

Ahoy Matey!!

Yo hoho and a bottle of rum!

Arrrgh!

at Claire's school

Harem dancer and the princess

Go Mountaineers!! WV

Pre halloween party at our neighbor.

Its truly been a busy halloween for us... Friday our lilttle Claire attended the halloween party at her school...it was fun, she was happy to see her classmates dress up too but she freaked out a little bit when some of the older kids scare her with their monster and scary mask costumes. She had a cotton candy we know its just all sugar but isn't she supposed to get a treat on halloween.
Right after ASOY we're heading to the embassy for the haunted house. Jeff plays a role at the haunted house as a zombie pirate and I got to dress up as a vampire.. The marine house is turned into a haunted house and the CLO did a great job in the preparation and decoration of the hunted house. We did a pretty good job in scaring the kids too..after the haunted house the kids will go to the parking lot for the TRUNK or treat, 12 cars volunteer to decorate their trunk and they all did a great job our car was a pirate theme. The kids has a blast going back thrice for for the treat tryin to collect more chocolate and candies as they can. Claire sat down in a corner and started to unwrapped the candies and trying to eat them all but of course daddy say no! We went home tired and exhausted fell asleep right away as soon our head hits the pillow.
Saturday night is halloween party for adults that's us. Claire have a sleep over at the Royster's place...For the adult halloween we are a pirates kinda Jack Sparrow and Elizabeth Swann hehe the party was fun, marine guys dress up like RENO 911 the roller blade guy is hilarious. and my first experience playing beer pong whew!I got drunk there. But we really had a good time!

Just another weekend..

2009-10-25T17:30:00.005+01:00

A head start for little Claire

Sparing

That's the smile I use to get evry morning

taking out the coconuts

The coconut pilot guy

Everyday it's raining in Cameroon! I love the rain as much as I love sunshine. Its still rainy season here and they say dry season will start at the end of this month...we'll see. Our Saturday morning started with a cup of freshly brewed coffee sitting at the porch enjoying the cool breeze of Yaounde. Then the guys came to trim and harvest those bunches of coconut that are about to fall anytime the wind strike. They waited for the rain to stop...its gonna be a tough job for him since the tree now is wet and could be slippery but seems like he's an expert and did a good job. He pretty much cut everything which is a big relief to me cause that coconut could fall and could hit anybody head. Not to mention the mess it makes in the pool! For our lunch we headed to the embassy the AERAY is hosting a BBQ...hamburgers and hotdogs at the pool, lots of family came and kids swimming in the pool. We had hamburger and Claire got a hotdog...it was good. We stayed a lil bit meet new faces then time to go home and take a nap hehe..
Its a beautiful day as the U2 song goes on in our ipod and its Sunday. Sun is up and that give me the opportunity to do gardening and Jeff cleans up the pool while Claire is playing with Simon the duty guard. Then Jeff and Claire jumped in the pool for a while...it's too cold for me! We had some fish delivered to the house yesterday so we had fish and chips for lunch and then it's time to just relax for the rest of the day...until football comes on!!

HHE,Consumables and The Car

2009-10-17T15:23:00.003+01:00

Our baby with the Diplomat plate

The Pantry that take me the whole day to organize

consumables enough for 6 mos I guess

lovers in the middle of all the boxes

The embassy truck with the three crates in it

HHE is three very important letters in foreign service life...and yes we got our HHE, consumables and the car over the past couple of weeks. The car arrived first, on 01OCT, then a week after that we got one crate of our HHE...only one! Then this week we got three more crates which contained the rest of our HHE and Consumables. We are happy to get our big screen TV...with football season in full swing and baseball playoffs, Jeff is really happy to have the TV. Im happy to have the car And Claire is really happy to have her toys...we can tell she missed them as we were unpacking, she was really excited to see every box we were opening, just like Christmas! haha. As I go thru the boxes I realised that we packed a lot of unnecessary stuff...thanks to Jeff! haha. And we didn't really bring that much...we put more in storage than we shipped here. A lot of people have 9 or more crates...we only had 4 total! We did alright though for our first posting and not really knowing what to expect for a house furnished by the government. But all in all we did a good job on our first post.

Congratulation Cameroonians!!

2009-10-11T16:05:00.001+01:00

The Lions Roarrr again! Cameroon beat Togo 3-0 in Yaounde yesterday October 10 at the Amadou Ahidjo Stadium...They're now the lead in group A of the combined qualifiers. It keeps us excited knowing that only one more game to win and they go to The World cup 2010!! Now on to beat the Moroccans at all cost!! Hope we have our jerseys by that time!!

