Finally Officially "sick"

So I’ve been in Benin for 36 days and I finally have officially become “sick”. Saturday morning I had to take my first round of Cipro for stomach problems and I’m sure there will be more rounds in the next two years! Surprisingly my host family was very worried and called one of the Housers (there are 3 men who were in charge of picking out the host families and are supposed to be here to help if there are any issues with the host families, well of course my family is best friends with one of the housers named Alfred, so he tends to “stop by” quite often just to chit chat with my parents!) to come to my house at 7:20am to call the Doctor in Cotonou, which he woke her up by the way, and had me chat with her about my bowel movements! She told me to start taking cipro and drink one of the rehydration packets. I did as the doctor ordered and tried to eat some rice but mainly slept until about 11am. My mama and my papa kept coming in to check on me and kept saying they were praying that I felt better and could return to my normal cheerful self. My mama kept asking about my diarrhea and was soooo concerned that I drink beaucoup d’eau!

After I rested for a while I decided that I wasn’t going to stay in my room all day and miss our cooking session that we had. I headed over to the SED house and met up with everyone. We had mashed potatoes, green beans, and sloppy joes….they were actually surprisingly really good, I think it’s the quality of food that I am used to now here in Benin! Anyways we hung out and had a good time talking and being silly. I have a group of about 5 girls (Kali, Ashley, Lauren, Shannon, and Erin) that I have become close with and really like! Sunday they came over and watched Oceans 13 at my house. We went to buy some sodas for the movie and it was literally a freaking YOVO PARADE! Everyone was staring and yelling yovo….it still isn’t at the point where it bothers me but one thing that is annoying is that Beninese people making a kissing noise to get peoples attention like friends or the pineapple lady and that is the one noise that I can’t stand. So I had a pretty good weekend minus getting sick. It’s difficult trying to stay positive when your physical health is dire, so this last weekend was a little rough. I feel better but am still a little off.

Yesterday we went to the Grande Marche to buy meme-tissue for SED. There are so many different kinds of tissue. There is tissue with fish on it, elephants, and chickens; and then there is tissue with geometric shapes on them, and flowers, and crazy designs. I think that I am going to buy the tissue with the water faucets on them! There were about 30 venders all yelling “YOVO VIENS ICI VIENS ICI” It was very overwhelming but we finally decided on a tissue! I am excited because now I have three different sets of fabrics that I can get outfits made! I really want to get outrageously loud tissue and make capri pants…I know weird request but I wish I had more capris…there really isn’t a need for fabric past your mid-shin to your ankle, it just gets dirty and I usually fold them up anyways when I start my day! I think I am going to take my linen pants to the tailor to have them made into capris. I know very ridiculous writing about capris but hey it’s what is going on in my life right now!

Today we get to learn about Moringa, it’s a miracle tree that can be used for many different things. The rest of the week we are learning about Marketing in Benin. Next week is Post visit so I will get to go up to Natitingou and see my house and meet the people that I am going to be working with! I am so super stoked! I will definitely post pictures and let everyone know what its like! Then the week after that is our last week before we get to swear in….its weird to think that two months is almost over and we will finally get to go live in our houses in our cities and be volunteers! I really like my host family but I am definitely ready to fix my own meals and take care of myself.

Well I guess that’s its for now…oh still haven’t received any packages! Another plus for being in Nati is that the mail is faster so once I get that address and figure out where exactly to send mail I will post that address so you can just start sending me stuff there (yes I am assuming EVERYONE has stuff ready to send to me NOW ) Remember for letters write AIR MAIL PAR AVION and bubble envelopes are better than boxes and just write candy, pictures, letters if they make you list what the contents are, don’t be too descriptive. Also if you put GOD IS WATCHING in French it might make it to me quicker…just a rumor I’ve heard (the people of Benin tend to be religious). Also hand sanitizer, a mix CD, nail polish, cheap earrings, et beaucoup de chose c’est bon! Oh also friends if you are shopping and you see a cute top that’s not spaghetti straps (needs to be more like tank top with not revealing chest/shoulder area because I am going to be in the north and its more conservative) and you think I would like it SEND IT! I might need y’all to help my mom go through some clothes for me when she comes in December! Not trying to be a spoiled brat over here and expect y’all to send me stuff but it really makes your day/week/month A MILLION times better when you receive a package…I am so jealous of this one girl who has already received 4 packages…lucky BITCH!

Wish me luck at post visit…travel to Nati from Porto Novo takes about 12 hours on a good day and the transportation is either a 6 person car usually filled with 14 people or a 15 person van/bus filled with 30 people! FUN TIMES!

Oh side note Yara- I had amazing popcorn on the street today and it reminded me of you! Don’t worry I am going to have to go old school to have popcorn and actually heat oil and pop the individual kernels in a pot! But hey it works! Oh and I need someone to send me ingredients for smores because I’ve decided for thanksgiving I AM HAVING SMORES…..if I have an amazing friend who wants to send me stuff oh yeah and if anyone wants to try and help me come up with a plan for a pumpkin pie recipe over here; ask my grandma someone!!!! They have turkey, green beans, potatoes, corn, sweet potatoes, and bread anything I’m missing? OH GRAVY PACKETS!! Seriously I am not trying to be demanding over here but all I can do is try right!!!!!!!! I LOVE Y’ALL!

Man now I’m hungry….I miss good food….everyone eat a really good meal for me (I’ll be eating pâte noir or akasa with crin crin sauce and cow ankle having my host family tell me I don’t eat good and I’m going to get skinny; just kidding I definitely don’t eat cow ankle, they tried to give it to me once and I said nope not going to happen oh and sardines for breakfast…DISGUSTING)