on the tata samba. the kid in blue is Boris.







dennis and melissa (climbing up to the grainery)







the sun is rising.


"BNS: quand voyager devient un plaisir"


ah bon?





this is the huge crack in the window you will read about...

this is the bus stop in Bohicon. it is madness. and this is dennis in front of our double decker bus!

Sylvain, a girl i dunno, Volonté, Léopold, and Rafatou. when i put the camera up to my face, Sylvain, normally a very happy-smiley kid, locked up into this position, i like to call "the Beninese" photo face. the others who are smiling, are not the norm. and Léopold, the little guy is in 6éme...he's on the small side, but in general they are all so little and cute!



goats/sheep are so fun to chase! she couldn't help herself =)

goats/sheep smell funny.

the world map is finished! these are the kids who helped out; from drawing lines, to taping up the outline, sketching the countries, painting the countries and erasing the pencil lines...they were a BIG help! especially Janvier, the boy in the red shirt and yellow shorts.

retreat!

me, Michel, Kantos, and Maman!

this is a lizard that Rosie somehow managed to trap in my house and kill. eewww, to think that i could have stepped on it!

this is a preying mantis that decided to die in my kitchen sink. the pen is to show how big they are.

this is when the power went out and i lit up all my candles. the mirror was a nice touch because it reflected the light around the room. the olny down side to candles, is that it adds a touch more of heat!

an interesting afternoon

I thought I had a couple more blog entries, but somehow they disappeared.

This afternoon was interesting for small reasons:
1—My zem down to the cyber, I noticed while discussing the price, had bright red finger and toe nails! There might have even been a fancy design on there too. And let me remind you that this was a young guy in his 20s probably.
2— I went to the cyber to copy down a recipe for lemon cake. Tomorrow (Wednesday March 3rd) is Mayo’s 4th birthday! And Angelina was on gchat, and I was telling her how we haven’t had a power outage for a while. And luck would have it that like 2 minutes later the power cut out!
3—So, since the power went out, I called up Dennis to find out what I needed for the cake. And I made my way down to the parc, aka little market. And in my search for lemons, I see this enormous mountain pile of fuzzy slippers! WTF? I literally stopped and stared for a minute.
Oh, the little things in life that make life interesting.

Last night I had a weird/stressful dream where I was back home and there was some kind of catastrophe and everyone was coming together, everyone was going home. Everyone was safe, but for some reason, Rosie was left in my dorm room, left all alone to fend for herself and there was no way I could go and fetch her. I think I am starting to feel guilty about leaving her here. I feel like she is going to spend the rest of her life waiting for me to come back. This makes me very sad. She has been an awesome companion for the last 11 months. Wow, I just realized that she is probably just about a year old! Happy birthday Rosie!

Speaking of birthdays, I already mentioned how it’s Mayo’s b-day tomorrow. He’s turning four! This past summer, when we became buddies, I kept asking him how old he was. And his response was “CI!” CI is the equivalent of kindergarten here. And the kids are supposed to start when they are five years old, but obviously some start earlier and some start later. It’s kinda the norm for everyone to lie about their age or simply not know it at all. So, I am finally glad to find out that my favorite little guy is four. As I said, I am making him a lemon cake. I hope that it turns out all right, and I hope that he likes it!

adventure: boukoumbe

I am currently sitting at home trying to watch a movie. However, it started to rain about 5-10 minutes ago and that poses a problem. I have a tin roof. Also, when it rains here, it pours. The two do not make for good movie watching.

On the flip side, it is almost therapeutic for me to hear the rain fall. The smell of the rain also reminds me of home.

It’s funny that it’s been raining on and off the past couple of weeks. I thought there was some kind of pattern to the weather here. I thought that we were in the long, hot, dry season. But I am thinking that the weather is some kind of messed up from what I have read. Don’t get me wrong, it’s been dreadfully hot, but the rain is a nice touch and cools the earth down a few degrees.