The saddest time of my life..

2009-10-02T05:07:00.001+01:00

I just arrived back here in Yaounde last night from Philippines, the memory of my father is still in my mind and I cant help but cry but in the other end I manage to smile thinking that Im coming home to my loving husband and sweet Claire..
I left Yaounde Sept 13 and went home to take care of my father who is still in the hospital and comatose that time.. He passed away 5 days after I arrived..Im having trouble getting over it..that was the hardest, saddest time of my life..Being the eldest in the family I took care of evrything from the hospital,burial to the interment. Im so greatful to have a husband who stand by me all the way emotionally an finacially in my crucial monemt.. I miss my father so much..I have plans and dreams for him but that was all gone now..may he rest in peace with the Lord.
Im so grateful and thankful to the people who helped me out on getting my tix and getting me out of here quickly...espescially Kevan and Mac and Anna, and Emmanuel from the travel office. My EVT was approved as soon as the USE Manila confirmed my dad situation in the hospital. I'm also thankful to everyone who supported Jeff and Claire while I was gone...special thanks to Kevan and Kate, and Steve. Claire and Jeff really enjoyed spending time with you guys and your kids!

Allez Allez Lions Indomptables!!!

2009-09-09T18:27:00.002+01:00

Oui!!!Cameroon won the qualifiying match over Gabon today!! 2-1 the score. The Indomitable Lions are now the lead of their group by a point from Gabon with two more qualifying matches to go!! Pretty big chance to make it to the World Cup 2010 in South Africa! On October 10 they gonna play with Togo here in Yaounde!! We didnt watch the game on tv because we dont have the local channel yet but as soon as our tv (its in HHE) arrive we'll subscribe a Creolink.We did follow the game on the radio with Augustine our duty guard. Evry year I and Jeff watch the world cup and now we had a team to cheer!!

Good luck Cameroon! We want you to win!!!

2009-09-08T19:00:00.001+01:00

Cameroon vs Gabon Wednesday, 09 September 2009 Yaounde 15:30 World Cup Qualification Match.

Claire's first day of School

2009-09-05T15:05:00.012+01:00

Of course a pix with daddy on Claire's first day of school

In her classroom

Claire and Aliyah

The School registrar office

Patiently waiting for the service car..

She did a lot of paintings/coloring on her first week of school.

Claire's first day of school at ASOY! Oh man Oh man our lil Claire is in Pre-k3. Im crossing my fingers she won't get evicted hehehe.. Last friday we attended the new parents orientation at the school, We meet her teacher and have a tour of the school campus. Most of the expat kids in town go to this school. Claire's class starts at 8am to 12:15pm. She has french class too every Thursday. Everything went well on her first day of school, She came home with a messy shirt from colors and she is so proud of her first drawing in art subject, I kinda don't understand what she drew but she said its a river and a sun and a trees around it, anyway she got the color right lol! I bet our fridge will be over decorated of more paintings/drawing from Claire. Since we dont have our car here yet, its the duty driver that brings and picks Claire up in school and as far as traffic is concern its crazy out there bumper to bumper side mirror to side miror!! Everybody is making their own lane lol! But Im still determine to drive once our car is here..but right now we're still enjoying the free ride..
There's another school we looked at...Le Flamboyant. It's a Pre-K...totally a french school and there's one or two kids from the embassy going there. But it seemed to us to be more like a daycare. So we stuck with ASOY...it's sponsored by the embassy and has an American cirriculum. We really like the school and Claire really likes it too, so we feel good about it! Lots of kids from other embassies go there as well as some locals...a nice international environment. Its Claire's first School too and Jeff and I are just proud and excited as any other parents to their kids outthere!

City Tour

2009-08-30T18:21:00.016+01:00

Overlooking Bastos from Palais de Congress

Yaounde view standing from the Greek Embassy on Mt. Febé

Looking down from Benedictine Monastary

Monument de la Reunification

Marché Central

Marché le Mfoundi..Live chicken anyone?

