And the work begins...

Play time is over. I have been extremely busy this week going to the different schools with my homologue meeting the Directors of the schools and paying the students yearly tuition. Since Monday I have visited Boukoumbe, Perma, Birini, Tampegre, and Toucountouna. Each day we leave around 8am and take his motorcycle for about 1 hr and 30 min there and then another 1hr 30 min back during the hottest part of the day. I don’t feel old until I have been on a moto for about 4 hours each day; my back, butt, and hips hurt really bad (I have only two seating options on his moto, 1. ride up on him 2. sit further back on the metal rack both of which are extremely uncomfortable) . All of the above listed towns are smaller villages so it was really interesting to get a glimpse into village life. I have much more respect for those volunteers who spend two years in a tiny village where people are constantly watching them. Tuesday in Perma we went to the marche were I seriously thought I might have forgotten to wear clothes the way everyone was just staring at me and when I would say Bonjour and smile they would just stare harder in amazement that I, the white person, spoke.

During the journey to Boukoumbe my homologue actually ran into a cow….I didn’t think it was possible but we literally ran into a cow with his motorcycle. I thought I was going to die. I have heard crazy stories of volunteer’s moto accidents but I said a prayer that my journeys would be fine. We were just cruzing down the goudron when I saw a man herding cattle across the road and there was one cow in particular a head of the group. I started calculating and I realized we were on a course for contact. I grabbed my homologue’s shoulder and said “Oh my god” and he slowed down but not quite enough and the head of the cow and the front of the motorcycle collided. The cow backed up a bit and swayed then moved just past us behind the moto. My homologue replied “desole” and then rubbed his knee. Apparently the cow also hit his knee. Then for the next few minutes while on the moto I finally realized I am in Africa where it is possible to crash into cows.

Besides being uncomfortable and hitting livestock, it was fun to get out of Nati and visit other villages. I know that the main reason for my attendance is for my homologue to show me off “Hey look we have an American volunteer working for us!” So I just smiled and saluered the directors. It was amazing how some of the schools have over 800 students but only 8 classrooms where up to 75 students crowd into one room and they have classes from 7am-7pm and even Saturday mornings just so all students can attend all classes. Each director proceeded to list the things they need for their school and how some have had volunteers before but it had been a few years and some were lucky enough to have a volunteer but still needed more classrooms and professors. Many students walk multiple miles to school in the heat on the goudron where 18 wheelers and huge oil trucks fly by. There is also no lunch for the students; they are expected to go home and eat then return for more classes. I am really excited to be paired up with students so I can hopefully provide some extracurricular activities and outside thinking.
I have my work cut out for me over the next two years but at the same time I am happy to see that I have work.

On a bad note, one of my friends from stage has decided to Early Terminate (ET); which is leave early. Not everyone is as lucky as I am to have an organization to pair up with and clearly define their goals over the two years. Many volunteers have to search for work and it usually takes a long time as working with Africans you have to build a relationship first before convincing them to take your advice. She didn’t think there was work in her village and she didn’t see the point staying in country to do nothing. I am sad because she was one of my close friends here but I told her she has to do what works for her because life is too short to be miserable and stay 2 years in a country when you don’t want to be there. It is unfortunate but I want her to be happy. This whole situation has just got me thinking…as much as I miss my family and friends I don’t want to let my ONG down or the students they support. Anyways I can’t dwell on it just need to focus on why I am here and what I can do.

My homologue is visiting Tanguieta and Materi the two remaining villages where there are students; they are about 3 hours North and I told my homologue I don’t think I will survive the trip so he is letting me sit this one out. I need to start preparing for my English clubs to start and the visit with my APCD mid November. I also need to complete my community evaluation so I can explain to their other volunteers about my city and work. I need to start making preparations for my mom’s visit….Mom you will be happy to know that I have stopped making to-do lists and I am just trying to “ride the wave” like you told me. No more stressing whatever happens each day happens. I have a feeling from now until Christmas is going to fly by, then it will be 2011 and I will have beaucoup de chose to do.

