Happy Birthday Marine Corps!!

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!!

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Just another weekend..

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!!

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Allez Allez Lions Indomptables!!!

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!!

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

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

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The Stricklands going to Yaounde,cameroon!!!

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!

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