Tsinga Craft Market..lots of Cool stuff here

Carving table/stools I got at Tsinga

Mahima Supermarché

Carrefour, Bastos

The embassy had a city tour for the new comers and that's us and one other family. Iris the asst CLO is our tour guide. First in our iterinary is Mount Febé...climbing Mt. Febe by foot or by wheel is fun and worth it, the road is smooth and passable. Our first stop in Mt. Febé is the Benedictine Monastary and museum and standing from the monastary is an impressive beauty overlooking Yaounde. Opposite to the Monastary is the Mt. Febé hotel a four star hotel in Cameroon. The embassy location is adjacent to the Mount Febe golf club. Yaounde the capital of Cameroon is sorrounded by mountains and the Febe mountain adds a lot of beauty to Yaounde.
Our next stop is the Palais de Congres...its an old govt building on another big hill where they held convention or international conference. It's not where the Congress meets! Which is what everyone thought!
We drove by the Djeuga Palace Hotel where the former embassy use to be. Then off to Mahima Central/ Casino or the Super Marche where I mostly do my groceries, they have imported goods there kinda western market but very expensive though...a box of cereal cost $10 and the Philadelphia cream cheese cost $9 but Im just buying the local brand cream cheese for $3 and that is what Im using now on Jeff'and Claire's bagel every morning...its not as good as the philadelpia cream cheese but ok.
Then we stop by at the Reunification monument take some pictures and drove back to the town where Iris show us some bazaar ( Bricolux, Niki Centrale, Snob Bazaar) and the Dolce Vita ice creams shop I dont know how good the ice cream but I miss Ben and jerry!!
There's a street name after JFK it even has his monument in the middle of the street I saw that while we're heading to the Laking African fabric store, the fabric besides its an art its a beautiful clothes with an African design and color...Im gonna get one soon and have it tailored dress just like what the local women wearing here.
We passed by Marché le Mfoundi where you can get fresh product, they sell their chicken alive and if you wanna buy you bargain for the price and then bring it to the other guy who will murder the chicken (slaughter) and dressed it for you but of course thats another fee but still way more cheaper and fresh tooo
The Independence Street in central town is what I like most that's where all the good restaurants and bar is. I cant wait to have our car here! After Independence St. is Carrefour Street the road back to Bastos to our place, Yes the place where we live is called Bastos!(Bastos in my dialect means Disrespectful) its like a neighborhood where all the embassies are. The local say they get that name from the British American Tobaco but it was shut down now.
The Tsinga Craft Market is another great place for Yaounde Shopping. here you can buy traditional crafts and arts of their region they all have a typical African flavor, I was able to buy two small tables/stools with art carving on the sides, I haggled for the price and ended up getting a good deal. We hope to get some more of them and other things of course!!
The tour end passed 12 o'çlock and that's give us enough time to get ready for the Luau party at the Marine house. There's always something going on at the Marine house!!

The Diplomatic pouch

2009-08-24T20:01:00.007+01:00

the cards was mailed Aug6 and it get to us Aug24.

The three of us had our PPD shots today...and I also got my HEP A and HEP B. The duty driver came and got Claire and I around 1pm and took us to the Embassy. But...its not only the shots we got today but also four boxes, two small envelopes, and two letters all from the US! Thanks Mom! We're still not sure of the real "schedule" of how the mail works, since we only get mail once a week on Monday. I like shopping online much more now cause if you want quality stuff and you cant get it here. They dont even have a department store or a mall, most of their clothes are tailored. I still have a couple of boxes that didnt make it today but I tracked it online and said it was recieved on dock at Dulles last tuesday. Hmmm..We'll figure it out!

Welcome Party

2009-08-22T23:07:00.000+01:00

RSO/ESO Yaounde
Welcomes the Strickland’s!
When: This Saturday (August 22nd) at 4pm.
We plan to eat around 5pm, but please feel free to show up earlier
Where: Nicholson’s (Location 59 – across from the Embassy).
Menu: Ham, potatoes, green bean casserole, black-eyed peas and other tasty items!

U.S. Embassy Yaounde

In accordance with E.O. 12958, this email is UNCLASSIFIED

The Nicholsons just threw us a welcome dinner!! That's something! All the people in Jeff's department were there..the RSO/ESO shops. The food is so good, ham and green bean casserole filled me up, never have those in a long time...potatoes and pasta salad too. The Cornett family brought homemade apple pie and Im telling you Im not a sweet tooth person but it is really freakin good. We even had some ice cream! Locally made not as good as Ben and Jerry but ok. A nice, relaxing evening! and rain is pouring hard today.