I hope everyone has an awesome Halloween weekend and can’t believe November is around the corner…where does the time go???
If you get time send me an update! Love everyone!

October already?

I know I know it’s been way to long…there are no excuses so I won’t type any 

First off I would like to list the things that I have realized I would like sent to me. Please take this as a suggestion but realize how amazing these things would be! Oh and bubble packages are better! Boxes are ok but I have to pay to pick them up!
In no particular order:
Liquid hand soap
Wheat thins/Cheese-itz
Cocoa powder
Cinnamon
Wheat flour
Seeds to plant a garden (cilantro, basil, tomatoes, bell peppers)
Puzzles (you could put the pieces in a plastic bag and take a picture of the cover, or it could be a surprise when I put it together! Ha!)
Travel games
Uno
Sweet-n-low packets (splenda or whatever’s cheapest)
Reese pieces, M&Ms, ANY CHOCOLATE, chocolate chips for cookies
Blueberries, raisins, Oceanspray craisins (the trail mix one is delicious!)
Chexmix
Cake mix, brownie mix, any desert mix
TWIZZLERS (disclaimer: sending a package without candy is like a cruel joke even if you just throw in a lousy tootsie roll it’s better than nothing)
Crystal light packets/ Gatorade/ PowerAde/ Kool-Aid mixes (lemonade, raspberry lemonade, fruit punch, anything fruity and delicious)
Solid color t-shirt from target/ON/anywhere fitted cap sleeves or tank top that’s not revealing or spaghetti strap in any bright solid color orange, red, blue, green, pink, teal, maybe even brown or tan (it would match this tissue I got a skirt made in) Size Large is good or get medium if it looks huge just use your judgment!
CD’s or any current new music
Super large flash drive like 16G
Sunscreen (I like the spray sport one that’s sweat proof)
Things to pamper myself with!
Any other food you think I might miss which is EVERYTHING that can transport well
Soup mixes/packets
Protein powder/bars
Special K bars/ granola bars
Spices you usually live by
Pepper grinder (they sell black pepper kernels here and I know I could smash them up)

I think you get the idea!

So I had a really great past weekend…there was a meeting in Nati so the volunteers in my region came to the workstation and I got to see everyone and hang out with them. It’s really cool to hear what everyone is doing at post and how we are all adjusting differently but we are all going through similar experiences with homologues and neighbors and random people asking us for money or to “start our program” with them immediately. Some people think that we are here just to help them exclusively and it’s always interesting to hear about those different situations. I had a young male neighbor who came up to me and wanted me to help him so I sat with him and talked with him for an hour. I told him I was from Texas and asked if he knew where it was, of course he said no. At the end of our conversation he told me he had always wanted to go to Texas and he was so glad that I was here to help him get there. Anyways I politely told him why I was here and if I could help him I would love to but I need to work with my counterpart first and see what they need me to do.

Speaking of work partner, today I helped distribute school supplies to BEF’s students it was so awesome! Just like back at home when the schools list the supplies needed for every class; we packaged up the notebooks, pens, rulers, erasers, and other things for each student and handed them out at the office. I’m excited to go and meet the students in the next few weeks and see what I can do for them!

Well unfortunately my power went out…it usually goes out 3-4 times a day which isn’t bad. Since my computer sucks and is going to die any day now I need to wrap this up because I probably have about 5 minutes left without constant charge. Oh and I have ducks on my roof….seriously big fat UGLY ducks sit and walk around on my roof; which is made of like sheet metal so its horribly loud and annoying. The first time it happened I thought there was a human walking around on my roof! There’s a little complaining for you!

So far everything is still going great! Thanks to my mom, sis, Tina, Ashley Vaughan (Congrats again on the engagement!), Casey (Congrats on the job offer!) for calling me and making my week awesome! I need to write some more letters to everyone…I’ve been lazy my bad!

I love and miss everyone and thanks for taking the time to read my blogs…I know they are old but I still feel like I should put them up so people know what I am doing or at least have done!