I spent the last half of my February break from school up north in the city of Natitingou and a village called Boukoumbe. Boukoumbe is a beautiful place filled with trees, steep hills, etc. It sits right next to Togo. Boukoumbe is famous in Benin for its Tata Sambas. Tata Sambas are these traditional mud hut homes that people still build and live in to this day. It’s almost more than a mud hut. It’s like a two story mud house.

The Tata Samba and family we visited was not in the village of Boukoumbe, but a 2 hour hike out. I think our guide said it was 11 kilometers. On our way to the mud hut, it was about 3:30 in the afternoon and the sun was relentless. It was the hottest I have felt in a really long time. I had a water bottle in my backpack and every time we stopped to take a break from the heat, I pulled out my water and it was HOT! Like hot tap water. But I drank it anyways. And I was so hot and thirsty that the hot water was somewhat refreshing…it quenched my thirst.

Finally when we arrived at the place we were sat down on a mat and rested. Soon after twin baby boys were plopped into mine and Melissa’s arms: our husbands, lol. They were tiny! And so cute! And they were in matching outfits.

For dinner we were fed some spaghetti noodles with a very bland tomato sauce and an egg each. It took a while to get the food to us, so long we were wondering if we were still gonna be fed. But it arrived and we scarfed it down.

Dennis, Melissa and I slept on the roof of a Tata Samba. Though, it was difficult to fall asleep because the moon was nearly full and laying down, looking up was like staring straight into a 60 watt light bulb (but doesn’t burn your cornea like a light bulb).

Overall, the trip was fun and I had a good time. It’s interesting though, because I found a lot of similarities between Boukoumbe, mud hut and Dogon country. For multiple reasons I will not list out because I am lazy. Just know that they were comparable.

The travel to and from Natitingou is always an adventure in itself. And I will admit that I pray every time that I have to travel in this country; it’s dangerous. But I got home all in one piece! (Thanks God!)

I think I have like nine or 10 weeks of actual teaching left. Phew, time went by quick, eh?

2/1/10...it's really H-O-T!!

Once again, it is the hot season. I think that I mention that it is hot here in Benin. But now, it’s seriously really, really hot. It’s the kind of hot there is no good relief from

It’s somewhat cool(er) in the mornings and in the evenings. I dread stepping out into the world anytime between the hours of 10am and 4ish pm. It’s just too much sun to handle. It is energy sucking heat. For example, yesterday I woke up at 7ish to go to make up some classes after sleeping for over eight hours. I held class from 8am to 10am. And then I walked home just like always, except that it’s now like 10x hotter. I ate a mango and then took a two hour nap. Upon waking up, I made some lunch and read for 20 minutes or so before falling asleep for another three hour nap. The power was out, so therefore my fan was not on. But doesn’t really make much of a difference because, who likes hot air being blown on an already overheated body?

I swear the temperature has got to be in the 90s, if not in the 100s.

Considering the circumstances, I have taken to sleeping outside in my little patio area. I have jimmy rigged a mosquito net up and brought out my other mattress. The difference in temperature between inside and outside the house is like day and night…haha. All day long the sun beats down on my little tin roof, pouring its nasty rays into my house where the heat gets trapped in the brick walls. It’s like living inside a pizza oven.

There were several moments yesterday, probably when the power was out (and so was the water), when I questioned myself about putting myself through the rest of the hot season (May-June). But if I survived last year, I am sure I can make it again.

Speaking of power outages, as of lately, they are happening quite frequently. I am fortunate enough to be in a large town where the power cuts are not as frequent as villages with electricity. Apparently, large towns and cities have privilege over small towns and villages. It turns out a certain country didn’t pay some electricity bills….or something like that.

Ooops!

i forgot that i had saved these next three posts onto my flash drive. but i just found them, so.....happy reading!

this is from 1/12/10

I can’t get enough of the kids at the Orpheneliat Providence. Our world map project took about months to do from start to finish. In that time I really got to know a good chunk of the older kids. I probably have mentioned Janvier before, but he was a HUGE help with the project. I can see him being some kind of great artist or something with the way he really just clung to the map and was there helping every step of the way. A lot of the kids just wanted to help out with the fun stuff, read, the painting.