Michael Jackson of Cameroon

2009-08-15T23:03:00.006+01:00

The Thriller segment"
We just got home from a tribute show to Michael Jackson and man this guy really did dance like Michael Jackson...and his body build and height just like Michael, he's a Cameroonian guy basically a black guy but he is an Albino. The show was held at the embassy sponsored by the Marine Security Guard. They sell hamburger and hotdog lil sxpensive but They're trying to raise money for the Marine Ball on November.We did really enjoy watching the guy imitating MJ. He had 3 other dancers backing him up and they were also very good. They also dressed up as zombies for the "thriller"segment... Il tres bien!!they were really good! All the kids got scared...claire was crying a little and we had to hold her. But it was all good...a really great performance. The ambassador was there...and the ambassador from Italy and his wife...plus people from other embassies around town...we think it was an excuse for people to come party at the american embassy!haha.We had a great saturday night!Kudos to the Michael Jackson guy of Cameroon! Ciao!

Our house in Yaounde!

2009-08-10T13:48:00.023+01:00

The facade

the driveway

one of the unique thing in our house

Claire St. this way pls..

view from the back patio

the backyard and the back patio

Jeff w/Augustine the day shift guard.

The house was assigned to us before we ever arrived and we had seen some photos of it, so we had an idea of what we were getting into.
It's a pretty cool house...older but comfortable. It's got 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths. But the best part is the yard...plus we have a pool! Not bad. It's got furniture everywhere already, all are Oak color! I dont like that color in a furniture but thats fine its usable anyway we just have to get it arranged once our HHE arrives. The house got steel bars over all the windows, and steel gates in front of all the doors...plus a security system, you hear a chime when somebody open the door and not to mention the panic door that is installed in the hallway where Claire and our bedroom is, its a heavy metal kinda bullet proof door. We're locked in pretty good at night, not to mention our 24/7 guard. We have a washer/dryer, full size freezer, fridge, a gas stove and a water distiller. The bedrooms are big, with split ac units...the bathrooms are going to take some getting used to. The bathroom in our bedroom looks like it still has all original items since the house was built!! The sink has separate hot and cold faucets! Pretty unbelievable...we got a good laugh out of that one. haha. But it makes Jeff's shaving difficult! All the toilets are the european style, with the pull-up flusher in the center. Water pressure here is hit or miss...we have two water tanks for the house. Like I said the best part is the yard...it's not gigantic, but a nice size. It's green everywhere, coconut trees, banana trees and other native plants. We've started planting flowers...and we're going to plant some vegetables and herbs...there's a section in the yard the previous resident used for a garden so we're going to get that area ready. Im having my mom in law send me some more flower seeds from the states but we'll see about that since there is a restriction on the diplomatic pouch.The flooring in this house is 100% tiles which is nice. In our yard there's this native cabana where Jeff and I likes to hang out on weekends while having coffee and enjoying the morning breeze of Cameroon and sometimes it give me the feeling like we're on vacation in a resort back home(Philippines).Life in Yaounde is not bad at all. Im contented and happy as long as me,jeff and lil stinker Claire are together.

So we had a Housekeeper/Nanny!!!

2009-08-09T14:43:00.007+01:00

Monique on her first day with us

I started my day with a coffee in my hand and a couple of resume of a housekeeper that Im getting ready to give a call and have them come at our place for an interview. Jeff and I reviewed the rules and the contract format in hiring a housekeeper/nanny that the embassy gave us. We were briefed well by the embassy on this matter. I made a call to this girl and ask her if she can come for an interview and she sounded so happy and delighted about my call that she wanna come right away and yes she did! She speaks english and french which is a plus, she likes Claire and Claire say she already miss her hehehe. I did the interview while Jeff is in the backyard playing with Claire and at the same time keeping Claire away from us while the interview is going on. I make sure I state everything of what I want her to do around the house but our most concern in hiring her is to watch over Claire after school because soon enough Im going to work at the embassy too!! I'll be meeting with the Health Practitioner on Tuesday. We pretty much agree on everything and we hired her!! She'll be working with us as a part time housekeeper/nanny and she gonna start tomorrow!! So we have a housekeeper now!!! Cool! The first thing I'll ask her to do is a general cleaning of the house, we've been here for a week now and been going back and forth to the embassy for the briefing and meeting people so we hardly clean the house, so me and Monique will burn a lot of calories tomorrow hehehe. Im hoping we could keep her the whole time we are here on post. more coffee pls..