Oh and special shot out to Jonny’s Parents! Don’t worry I will share the candy in my packages with Jonny!!

Also one last thing tonight I gave silly bands to my neighbors children which seriously made them so freaking happy they couldn’t finish their chores for the evening which negatively sparked the reaction of their mother who then wanted to know why I gave the kids presents and not her so I gave her a silly band then the other neighbor with her son came over and demanded I give her a present (in a nice way; Petit Cadeaux are big here) so I willingly obliged and gave her and her son silly bands. Then the first neighbor asked me why I didn’t give one to her 7 month old baby so I tried to explain how it could be dangerous (her son was carrying the silly band around in his mouth and I started to picture the baby choking on it and I didn’t want to be responsible for a babies death, but I couldn’t explain this in French) so I told her to keep it until the baby was older. Then I asked if everyone was happy and you bet they were HAPPY! Isn’t it ridiculous how one tiny plastic bracelet worth $.10 can bring people together! HAHA! Silly bands are taking over the world. I should write the inventor of silly bands and see if I could get some shipped to Benin. I bet $50 tomorrow morning I will have every child (and Mother) in a 3 mile radius at my door asking for silly bands.

A la prochain

Natitingou, it's as great as it sounds!

I finally made it to Natitingou! Yay for me! It’s been an interesting first week here at post! Let’s see if I can recap: Arrived Sunday evening 9/19 around 5pm, I mainly cleaned/unpacked/organized my things then went to sleep Oh I also spilled powdered soap every where, broke the kitchen food cabinet thing, and got two serious blisters trying to open my back door…I almost broke it too. Other than that pretty uneventful first night! Tuesday I woke up to a huge pile of standing water from this plastic jug I filled up so I went to get a broom and some other house things that I needed at the Marche. I continued to clean and organize my house. Tuesday my homologue, Philippe, called me to see if I had made it into town. He stopped by and greeted me then asked if Wednesday I could come in to the office to do “some work”.

Wednesday went into the office and gave him my resume and information to send to some of the board members of BEF so they can get to know me. Then he gave me some spreadsheets on the students that BEF supports so I can start learning more about BEF. After that went home relaxed and decided that I didn’t want to cook any more meals so my post mate Jonny and I went for dinner and drinks. I am so happy to have a post mate and I am so happy that it is Jonny! He is hilarious, encouraging, and down right awesome! I have a feeling the next year is going to be great! Thursday was the big marche day (i.e. more ladies come to sell things so there are a bigger variety of things to purchase) and my homologue offered to take me to the marche. I am pretty sure he thinks I am helpless but at least I am excited to have someone eager to help me! So we walked around the marche and I purchased a few other things I needed for my house. After that one of the other new volunteers who is in SED named Josh, who lives in Boukoumbe about 30 miles away, was in Nati to get some work done. He asked if I wanted to go to dinner so we met up and ate at this awesome restaurant which is on the side of a hill that over looks Nati and it was absolutely beautiful! The food was really good too! After dinner, Josh, Jonny, Clay (the PCVL who runs the work station in Nati) and I got drinks and hung out for a bit. I’m not sure how many times I’ve posted this but I know I’ve said it a lot…I feel so lucky to be in Nati! I am so happy I have 2 post mates and will have other volunteers coming through so I won’t be too lonely!

Friday I decided that I was going to have “Fitness Friday” (cheesy huh?) and I rode my bike around Nati for an hour from 12-1 during the hottest part of the day! I know I am super smart huh? I was so dead tired…just for the record I almost broke my ankle twice and hurt my baby maker once. It was really good to get out and start getting familiar with the town. Two people stopped me and asked if I was looking for a specific house/person and I said Nope, just for the sport! And they looked at me like I was crazy! Which clearly I am. Then I went back home and did some crunches/push ups and turned my music up really loud and had a dance party! I am so sorry that all of you missed it! Today Saturday I am going to go to the tailor and try and get some clothes made. I also have a dress I want fixed. I think tomorrow I am going to do some laundry. I was thinking about paying someone to do it but since I really don’t have anything to do I might as well do that tomorrow morning! I think either this evening or tomorrow evening I am going to make a big effort to talk with the family that lives next door to me. I need help finding a tutor and I need to practice my French. They have three children the youngest baby is 7 months old like John-David so I will get to see that baby grow up for a bit like John-David! I miss and love you JD! Don’t forget about your aunt!