I was going to miss working with the kids every weekend, so I decided to take on another project with them. I have decided to teach a portion of the kids how to use a computer. Last summer there was a volunteer girl who did some lessons with them. I am not sure how much they covered nor how many hours the kids logged. But I feel like I can use their previous experience to dive right in.

These computer lessons will be quite an interesting experience. Last year at Camp GLOW 99.9 percent of the girls had never touched a mouse before. And Kaili, another PCV, held a mini informatique (aka computer class) during one of our sessions. I think the girls had an hour or so overall. But it was real fun watching them struggle working with the mouse ie holding it up in the air, and pecking at the keyboards like chickens.

I went ahead and purchased 55 hours at the cyber. They art having a New Year’s sale and by purchasing 50 hours at 9000cfa, five hours are added free of charge. This comes out to be a total of 163.63cfa per hour. Previously the cheapest I had found was something like 20 hours for 3500…meaning it was 175cfa per hour. So I guess I got lucky! I talked to the lady who works there and told her how I am going to teach kids how to use the computer and that I wanted to split my 55 hours among two accounts. She looked at me real hesitantly for a moment and I realized that normally one can’t do that, but I guess I am charming or persuasive or just a plain old good client cause she allowed me to divide the hours up afterall. And just now I was thinking about how in teaching the kids how to use computers/the Internet I am making that many more clients. On top of all that, the cyber people are unlocking my account so that I can teach the kids in the “VIP” room where there are less computers, less noise, and a ceiling fan directly above!

I’m not sure exactly when we’ll start. I currently have a lot on my plate. But soon enough…

Today at the English department weekly meeting, I was informed that my homologue, Mme TOKOU will not be coming back to teach at CEG3 Lokossa. I feel for the kids who will be affected. I guess they won’t be taking the devoirs that are coming up at the end of the month. Her kids have essentially already fallen behind my students and it wouldn’t be fair. So I am composing the test for my 6eme kids. In addition, by some miracle, the other 5eme teachers are slightly ahead of me and to avoid complications I proposed that I could write the devoir for the 5eme kids as well. Writing the tests is really not that much work, but it is somewhat obnoxious. However, I would rather write AND type the tests myself in order to steer clear of and weirdly phrased items and typos. Today is Tuesday and we supposedly need to turn in the tests tomorrow. However, I told my colleagues that they would see the tests on Thursday morning. And then I will take them to the bureau this weekend to type them up and print them off.

I will be going to Cotonou this weekend to send off my good friend, Catherine. I am sad that Cat is leaving, but in the end I think she made the decision that is best for her. And it has made me contemplate about my time in Benin. I absolutely love this country and its people. Every time I have to leave Lokossa, I miss it a lot and grow that much more attached to my community, house, dog, students, neighbors, etc. I was thinking about how if I had to leave next weekend I would be a complete mess. I hardly think I will be ready to leave in August or September. My time here has passed by very quick. Sometimes when I am in the classroom, when I am wondering around, looking over students’ shoulders to check their work, I think about how I’ve grown as a teacher. About how fortunate I was to be chosen for this job, for my town, and for my students. Don’t get me wrong, there are many times when I want to rip out my hair, walk out the door, insult students, or send them off to be punished. But overall, this has been so much fun and so rewarding.

I constantly think about where my students will end up. How will having had me as a teacher affect them? Will it have made any difference at all? Do they even care about English? Do they notice anything different about me besides the obvious, ie how I respect them as adults, how I am always on time, I am fair in grading, I am fair to both sexes, we can joke, I am not a harsh punisher, I smile, I grade quizzes and tests in a timely fashion….? It always makes me and my heart smile when I hear adults talk of a former PCV that was somehow in their life. I wonder will I be that to my kids…

I remember back to my first few nights in Benin when I could hardly believe I was breathing in African air. I as terrified at the prospect of living on my own. Of teaching English to 70 children in a classroom with little to no resources/materials. Of having to take moto-taxis around as my main transportation. Of taking taxis where there are six passengers + driver—in what is normally a 5 person car! Of eating pounded corn mush with goopy, slimy, fishy sauce. Of being away from my family and friends for over two whole years. I was essentially jealous of the volunteers who had been here a year. And even more jealous of the volunteers on their way out. For they already knew everything. They had experience, and I had none.