UAB

2009-08-04T19:09:00.002+01:00

Claire hanging loose with the Boxes
We just got the UAB (Unaccompanied Air Baggage) shipment today! Isnt it sweet!! We dont expect it to arrive that soon but thats very good for us!!! Five big boxes that wiegh 485 lbs. since only 500lbs is allowed in UAB. All my kitchen stuff is in the boxes. I have the paper inhand that says what box # that has what stuff and past 12 noon I started unpacking our things before i knew it, it's 5pm and Jeff is already home from work and there's no dinner!! I had fun opening the boxes, unwrapping our things and finding the best place to put everything mostly stuff for the kitchen. Im so happy to see my crock pot is intact but sad see that some of my Bobby Flay Collection is broken and a couple of pieces are dinged, but seeing my kitchen starting to look nice is a good feeling and the place is starting to look lived in. I put our dinner ware in the china cabinet and it looks really nice!!!I cant wait to get the HHE but I want our consumables now!

Got to meet The Ambassador of Yaounde!

2009-08-03T23:23:00.004+01:00

Today is Jeff first day at work at the embassy...mostly just checkin stuff. But he came and got us for lunch, we went to a local Italian place and we met Jeff's supervisor, Justin, and his wife, and two other SEOs who are here for TDY from Pretoria.Me and jeff had calzone its a turnover made from pizza dough and its huge stuff with ham,mushroom and lots of cheese on it as soon as it gets on our table Claire say Wowowee!and she's excited to ripped it open and eat it.Service was very slow...took a long time for food to arrive after we placed our order. We were told to get used to it...that's the way it is here.
After lunch we all went back to the Embassy,The building is pretty new and very high-tech as far as safety is concern. I met a marine guy on duty. Jeff and I got our Embassy ID cards...nice!My ID allow me almost anywhere inside the embassy except on those area that is classified. We were able to get some more stuff from the commisary. Then we both had check-in with the Regional Security Officer...the office that Jeff works in (RSO). She gave us a briefing on residential security as well as the situation here in Cameroon,I make sure I absorbed evrything she briefed us.The RSO carry a gun and she's a lady! She is nice and find her cool!Then we had a briefing with the Deputy Chief of Mission...the DCM. He's the #2 person in charge at the Embassy, and stands in as the ambassador when she is out of country. He gave us some brownies with a card as a gesture in welcoming us. Pretty cool!! He was really nice and told me he hopes I plan to work!! Then we got to meet with the Ambassador...she is also really nice! Calm and very sophisticated.She welcome us personally and tell us how lucky we are(for some reasons) to get our first post here in Yaounde. On the lower level of the building is the CLO office,She is so nice and hand me a copy of the monthly event schedule and classes going on.She suggested I join the African dance Class!and Im opt for that!!I spot a couple of event that excite me that is the Ebogo Canoe trip and of course the Ladies night!Lastly we went to the Language class and met Amadou a local guy and sign up for french lesson.Seems like there's a lot of nice and interesting things we can do in Cameroon!!

We are here!!!

2009-08-01T21:40:00.006+01:00

She is a great traveller!
Dulles Airport

Left Brussels yesterday morning (7/31)...a little bit late but ok.Arrived Yaounde safe and sound from our one leg journey.Claire is behaving the whole time and daddy sat beside her.The plane was packed...it was to stop in Yaounde first, then go on to Kinshasa, so lots of people. Plenty of colorful clothes...a different fashion style here! and the smell of the strong perfume hahaha!
Flight was scheduled for another 7 hours...but about the time were start our descent into Yaounde, the pilot came on the intercom and told us that the Yaounde airport was closed! haha. Really. I couldn't believe it. He said the President and some VIPs were there, so we couldn't land. So...we were rerouted to Douala, the largest city in Cameroon and the economic "capital" of the country. We land in Douala and are told that we'll wait in the plane for clearance to back to Yaounde. About 1.5 hours later, we take off for the 20 minute flight to Yaounde. We finally land and get off the plane...start walking to baggage claim. As we're walking down the steps toward immigration, a local guy welcomes us and picks up Claire and tells us to follow him. It's Dairu, the embassy's expediter. Sweet!! We buzz through immigration without slowing down and get out to the baggage claim area...there we meet Keith, the other STS assigned to the embassy. It's great to finally meet him, he really helped us out over the past couple of months. So we give Dairu our passports and yellow shot cards and he disappears...now we just wait with Keith for our luggage to get on the carousel. After we collect our bags, we load them up on the trolley and buzz right through customs...no stopping with Dairu leading the way! Sweet! We head out to the parking lot and are met by the duty driver...load our stuff into the embassy's Chevy Suburban and hit the road. Quite an experience...it's dark now and there's not a lot of lights, absolutely no traffic signals and people walking along the street and no lane markers!Prhaps I'll donate 10 gal of white paint first and have them paint the lane haha but nah I dont think I wanna drive here.
It's a free-for-all when driving here...taxis, motorbikes, pedestrians. 2 lanes become 4 or 5. Most cars don't have working headlights or brakelights, or both. So we finally get to our house...it's already been assigned to us before we arrived. The guard opens the gate and we pull in and yes we have our own 24 hr security guard hah!Two local guy take turn on a 12 hr shift. The house is big and has a swimming pool but thats another blog to write. I'll post some pix later.