Side note: I am trying not to eat popcorn every night but it’s so delicious!

It also tends to rain everyday and the town shuts down so I’ve been stuck a couple times in my house, during the wet season rain shuts down the town and during the hot season the heat shuts down the town so that will take some getting used to! My power also goes on/off about 3 times a day.

School starts next week here for the children so it will be interesting to see how the town changes a little. Also there might be more work to do when the kids go back to school. I will keep everyone posted but I am pretty sure the first couple weeks are just going to be figuring out my surroundings and getting to know people. Still can’t believe October is next week…so crazy.

Sorry this was short, I promise when events happen I will start recounting them immediately so I can share every detail.

Thanks to all my Delta Zeta girls for making that sign and showing their love for me! I really do miss y’all! Congrats on a great rush, I heard y’all did great!!

I send my love to everyone!! Send me emails if you get a chance!

Old but posting it anyways

*Disclaimer* This was typed the on 9/14 and was supposed to be uploaded then but the internet didn’t work so please forgive me…I figured I would post it anyways!

So I have good news! This is my last week of stage!!! I get to swear in as a volunteer on Friday!!! I am so freaking happy I could scream! I still can’t believe that it’s been 63 days since I left Houston, Texas and came to Benin (it still seems unreal to be here with the Peace Corps)….its gone by so fast but super slow sometimes. These last few days have been so bitter sweet. I am ready to live in my own and take care of myself and do everything that I want on my own time but at the same time I am sad to leave the other stageriers. We have spent just about 14 hours a day 6 days a week for over 2 months together and know we are going to go almost 3 months without seeing each other. I am really lucky that one of my close friends is going to be just 3 hours north of me and another only 3 hours south so I will get to see them about 2 days a month but other than that it’s going to be a real change. I have learned so many things about the Peace Corps and Africa and all other things in between.

Friday we are swearing in at the US Ambassadors house and apparently it’s going to be televised!!!!! We are basically celebrities here in Benin! Just kidding…but really  My host family was invited and they are super excited to go since I am the first volunteer they have hosted ( I hope I’m not their last, they really have been great…side note: Every time I do something Beninese my Papa calls me Veronica Araba which is their last name and he always says I am his daughter…he also jokes and says he is going to cut of my leg when I scrapped it or when my stomach hurts he says he’s going to cut it off, and just today he said he is going to cut off my neck and shoulders because of my rash I have…he thinks its hilarious, I usually do some nervous laugh/smile thing and explain to him I will die if I don’t have that limb/organ/body part) After we swear-in we are having a swear in party at some hotel in Porto Novo so it should be really fun! I am excited to have one last night with my friends before we go to post! Saturday we are allowed to go to Cotonou and shop for things for our house! I need a new mattress, broom, light bulbs, bleach, scrub brush, nails, big mirror, and yarn to make a clothes line….I am also considering buying a mini fridge. I know it is not necessary but I don’t need to buy really anything for my post because I inherited so much furniture so why not buy a fridge and use it when I need it…apparently it makes your electricity bill jump from 800cfas to 13,000cfas so I might have it but not use it all the time!

Oh I can’t believe I made y’all read so far down before telling the best news of all!!!!!!!!! I got my language interview results (PAY ATTENTION MOM) and I am Advanced LOW!!! I still don’t think its 100% accurate but I’ll take it! I was very happy and proud of myself! Yesterday we learned local language…Benin has around 60 different local languages. In Natitingou there is about 6 main local languages and the one the Peace Corps wants me to learn is Ditamari. Half of the time I think it’s made up! Yes is iyoooo or eeeehhhh. I think it will be pretty interesting if I actually learn how to have a conversation in local African village language. I will let you know how my progress comes along!

