Football World Cup: Cameroon Vs Denmark

The Football Worrld Cup kicked off on 6/11/10 in South Africa. This is the first time that the football world cup is being organized and played on African soil. It is a big deal and I'm expecting some African pride. It is a one month football (soccer) fest ending on 7/11/10. I have been following various games closely, that is when I can. I am supporting Cameroon national team. Their first game against Japan on 6/14/10 was a dissapointment defeat for Cameroon (1 goal to 0). Their second match is scheduled for this afternoon at 2:30pm against Denmark. I'm hoping that Cameroon utilizes her players today in a good way and put forth their best play to emerge winners of today's game or else they'll be packing their bags to leave. On the other hand, I'm not expecting miracles from Cameroon especially if the coach, Paul Le Guen, doesn't make use of the good players in the squad. They could easily pack their bags and head home but as a fan of the Indomitable Lions, I'm holding tight to HOPES.

Good luck et allez les Lions!

On the other note, it seems like Ghana is the only African team that is holding its own. The Ghanian team won their first game (1 goal to 0) through a penalty kick. Their second game comes up in a couple of minutes against Australia. If they win, they become first in the group with 6 points.

Focus on the Greater things in life which matters

It has been my habit to surf the web, every once in a while, to read about events happening in the world. What I do different from most people that I know is that I do not limit myself to news websites. I make use of the WORLD WIDE web ... lol. So today I stumbled on this you tube video on Cameroon. The vidoe shows a journalist/ photographer journalist being beaten by a military man. Yes, 2 of them ganged up on him!!! Where else do you see such a thing happen besides somewhere like Cameroon. The old adage of pictures are worth a thousad words speaks for itself ... in this case video is worth a million words. Just watch the link for yourself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfgZs4qmGd4&feature=player_embedded


I really am unable to describe my initial reactions but I know that I was filled with pity for the journalist, anger at the military men and the Cameroon system. I'm not sure why this guy was being beaten but lets even assume that this was a facility where video cameras are not allowed, wouldn't it be appropriate to stop this journalist in a civil manner. Is all this jungle mannerism called for???
and guess what? In the end, this military man will suffer no consequences, that's just what it is.

If you've been reading my previous posts, you must have noticed that I do have a strong interest in international health specifically, in doing missionary work, as my schedule permits, in Cameroon either during or when I'm done with my Surgery residency. Actions of those in charge of the law, those in the position to protect citizens and up hold the law are the very ones who abuse it. It's very easy to say well, I will never step foot in such a place. A place where people are above the law and there's, in actuality, no such thing as citizens rights. My emotional mental capacity wants to do that but my rational mental mind is kicking in.

So what I think is my take away from such a situation is that- stay back and do nothing and nothing changes. In fact, things might actually worsen. In this world, one must realize that: On the highway to your destination you will see many side streets and exits; some will look like short cuts to your destination, others will lead to very appealing places which you can see from the highway. Keep on going and stay focused on your destination because you're not just exploring, you know where you're going.

If one doesn't look past the smaller things in life, one will never set forth to do the greater things that matters.

They say, the smaller things in life matters. Well, your plan in life, what is dear to your heart matters most. Let the smaller things in life serve as small breaks on that highway journey but remember that what matters most is you completing that journey despite the smaller things in life.

Thanks for reading and feel free to comment.

Check out this you tube clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfgZs4qmGd4&feature=player_embedded

Graduation picture published in Newspaper

Each day, certain things occur in our lives that brings us happiness or joy. These things usually serve as a counteraction to some of the not so happy moments in our days due to one reason or the other. I believe that as humans, the ability to find a balance between the happy and unhappy things each day adds joy to our lives. Also that if the happy things overwhelmingly exceed the unhappy ones, we're left with a smile either on our faces on in our minds (depending on your personality) at the end of the day.

Well one of such happy things that occured to me today was finding out that my graduation picture was publised in the Afro-American Newspaper.
What is very exciting about this is that I took this picture with some very special people: My mom and dad. Also on the picture are Bernard and Christine who gave their all on that day in helping to make things happen.

Here's a link to the paper containing the above mentioned picture:
http://www.scribd. com/doc/32421344 /Baltimore- Afro-American- Newspaper- June-05-2010

Family is great
A great family is love, peace and happiness
A loving family is home
Home is where the heart is
Your heart is always where those who love you most and dearly are
Above all, God is love!!!