Trashers,Dumsers,Fishers only at OC!

2009-07-29T07:56:00.004+01:00

Pig out on crab!!!
Mmmmm Fishers popcorn…Mmmmm Thrashers…Mmmmm Dumsers!!! What a great couple of days! Went to Ocean City MD on Sunday and came back today. Stayed in a little hotel on 10th St at the boardwalk and it was just fantastic! Rode some rides and played some games on the boardwalk and took Claire to the rides at Trimpers!!She had so much fun!! She had a blast!! Just like how Jeff remember when he was a kid 40 years ago…wow he’s old!A lot of the same rides too!! The boat ride, the little bumper cars, the snoopy airplanes, the motorcycles that pop wheelies, the popeye boats! All of them were still there! Jeff is being a kid once again only this time with Claire. Seeing his smile and excitement while reminiscing his childhood days at the boardwalk make me feel good inside. I’m glad that he got to do it again after long years and he choose to do it with Claire and me. He wants Claire to have her first rides at trimpers just like where daddy's had his first ride.
I agree with Jeff that Thrashers is the best fries that I’ve ever had…WOW! They were so good! Just some salt and vinegar…mmmm. No ketchup served, and not necessary!I can still taste it right now and can eat the whole bucket of it! Even Fishers popcorn…I couldn’t believe how good it was…and I’m not a caramel popcorn person!Really delicious!On our second day at OC I did some shopping and ended up buying a lot of stuff at Kite Loft!!For dinner I insisted to have crab and yes we pig out on crab and shrimp!at Higgins crab house!Super!
The crab are just steam and seasons with old bay and it comes with a corn,eat all you can and with so much more like soup,fries,coleslaw,open kettle fried chicken and all are really good!!They just dump it on your brown paper covered table.I get excited evrytime I ripped crab open and working on each half and try to get the meat out of it shell and it excite me more evrytime I get a big chunk of meat and then dip it in a lemon butter hmmmm..I only use the mallet in the claw as the crab is already easy to crack open.Jeff said I ate at least 20 crabs and I dont care I love crab!!Overall We had a blast at OC and we'll always go back there.

Good Friends to cherished

2009-07-26T15:22:00.001+01:00

Glad evrybody had fun. We love you guys!!

Daddy and Claire the Hipppppo..

Fun to be young

Jeff wants a baby girl again!??!

go baby go!!! sack race!

Thanks to you all our good friends for the love and fun we share.

As sweet as you dear Elvz. Love the color of this cake!!!!!

We made good friends in the short period of time we stayed in DC. Saturday, Lynne and Tom Our very dear friend threw us a send off party. It was really nice and we had a great time. Got to say goodbye to friends we’ve made since moving here in January. We had lots of good food…thanks to everyone for bringing a dish! And thanks to everyone for attending! We promise to stay in touch and keep you updated on happenings with us. Thanks again for the great Von Voyage party!!! We surely gonna miss you guys.

Visas on Hand!!!!

2009-07-24T16:14:00.000+01:00

My Passport stands out!!!!

Our Cameroon Visa

This is it! We have the visas !! It’s very real now.. We’re back at Oakwood for temporary stay before we fly out on the 29th. Jeff’s finishing his check out with the DS.We got our rental and the car was shipped today. He’s taking a couple of days of f before we go, He has a secret for Sunday and Monday and I have no idea what is that. This guy is full of surprises and I’m loving it!!!