So I have been planning my trip with my mother in December which I am getting really excited about! (I know you might think otherwise mom ) I think we are going to spend a few days in Cotonou and go to Ouidah and see the slave route, which I actually visited this past weekend. It is very beautiful but also very very sad. It is in the south near Cotonou. Benin was one of the main slave countries and traded somewhere around 40% of their population into slavery. We saw the door of no return where the slaves boarded the ships and there was also a tree where slaves had to go around it so many times to forget their homeland before they boarded the ships. First before the door of no return we visited the Museum of Ouidah where there were pictures and statues of Beninese history. What is really cool is there were pictures of traditional dances in Bahia where my parents met also there were wooden African carvings and fabric wall hangings that look very similar to the ones in my house! It’s all making sense now….a large number of slaves from Benin went to Brazil…I wonder if I could actually be Beninese……just a theory. But it was really cool to appreciate first hand the artifacts that I’ve seen growing up! We also visited the Python temple where there are sacred pythons that people hold and touch. Apparently pythons are sacred animals to Beninese people and they don’t hurt them…also we visited the temple just in time to witness a goat being sacrificed for a huge python. And finally we visited the Sacred Forest where there are huge trees and voodoo statues that bring people good fortune or something like that. Oh on the way to the sacred forest we were stopped by some voodoo spirits that almost didn’t let us cross. It’s so crazy to think that people dressed in crazy costumes walking around the streets are actually spirits that many people here worship. I couldn’t get a picture because apparently they would take my camera away from me, and the tour guide would actually ALLOW IT!!!!! Voodoo here is not something to joke around with!

I also want to visit Parc Pendjari to see wild Lions, Elephants, and Hippopotamuses! There is the last wild Giraffes in Niger but that is too far away for this trip…maybe next time! There are also waterfalls near Nati that I want to check out. I think if we go trough Parakou I want to show my mom the real village life with women who make Shea butter. There are 4 volunteers near Parakou that work with women’s groups who have made Shea by hand for over 100 years. I am still working on the itinerary but so far I have a bunch of ideas! I know most of you are not interested in visiting me in Benin but if you change your mind I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU and show you around….overall the people in Benin are really nice and happy with little conflict like some other African countries. (It’s like $1400 for a round trip plan ticket but you can seriously visit for 10 days on $200 or less…mom I’ve already talked with other volunteers so we can stay with them and not stay in hotels!)

I’ve heard that I can go to Ghana to take the GRE if I am interested so I might do that next summer so I will have a year to apply to grad school. I heard it’s a fun trip. Also I want to visit Senegal and Mali over land because the volunteers have said it’s really one of the best trips to see most of West Africa. Rumor has it that you get a plan ticket to Egypt for $200 so I might look more into that. A few volunteers have said that for the most part the have traveled on their Peace Corps salary which is encouraging.

I need to get better with journaling things and posting everything on my blog so you can all understand the things that I see and do here. I feel like I’ve been in some sort of bubble going through the motions of living in Africa, but I know that its really helpful to slowly integrate into typical daily life here. I mean just getting a moto-taxi to school is frustrating enough I can’t imagine going straight to post alone…I say Tu connais Pharmacy DOHA and they look at me like I’m a lunatic then I say it again and they repeat Pharmacy DOHA and then I say Oui then they say NON then I say PHARMACY DOOOOHAAAA really slow then they go OHHH Pharmacy Doha Oui, Je connais! I just think to myself I know I said it the same way you did…..whatever. One guy today proceeded to lecture me on not knowing where the supermarche was….why am I supposed to know when you are the taxi guy???

I think I’ve rambled on long enough….I hope everyone is doing great and I miss y’all so much!!! Please write me emails or letters so we can keep in touch! I send my love from Africa!