So it’s my 24th birthday and I’m in Porto Novo, Benin. It feels weird, not gonna lie. I can’t believe that I am actually trying to live my life and see the world. I feel like I’ve always talked about it and now I am actually doing it and I am only 24 years old!!! This weekend was actually really amazing! Friday, I found out that I will be posted in Natitingou, Benin which is in the Northwest part of the country near the Togo/Benin Border and apparently it is one of the nicest areas of the country. There are waterfalls, rolling hills, and Park Panjari which is amazing! I am replacing another SED volunteer named Alicia who has been training us for the last two weeks and she is so amazing! She is a baker so naturally I should replace her!!! There is also a PC office in Nati so I will have access to the internet semi-regularly! She is giving me her furniture so I might be able to purchase a refrigerator which would be AMAZING! But most importantly I have two post mates who are guys and are really cool, Johnnie and Clay. Also there are three other volunteers about a 30 min car ride away so I won’t be all alone out in the middle of nowhere! Natitingou isn’t very big but apparently a past president was from there so he made it well known to the people of Benin.
So for the most part my birthday weekend was spent with the other Trainees. Saturday we went over to Andrea’s house, her dad owns his own bouvette so we drank and ate there at her house….she has awesome third floor terraces so we hung out up there and it was perfect for my birthday. Alicia baked cookie cakes and we had a wonderful time. Sunday I went over to the SED house and drank wine and watched the Hangover. It was a nice pretty relaxed day which is what I wanted. I still can’t believe that the next two years I will be up north working with the Benin Educational Fund working with children teaching them business skills and many other things! This week we get to go visit another volunteer for our technical visit to just shadow them and see how it is to live life like a PCV. Typically we will go to a different part of the country so we can see what life is like all over the country. I am going to visit a girl in Houegbo which is in the middle of the country about an hour north of Cotonou, so I won’t have to travel too far. We will visit the PCV from Wednesday-Sunday, so hopefully the rest of this week will fly by. It’s almost been a month since I’ve been here in Benin! There are two girls in SED who I am becoming close with. Kali from Dallas and Ashley from Louisville. We bike to and from school together so we tend to see each other often! They are really laid back and go with the flow so we hang out quite a bit. They also made me a sash to wear for my birthday and a pretty sweet card!
I don’t feel like I’m 24 but I have a feeling pretty soon I’ll be 25….I guess 23 flew by and it was awesome so I can’t imagine what 24 will have to bring! I really am sorry that I haven’t been able to individually email everyone and catch up with them but please send me a facebook message if you have time. Yahoo is absolutely super slow and difficult to access so I think I am mainly going to utilize my blog and facebook the most.
Oh I forgot one of the most important parts my birthday weekend my Mama and Papa got me cokes and mini muffin cake things that were delicious with CHOCOLATE they must really know how to get to my heart! My Mama also got me “tissue” which is the traditional Beninese clothing that has awesome patterns. She said she is going to take me to the tailor next week so I can get either a sweet skirt/shirt made or dress. Typically Tissue is a shirt with either a skirt or a “ponya” (piece of fabric to wrap around your waist like a skirt but without any zipper or closure) and head thing….we’ll see if I get any opinion on what I want my outfit to look like! Trust me pictures coming soon of me in tissue! Other trainees have said there Mamas don’t listen to them at all and just decide on the outfit!!
Well Wednesday through Sunday I will be visiting Houegbo, then the next two weeks back to classes and then Post visit up to Nati with Alicia so I can see my house and start moving the stuff she is giving me into my house! I seriously can’t wait to have my house and start my two years as a Volunteer!!!! After that I think we have our last week of class then all our testing to make sure we can swear in as Volunteers!! I am just about half way through with stage!!!!!!!!!!
Well wish me luck and think of me this week while I get to go out and see another city…also Thanks to all of you who thought of me on my birthday and sent me love! I seriously have the best family and friends and I am sorry to be away from y’all but I truly had a wonderful 24th birthday and you were all with me in spirit!
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