Netbook to travel

2009-07-20T14:53:00.000+01:00

I've been eyeing this Dell Mini 10 for 3 months, and yesterday I don’t know what get into my husband brain that He surprise me a Netbook!!!! I was speechless for a second he never give me a hint or anything that he gonna get it for me someday. But yess!! I have it now a Dell Inspiron mini Netbook! The size is perfect the screen is beautiful easy to see, The track pad is the best I have seen in fact. size of the keyboard is perfect that even with Jeff’s large hand he found the keyboard easy to type on.. Its so lightweight I was thrilled with the size of it. the 3 USB ports,6 cell battery and I think 160Gb should be enough as I use an external hard drive to save all my files. As far as connecting with friends,heavy email usage, blogging, surfing the web it does it job well! However, I feel the lack of upgradeable RAM but "Hey, this is a netbook! Get over it! This is a great traveling computer and my Sony Vaio is just my back up now.

Pack out day!!!!

2009-07-18T16:21:00.000+01:00

Storage stuff
2nd day Pack out
My Surf Board to HHE!!!
Security Storage 4 axle

All our stuff is gone!!! The movers came this morning to pack out. They did the HHE, UAB and our consumables. We separate the things that goes to HHE and UAB, and all the consumables are in one room that make it easy to walk through the house with the 3 movers and explain what went where. They literally packed out everything...even the cut out coupons in the drawer that we forgot to throw away is now in our UAB!! I went to get lunch a bucket of KFC for all of us to share.They're done packing at around 4pm. They will come back tomorrow to pack out the storage shipment, which is all our furniture and 110v kitchen items and our winter clothes. Our place in Cameroon is furnished so we don't need to bring our own....and we'll get 220v stuff there or we can order online. As long as we have a coffee maker we'll be OK!! Tonight we'll sleep in a sofa bed in the basement.
7/16 ..We woke up at 6:30 sleeping in a sofa bed is not bad at all.Jeff went to get us a coffee and a box of Dunkin Donut to start the day. The movers arrived around 9 and start packing out the rest of our stuff that goes in the storage. At 1:15 they're done! The house is really empty now!! Nada!! We're "roughing it" on the floor tonight!!Thanks to The Security Storage.They did a Great Job!!!Pack out is over! Yahoo!!

Passports

2009-07-09T02:51:00.001+01:00

Things are shaping up! I got my machine readable passport from my embassy and its really maroon! I'm used to green passport so I'll have to get used to it. From my embassy we went straight to Main State with the hope that my Claire's passport is ready! And yes! It was there ready for us to pick up! Little Claire has her Diplomatic passport!!! Then we had some lunch in the cafeteria and filled up some forms.After that we went back to the medical office for our yellow fever shots...and we got malaria pills too We start taking Mefloquine next week at least two weeks before your departure you're in prophylactics. Nurse Linda has been so nice after the shot she'll give a lollipop not just to kids mommy and daddy get one too!! Then we ran back up to the passport office and submitted our paperwork for our Cameroon visas! We had to wait until after medical because they require proof of yellow fever vaccination before we can apply for the visa! So those should be ready in less than two weeks! Better be...because we leave in three weeks!!

Bunch of Shots.

2009-06-27T02:27:00.000+01:00

Today we had a productive day. We all went to Main State for our shots...I got my Typhoid, Polio and Meningitis shots and our lil daughter got her Typhoid and meningitis. Jeff didn't get any today!!!! We're going back on the 8th for our Yellow fever and our Malaria pills. We went and got photos for our passports/visas...free from the State Department!! Then we had lunch in the cafeteria. After we were full, we applied for Claire's diplomatic passport!!! WOW!! Who would have thought!! haha. Our little diplomat!! I don't get one...yet. But they will process the Cameroon visa for me. We also stopped at the Family Liaison Office...they have an office there to help with Expeditious Naturalization. We apply and they will help me get my biometrics scheduled in a week from the day we submit the application, then maybe I'll have to come back for the interview in 4-6 months. For the FLO to help you on this you have to have your TMONE.
We also stopped by Carlson Wagonlit, our travel agency, and checked on our tickets. They are ready!! We pretty much accomplished a lot today though my arms are hurting from the three shots I got and Claire says her arms hurt!

The Graduation

2009-06-26T01:09:00.000+01:00

The Graduates... SEO,STS and THe US Navy Seabees

Receiving his Honor Grad Award

His Credential and the Honor award.

