Friday, July 25, 2008
Post Announcement
Today was a big day! Our APCDs announced where we will be posted...living/working for the next two years starting in September! I can't post the name of the town...but e-mail me and I will let you know. The TEFL people--my group goes out to do our post visit next week to take a look at our house, meet our directors, see our towns, schools, etc, etc. Very exciting. The week after that we begin model school. That's where we will be preparing lesson plans and teaching to real kids.
Oh and we had our second language interviews this past Wednesday...and I moved up two levels. I am not at intermediate-intermediate. I have one more level to go by the time swear in rolls around.
FYI I will have access to Internet from here on out because my town has cyber cafès...yay! So there will be no excuses to not stay in touch. :)
Oh...I know, here's a fun story:
So they don't really have garbage cans here, everything kinda just gets tossed on the ground. Well, in my room I have been keeping a bag of garbage. It finally got full the other day and my host sister saw it and insisted on throwing it out for me. Ok, fine. Then as I was leaving I see my little host brother with my old stick of Degree deoderant. Hmm. I guess one girl's trash is another kid's treasure! Good thing I didn't have anything REALLY gross in there, lol.
Oh and we had our second language interviews this past Wednesday...and I moved up two levels. I am not at intermediate-intermediate. I have one more level to go by the time swear in rolls around.
FYI I will have access to Internet from here on out because my town has cyber cafès...yay! So there will be no excuses to not stay in touch. :)
Oh...I know, here's a fun story:
So they don't really have garbage cans here, everything kinda just gets tossed on the ground. Well, in my room I have been keeping a bag of garbage. It finally got full the other day and my host sister saw it and insisted on throwing it out for me. Ok, fine. Then as I was leaving I see my little host brother with my old stick of Degree deoderant. Hmm. I guess one girl's trash is another kid's treasure! Good thing I didn't have anything REALLY gross in there, lol.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
T SHIRTS!
I desperately need some t-shirts...size m or l ;) I only came here with like 5...and two are the same but different colors. I dont care what they look like, but something thin...it dries faster. I dont know what I was thinking when I packed. ugh.
tout alors (sp?) everyone!
xoxo, from Benin!
tout alors (sp?) everyone!
xoxo, from Benin!
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Things I could use:
Me on the rooftop of the PC Bureau in Cotonou!
Mariana and moi
the little lizzard that was on my losquito net my first morning in Benin!
So this is the third time I am writing this list out...due to techinicql problems!
If anyone is so inclined to send me a letter or even better a package, I wouldn't mind the following...
*UNO cards or some other games to play with the kids around here
*deodorant is always nice
*baby wipes...also a good thing
*hand sanitizer
*i L-O-V-E gummy bears!
But more than anything...I would love, love, love an e-mail or letter sent here.
7/10/08
I bought a oh-what-the-hell-is-it-called-I’m-having-a-brain-fart…SURGE protector today for 2000CFA, which is roughly $4. However, I also bought a little plug adaptor thingy in Cotonou for the same price and it wasn’t what I needed. OH well, I have it now a surge protector now, and that’s what is important.
My host papa and maman came to pick me up from the buses yesterday and my two host brothers—Marcel (older) and Nemese (20) showed up before we left. I am so glad they helped me carry my bags. We arrived at the house and I was shown my room and bathroom. The bathroom has two doors. One for the shower and sink, another for just the toilet. I have been lucky enough to not have to take a bucket shower yet, as the water tends to shut off occasionally.
So this is a drawing of the bathroom:
This is a drawing of my room:
Unfortunately my camera’s battery died a couple days ago and I had no way of charging it, which is a bummer cause I have seen a lot of cool things these past few days. Especially today.
PC gave us a grand tour of the town we’ll be in for the next 9 weeks of intense training. I’m not sure if I can post the name of the city….safety/security reasons. Well, we met the local police officers at two different stations and we went to another place—not sure what it was but a guy talked to us about the city. We saw where the local health clinic is, the hospital, congress, the new and old supreme court buildings, etc. We also were able to visit a couple “marches”—there’s an accent mark on the “e” which would make it and we all got “YOVO-ed.” Yovo is a word for white person/foreigner in the local language of Fon. A lot of kids will see us and start singing “Yo vo Yo Vo Ca Va, Ca Va bien, merci” which translates into “white person white person how are you? I am well, thank you.” It’s kinda cute for now, but I can see how it could get annoying, but it nonetheless is interesting having all eyes on me wherever I go.
