Six months felt like eternity when I first arrived to Cameroon. Now, I'm staring down the New Year with three months behind me and a pocket full of lessons. I love teaching. I love my kids. But, this year was not all LOLs and smiley faces. 

I yelled, took away free play, and even had to suspend a boy for his constant disruptions during class. Oddly, it was those moments of reprimanding when I felt most connected to my students. It reminded me that they are kids, just like kids in Americ...

Shadeism from Shadeism on Vimeo.

“Shadeism” produced by Nayani Thiyagarajah

I teach a group of girls at a grammar school in Buea, Cameroon. They are vibrant. Smart. Brave. But, all carry the beauty complexes passed down by their mothers.

In the cosmetics stores a popular whitening lotion with a picture of a woman whose skin is digitally altered to change from a brown complexion to fair tone fills the shelves. The soaps are most popular and each product comes with a “guarantee” to lighte...