Oath taking

Today Jeff is officially an STS for Diplomatic Security. Its a nice graduation ceremony with 19 graduates, made up of Security Engineering Officers (SEOs), Security Technical Specialists (STSs), and US Navy Seabees. They all look good in their coat and tie but on top of it all my husband Jeff graduates with Honor from his STS class.When his name was called, I was so speechless, disbelieve, overjoyed and pride . I wasn't expecting or had any idea about this honor grad thing,Jeff didn't mention it to me because He doesn't know too and he say its not a big deal for him and that he is already happy just to graduate. I've always been so proud of my husband achievements and his heart and desired to serve his country.The ceremony started with the presentation of the colors and the National Anthem was sung beautifully. Each graduate was called up one at a time to receive their credentials. They also each received a very nice graduation certificate and a leatherman multi-tool...which will come in very handy!!It was also really nice that Jeff's cousins, Wayne and Beth, were able to attend. We don't often get a chance to go to the 8th floor of the State Department, so we're happy they were able to come with us and see some of the artifacts that are part of the Benjamin Franklin State Dining Room we took pictures while admiring those antiques.Overall, it was a super great day!

The Stricklands going to Yaounde,cameroon!!!

2009-06-23T10:05:00.000+01:00

This is Claire our 3 years old daughter who is just so excited as we are to go to Africa. Jeff is finishing up his training and on the 25th he gonna graduate and that means I'm gonna have the chance to see again the Benjamin Franklin room which is in the Main State building where the grad. ceremony will be held. A lot of pretty neat cool stuff and mostly antique from Benjamin Franklin possession.

Manila, Philippines was on the top of our bidding list,But Cameroon is on our #3 so we were pleased with the result.

And now, assignment in hand,Its either I'm out shopping mostly for the household,claire's and Jeff stuff or I'm on the Phone dealing with the movers,making dentist appointment for the three of us,Claire's pedia and trying to get an early appointment to my Chiropractor and oh did I mention that i have a couple of seminars to attend at the FSI and it's advisable for all the Foreign Service spouse who is posting overseas.We'll leave the country in July. We will be in Yaounde for the next two years, and then return for some more training and another posting. This is only the beginning, and the Strickland's have many more countries to visit. Hopefully Manila,Philippines next time Its like I'm winning the Lottery!

Transfer Orders.

2009-06-20T11:09:00.001+01:00

Got our Transfer Orders now things are starting to move. This cable includes funding data for travel and our shipments. Jeff made reservations with Carlson Wagonlit and they hooked us up! Got on a great route with a rest day, then a direct flight to Yaounde. Most flights make 3-4 stops in different countries before getting to Cameroon, then they usually land in Douala. So we're very lucky to get on this one! Plus we got the chance to see a little bit of Brussels arrive 7am and depart to Yaounde at 10am the following day, sweet.

Notification of Assignment.

2009-06-19T13:40:00.000+01:00

Got our Notification of Assignment!! Better known as TMONE. Basically it's the first document that tells you where you're going. Its Yaounde!!! You can't do much with it, but you can get things started because you know things are finally moving. Was able to get started on our travel request, known as TMTWO, and submit the request to schedule our shipments
We basically have an idea now from what and how much is allowed in HHE,UAB and our consumables. Everyday I start my day sorting out stuff to what shipments it'll belong HHE or HouseHold Effect which take two months to get to post then the UAB or Unaccompanied baggage it takes two weeks to arrive to us so I was thinking some of my cooking utensils will go to UAB.On Monday I need to call the agency to schedule on our shipments. Not much thing to do though since the mover will do all the packing I only have to make sure that which goes to what box and that by segregating our stuff before the movers come that will also make the job a lot easier for me and the movers.
We've started our consumables shopping...thanks to mom and dad my in-laws. They took us to Sam's Club while they were visiting. We got a good start on some things we need, but we'll have to get some more stuff before the movers get here.
It's going to be a busy month...Jeff graduates next week from his training, but has more training to attend before we go overseas. We have to get our immunizations up to date, get our passports updated, then get visas to Cameroon. We have lots of shipments to get ready, plus storage. Have to ship the car. Too much!!!

Never thought..

2009-06-18T17:29:00.002+01:00

My Husband suggested that I start a blog and write about our adventure. Convinced that I have absolutely nothing interesting to offer, I blew it off Then my mom in law and my sister suggested it would be a nice way to keep family in the loop,Three days ago we just got our Transfer Assignment! I thought I'd see if it was a big deal to start.