Emergencies: Family emergencies business hours (U.S. Eastern) : 800.424.8580, extension 1470.
After-hours (Eastern Time) duty officer: 202.638.2574
My phone number: +237.74.83.02.45 I think you might have to put a 011 in front to dial out from the United states but I’m not sure.
I am 5 hours ahead of eastern time (6 for central) in winter but after the end of daylight savings I am 6 hours ahead (7 for central).
Also…I know you want to send me bunches of stuff, so here’s how!
Snail mail should be directed towards this address :
Matthew Phelps
Peace Corps Volunteer
Corps de la Paix
B.P. 98 Bertoua
Cameroon
Or also
Matthew Phelps
Peace Corps Trainee
Corps de la Paix
B.P. 215 Yaoundé
Cameroon
Either are fine but if its bigger (i.e. bigger than 4 Kraft Mac & Cheese boxes together) use the 2nd address (Yaoundé)
Important: Don’t send anything of value…it will “disappear” and someone else will end up enjoying whatever you sent. Alot of mail arrives with clipped edges where someone checked to see if you put any money inside. Also, try putting some Bible quotes (in French…look up the quote you want in an online English Bible and then search for that quote in a French online Bible. ie. Psalm 22:23, if that even exists). Sometimes people will be more weary of stealing from something with Bible quotes (apparently the thieves are quite pious).
Be sure to write “Air Mail” and “Par Avion” (both) on the envelope. If you send it as surface mail instead of Air Mail it could take longer than two years to get here. So if your too cheap to send air mail just wait until I finish and hand it to me then. And declare truthfully whatever you send on the custom form (I guess they give it to you at the post office?) because they will open it in Cameroon anyways (how so very nice of them).
Food should be put in a ziploc back, its keeps rodents and insects out of them and I get a new ziploc (hard to come by there)!
Some things to keep in mind: Mail will take anywhere from 3-9 weeks to reach me.
Home Page of my blog
www.nationsonline.org
Enjoyed reading your comments about how to send mail to Cameroon. My son Andy is also a current Peace Corps volunteer; he has now become “Brother Andrew Powrie” and all addresses are in red.
By: Sylvina Powrie on Wed: October 3, 2007
at 15:26
Matthew,
Just found your blog and glad that I did. I’m Erica’s dad and spoke to her yesterday and heard her tale of the market experience. Tell her hi! and Hi to you too!
By: Dave Williams on Sun: October 7, 2007
at 17:58
Hi Matthew,
I am Erica’s mom and I am sympathizing with all the challenges in Cameroon for you and all your friends.
It sounds like Erica will now be an official VEGETARIAN after that market experience.
Thanks for the update!!!!
By: Judy Williams on Sun: October 7, 2007
at 18:16
Hello cousin,
I am a bit worried that mutant ninja kitten has eaten you alive, but if it hasn’t hopefully you are reading this, form that little internet cafe in Bertoua.
its Colin, it was great to stay with you in Batouri as I passed through.
plan ha
By: Colin on Sun: January 20, 2008
at 13:18
Hello cousin,
I am a bit worried that mutant ninja kitten has eaten you alive, but if it hasn’t hopefully you are reading this, form that little internet cafe in Bertoua.
its Colin, it was great to stay with you in Batouri as I passed through.
plan has changed a bit. I reached Sokambo and the border safely a day before the visa finished. But I couldn’t cross. i Blessed there and returned to Bertoua to spend some more time with the woman I met there over christmas.
We are now in Douala, things are going well, kind of falling in love…….
write to me, hopefully we can meet again when I pass on we the way back and maybe go for a ride together one day.
Peace and love……Colin
By: Colin on Sun: January 20, 2008
at 13:23
I am a teacher and I have two students from Cameroon. We were discussing different ways different cultures honor the dead, since most of the students I have are of other cultures (ESL English as a Second Language). They told me that they shave their heads when someone dies. I have been searching on the internet to find a belief or reason why and I can not find one. The only one I can think of is that it is really hot there. Can you help?
Thank you!
Amber
By: Amber on Wed: October 28, 2009
at 21:07