saying bye is hard to do.
as i make my way to different friends' houses, i keep telling them and myself that i will see them once again in my last week before i leave for Cotonou. maybe it's some kind of defence mechanism so that i won't start bawling. but i am gonna have to face the truth very soon. i will have to start saying my final goodbyes. and that may be one of the top three hardest things i have had to do since leaving home once upon a time in 2008.
this afternoon, one of my very first friends in Lokossa stopped by to say thank you for all that i have done, for putting up with a different culture for two years, to say sorry and to excuse the actions of his fellow countrymen, etc, etc. it was all very sweet and very touching. i started crying. and i think i made him uncomfortable, hahaha, but i said excuse me and i think he got it. but i really couldn't help the tears. it got me thinking about how in this last week in Lokossa, i might be hearing a lot of these sweet words. and i am getting choked up just thinking about it.
it's amazing to me how much i have come to love benin. i knew that it was going to be tough leaving. but i don't think i knew just how difficult it was going to be until now.
my heart is slowly breaking into a million little pieces. but maybe that is a good thing because i am leaving them here with the people i have grown to love.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Thursday, July 15, 2010
where did june go?
Seriously. Where did June go? I didn't post a single post during June!
Anyhow, I guess it was a busy month. The beginning of June we were still at school; wrapping things up; devoirs and grading devoirs. I had a couple of photo shoots with my kids, which was super fun and i have some good memories of that and pics to go with it. Then it was time for Camp GLOW!
Camp was a lot like last year; only I brought with me 5 girls: Volonté, Erbine, Adèle, Rose and Odile. Volonté is like my smartest and most put together student I have had these past two years. She's our schools pride and joy. Erbine and Adèle are sisters. Erbine is the smart and shy one; Adèle is less smart but outgoing and loves to dance. Rose was the shy girl of our group and the one who i think enjoyed herself the most. everytime i checked in with her; she spoke to me a mile a minute with the biggest smile on her face. And Odile was the girl who let me down. She was attached at the hip to Volonté and was anti-social and hardly participated. Booo! When camp was over; our chaffeur who brought us to Porto-Novo picked us up; and he wasn't even that late! On the way home; we made a pit stop at Erevan; the grande supermarché. It was an awesome experience for them i am sure; but for me as well to see a supermarket through the eyes of a true villager. Amazing!
At the moment, I am at my cyber. I came here to continue computer lessons with my favorite student. and now we are caught in the rain! can't walk home in the rain! i've taught him how to use microsoft word; paint, and the internet/gmail. because he's a smartie he has picked up on this whole computer thing quite quickly.
it's amazing to think that i only have 4 weeks or so left in Benin!
the newbies arrive tomorrow night! and i will be going to the bureau to do some work. and somewhat unfortunately, ALL 61 of them plus the trainers will be there too! yuck! but at the same time, i look forward to answering their questions and feeling like a know it all, which i am not.
Rosie is doing well. i am super pumped about bringing her home with me. i think she'll like america. though she won't be as free to run like the wind like she does here, on my road. but by that same token, she won't have people hurling humongo rocks at her. m-effers.
lastly, i am sad because my camera has kicked the bucket. it turns on but refuses to take pictures! so unless my friend lends me her camera, there will be no more benin pics for me or you!
Anyhow, I guess it was a busy month. The beginning of June we were still at school; wrapping things up; devoirs and grading devoirs. I had a couple of photo shoots with my kids, which was super fun and i have some good memories of that and pics to go with it. Then it was time for Camp GLOW!
Camp was a lot like last year; only I brought with me 5 girls: Volonté, Erbine, Adèle, Rose and Odile. Volonté is like my smartest and most put together student I have had these past two years. She's our schools pride and joy. Erbine and Adèle are sisters. Erbine is the smart and shy one; Adèle is less smart but outgoing and loves to dance. Rose was the shy girl of our group and the one who i think enjoyed herself the most. everytime i checked in with her; she spoke to me a mile a minute with the biggest smile on her face. And Odile was the girl who let me down. She was attached at the hip to Volonté and was anti-social and hardly participated. Booo! When camp was over; our chaffeur who brought us to Porto-Novo picked us up; and he wasn't even that late! On the way home; we made a pit stop at Erevan; the grande supermarché. It was an awesome experience for them i am sure; but for me as well to see a supermarket through the eyes of a true villager. Amazing!
At the moment, I am at my cyber. I came here to continue computer lessons with my favorite student. and now we are caught in the rain! can't walk home in the rain! i've taught him how to use microsoft word; paint, and the internet/gmail. because he's a smartie he has picked up on this whole computer thing quite quickly.
it's amazing to think that i only have 4 weeks or so left in Benin!
the newbies arrive tomorrow night! and i will be going to the bureau to do some work. and somewhat unfortunately, ALL 61 of them plus the trainers will be there too! yuck! but at the same time, i look forward to answering their questions and feeling like a know it all, which i am not.
Rosie is doing well. i am super pumped about bringing her home with me. i think she'll like america. though she won't be as free to run like the wind like she does here, on my road. but by that same token, she won't have people hurling humongo rocks at her. m-effers.
lastly, i am sad because my camera has kicked the bucket. it turns on but refuses to take pictures! so unless my friend lends me her camera, there will be no more benin pics for me or you!
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