My water filter was waiting for me when I arrived back from my walk/visit to Nemese’s friends’ house. It was waaaay down the road. I was getting paranoid that it was getting late, but everyone seemed like nice people, and it made me realize that the family I am staying with have nicer amenities than those of the famille je viste(accent mark)—that I visited. My new friends all asked if I would be returning, and I am sure I will. I just ended up having a mini panic/anxiety attack because I didn’t want to walk home in the dark. Those crack heads who mugged us really scarred me But I made it back safe and sound and maman wanted me to help her with dinner, so I shredded some carrots. I ate some patte blanche—which is plain white porridge stuff with some fish and sauce—definitely NOT my favorite. I don’t mind the fish, it’s just the fish bones in there that make me gag now. And not to mention they cook the WHOLE fish. Tonight mine was complete with eyeballs and fins. The other day it had eyeballs and teeth. BBLLEECCHH. Definitely no big juicy fish fillets here…the other meat is another story. I may become a vegetarian, or perhaps a hard care meat eater…we’ll see which comes first and if I transform somewhere along the way.
Needless to say I am still having a great time and look forward to see what the future holds for me, especially in the next few months.
My host papa and maman came to pick me up from the buses yesterday and my two host brothers—Marcel (older) and Nemese (20) showed up before we left. I am so glad they helped me carry my bags. We arrived at the house and I was shown my room and bathroom. The bathroom has two doors. One for the shower and sink, another for just the toilet. I have been lucky enough to not have to take a bucket shower yet, as the water tends to shut off occasionally.
So this is a drawing of the bathroom:
This is a drawing of my room:
Unfortunately my camera’s battery died a couple days ago and I had no way of charging it, which is a bummer cause I have seen a lot of cool things these past few days. Especially today.
PC gave us a grand tour of the town we’ll be in for the next 9 weeks of intense training. I’m not sure if I can post the name of the city….safety/security reasons. Well, we met the local police officers at two different stations and we went to another place—not sure what it was but a guy talked to us about the city. We saw where the local health clinic is, the hospital, congress, the new and old supreme court buildings, etc. We also were able to visit a couple “marches”—there’s an accent mark on the “e” which would make it
My water filter was waiting for me when I arrived back from my walk/visit to Nemese’s friends’ house. It was waaaay down the road. I was getting paranoid that it was getting late, but everyone seemed like nice people, and it made me realize that the family I am staying with have nicer amenities than those of the famille je viste(accent mark)—that I visited. My new friends all asked if I would be returning, and I am sure I will. I just ended up having a mini panic/anxiety attack because I didn’t want to walk home in the dark. Those crack heads who mugged us really scarred me But I made it back safe and sound and maman wanted me to help her with dinner, so I shredded some carrots. I ate some patte blanche—which is plain white porridge stuff with some fish and sauce—definitely NOT my favorite. I don’t mind the fish, it’s just the fish bones in there that make me gag now. And not to mention they cook the WHOLE fish. Tonight mine was complete with eyeballs and fins. The other day it had eyeballs and teeth. BBLLEECCHH. Definitely no big juicy fish fillets here…the other meat is another story. I may become a vegetarian, or perhaps a hard care meat eater…we’ll see which comes first and if I transform somewhere along the way.
Needless to say I am still having a great time and look forward to see what the future holds for me, especially in the next few months.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Bureau!
Today we finally have some down time here at the Bureau (office). While we are here we are doing zemidjan (mo-ped) training, and a couple interviews over the next couple of days. I found out that I placed into the novice-high French group. We are supposed to be at a Intermediate-high level before we swear in, in 9 weeks.
On Wednesday we meet and move-in with our host families. I can't wait! We are currently staying at this pretty nice hostel/convent type place. They are feeding us delicious food and we are constantly busy.