Looking forward happy things in days, weeks, months, years to come; heck looking forward to happiness in the future and sharing this happiness. For sharing is joy.

Intern year

So on 6/15/10, General Surgery interns at the University of Maryland Medical Center started at their new posts with orientation. We'll be having orientation throughout this week. I've met some really pleasant people and looking forward to working with them!

My dad safely arrived back home, in Cameroon, yesterday after his visit here which was mainly to take part in my Graduation. So blessed to have my parents by my side on graduation day and that'll be forever engraved in my memory. Much thanks to God for the wonderful time spent with dady and his safe arrival back home!!

I also came across this quote at a barber's shop yesterday and found it quite interesting. This was a mischievous man in his 40's who recently bacame a christian, talking to his friends:
- I just found out that God put each and everyone of us on earth to accomplish something or to do something for another person in one way or the other before they die. However, I haven't accomplished anything nor really do anything to help anyone. Oh my ... I will never die. -

At last!!! Graduated from Medical School

The D-day has finally come and passed... Match day has come and passed. I'll be doing my intern year at the University of Maryland Medical Center as a General Surgery intern. I know that this ain't any easy task but guess what? I'm up to the task.

My parents, neighbors, the surrounding in which I grew up had instilled a quality in me which I truly thank God for; resilience and hard work.

As a young lad, back in the West African country of Cameroon, I assisted my parents on the farm begining at a very young age. We would go to farm to harvest crops after school and then on weekends, we would go and weed the farm, till soil and do some planting and at the end of a busy day, we will harvest some food crops. Sometimes, dinner will be vegetables harvested from the farm like huckle berry (local name: Njama njama) and cassava roots; or huckle berry and fufu corn (made from flour made out of dried corn). Some evenings, dinner would be boiled fresh corn on the cub and sometimes, we would roast fresh corn and eat with boiled/roasted plums. What this gave me was a sense that I have to work hard in order to get what I need to survive, live and progress in life. That I will fall several times during my journery in pursuit of a better future and to make a difference in my life and those around me. But that it was important to realize that no matter how many times I fall, no matter how bad it hurts, all my struggles and life journey would have gone in vain if I quit. Hence quitting was not an option. Hardwork, resilience and a sense of doing right and making a better future for myself and my fellow men especially those underpriviledged was engraved on my mind at a very early age. How I would make that happen hardly came to mind but I knew I owed that to my self, my parents and the community that allowed me to see the importance of hardwork and team work.

Being in the US gives me the opportunity to accomplish these things. Atleast, I can work towards giving back. This became quite clear when I entered medical school. Looking back at where I am from, Cameroon, there is a tremendous lack of doctors and worst still, those with a surgical training. I have lived and mingled with various communities in the US and have been volunteering as far back as when I was a Licensed Practical Nurse and in undergraduate and will continue to give back in this manner. However, I will NOT forget to give back in Africa. With my surgical skills and training, there is no doubt that people suffering from various surgical ailments will benefit from my services. It is unfortunate that the Global force on healthcare actually neglects surgical diseases and focus on infectious diseases. Some reasons are that: there is an overwhelming patient population suffering from infectious disease as oppose to surgical diseases, that it costs very much to tackle disease burden due to surgical conditions as oppose to diseases considered public health issues. Recent data however shows that in district hospitals in Africa, the amount of money spent to combat public health illnesses like TB, HIV are quite comparable to what is spent to cater for surgical diseases hence preventing complications associated with these diseases. It is time surgeons press on the issue of the need to ackowledge and carter for the neglected surgical diseases of the developing world. I'm actually writing a paper on this issue and might post it on here when things are final.

I realized I'm been rambling but back to the Graduation.

I owe it to my entire family for being there and supporting me through out med school. Thanks goes to my classmates especially Gerald and Peter with whom we studies for so many hours over many weekends such that if we were to be paid for the time put into our studies then we would be so rich now. Thanks guys for the fun times too!

May 21 was my graduation day and it was a very good feeling walking across the stage, getting my name called and being hooded. I was quite happy to see 2 friends from High school at the commencement ground and I thank them tremendously for their support; Gobo and Leslie ... thank you guys, you're freinds indeed! The graduation party was very nice and great thanks to all those who were there to support me in one way or the other.