It is somewhat hot here. We have arrived during the rainy season, and today I experienced my first African downpour. It was like someone had turned on the faucet. Think of the Universal Studios tour where they turn on the sprinkler/rain. That's what it was like. Some have compared the weather to Dallas/Hawaii...other humid hot places.
When we go to sleep at night we have these blue mosquito nets that we tuck into our mattresses. I feel like I'm in a little cage/tent. And it is so hot that there aren't even any covers on the bed minus the sheet that covers the thin mattress. Oh how I miss my feather bed and soft seating. My tail-bone will be quite strong when I get back.
Oh, and yesterday we had lunch at our Country Director's (CD) house and it was delicious. I had read about how good the pineapples were, but words cannot really describe it. MMMMMMMMmmmmmmmmmmmm.
So I think that's it for now, my tail bone is starting to hurt and I gotta move around. And I think lunch should be here soon.
Au revoir!
On Wednesday we meet and move-in with our host families. I can't wait! We are currently staying at this pretty nice hostel/convent type place. They are feeding us delicious food and we are constantly busy.
It is somewhat hot here. We have arrived during the rainy season, and today I experienced my first African downpour. It was like someone had turned on the faucet. Think of the Universal Studios tour where they turn on the sprinkler/rain. That's what it was like. Some have compared the weather to Dallas/Hawaii...other humid hot places.
When we go to sleep at night we have these blue mosquito nets that we tuck into our mattresses. I feel like I'm in a little cage/tent. And it is so hot that there aren't even any covers on the bed minus the sheet that covers the thin mattress. Oh how I miss my feather bed and soft seating. My tail-bone will be quite strong when I get back.
Oh, and yesterday we had lunch at our Country Director's (CD) house and it was delicious. I had read about how good the pineapples were, but words cannot really describe it. MMMMMMMMmmmmmmmmmmmm.
So I think that's it for now, my tail bone is starting to hurt and I gotta move around. And I think lunch should be here soon.
Au revoir!
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Day 1
...well, kinda. I have finally plunkered down to log in how today went. Well, I never actually went to sleep last night. The fam and I left the house at 4:40ish and got to the airport a little while later. I thought I had plenty of time, but I think I actually cut it really close. Right before I stood in line for TSA security I was saying bye to the fam and giving hugs and crying like I do when all of a sudden a ginormous group of like 100 people bum rushed me and I was WAAAAAAAy in the back of the line. When I finally got to my gate they were boarding group 3ish and I was in group 5. It was a full flight. I slept most of the way....about 2 hours worth of a nap. Meh. Since the cheapo-s didn't feed us on the flight I got myself some McDonald's and a grande white mocha. And that's what I've been running on. So the other flight was fine and short.
We flew into Philly a little early and ended up getting to the gate late...weird. We sat on the tarmac for 1/2 hour >:( Got my bags, met up with a couple other volunteers and we had a little adventure in finding transportation to the hotel. When it's my turn to check in I hand the girl my credit card and she asks for another because mine is expired. OF COURSE it would be expired! Lucky me. However I lucked out and Eric put my room on his card. Oh and then we each get a letter because we are early arrivals. And on mine I have this little note stating that I will have a room all to myself. Now I don't know if this will end up being a good thing or not...
Anyways, Eric stopped by my room later and told me that some of the other volunteers were meeting up at 7:30 to go out. We took the subway to the historic district and walked around, and eventually got some food. And then we made our way back....and here I am, all ready for bed.
Night!
We flew into Philly a little early and ended up getting to the gate late...weird. We sat on the tarmac for 1/2 hour >:( Got my bags, met up with a couple other volunteers and we had a little adventure in finding transportation to the hotel. When it's my turn to check in I hand the girl my credit card and she asks for another because mine is expired. OF COURSE it would be expired! Lucky me. However I lucked out and Eric put my room on his card. Oh and then we each get a letter because we are early arrivals. And on mine I have this little note stating that I will have a room all to myself. Now I don't know if this will end up being a good thing or not...
Anyways, Eric stopped by my room later and told me that some of the other volunteers were meeting up at 7:30 to go out. We took the subway to the historic district and walked around, and eventually got some food. And then we made our way back....and here I am, all ready for bed.
Night!
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