Now I don’t know if I can go back to living with roommates. To driving around in my own car! With a seatbelt and one seat per person at that. To eating whatever I want, whenever I want. To not being able to buy yummy fried food snacks on every corner. To speaking English. To have everyone understand what I say…that is going to be very weird (I’ll have to start watching what I say). To being cold!

I find that my time left here is almost too little. I have accomplished a lot. It breaks my heart to think about leaving my community where I have worked so hard to integrate. I have so much to do in so little time.

But all things must change. Nothing stays the same. I will appreciate the time I have left here. I will continue to teach and to learn. And I will look forward to coming home and to new adventures.

PS…I just thought of this idea this weekend, but I want to take Janvier and maybe a couple of other kids with me to Cotonou so that they can visit the art museum. I don’t know that they know an art museum in Benin, exists! I think that Janvier and Marcellin would especially enjoy it.

this is from 1/22/10

Another week gone by.

This year I once again am only teaching 3 classes. Each class meets twice a week for “two hours” each time. I put two hours in quotes because it never adds up to two hours for multiple reasons: kids are late, the kids are disrupting class and I have to pause, someone comes in to give an announcement, the flag ceremony, it gets dark and we can’t see anymore, at the moment my in my 7am class we can’t really start till 7:15 cause it’s still somewhat dark out at 7am…etc.

I don’t know if I ever explained how the College General d’Enseigment (CEG) system works…well here goes, kinda. There are seven grade levels. They go by the French system here:


Beninese grade level=American equivalent
Sixieme (6eme)=7th grade
Cinquieme (5eme)=8th grade
Quatrieme (4eme) =9th grade
Troisieme (3eme)=10th grade
Seconde (2nde)=11th grade
Premier (1ere)=12th grade
Terminale (tle)=1st year of college

Last year I had two 6emes, M2 + M4 and one 5eme, M1. The M stands for nothing that I know of, but is put there after the grade level to distinguish which class it is. For example, last year there was five 6eme and I had M2 and M4. Of the three classes, I decided that M2 was my favorite class; so I followed them into their second year and have them again as 5emeM2.

I hate to admit that as a teacher I definitely have a favorite class and favorite students. And it makes me wonder if I was ever a favorite student of any of my teachers. And I wonder if I would like me as a student?

This year I strongly dislike this year’s 6emeM2. (Side note: I have taken to calling 6emeM2à 6eme-“impoli”. Haha, they are horrified every time I say it because calling someone “impolite” in this society is one of the worst insults there is. Perhaps it is because everyone is so chill and essentially polite, lighthearted, etc.) Anyways, these 6emeM2 kids are little shits. There are nearly 60 of them and about half the class is a mixture of bad behavior. I always leave their class and am in a miserable mood. So this past Thursday we were in the middle of revision because next week the students have devoirs, aka exams. And at the beginning of class I had somewhat of a little heart-to-heart with the trouble makers. I thought we had an understanding that they would begin to behave. I was wrong.

So I stopped what I was doing and quickly packed my bag, said “GOOODBYE!” and grabbed my bag and helmet. However, I didn’t even get halfway to the door when half the class surrounded me, begged and pleaded me not to go and grabbed at me and my things. <> So I let go of the stuff and they proceeded to go back to their seats. But then I once again grabbed my things and once again I was surrounded. I also looked at the doorway where there was a wall of the bigger/taller kids who were blocking my way. There was not a snowflake’s chance in hell that I was getting out of there, unless I threw some punches and elbowed kids! (Which I did not.) All the while, the other half of the class erupted in screams and laughter. It was quite a sight. And I couldn’t help but laugh. It probably didn’t help my cause. On top of it all, I was mortified at the fact that I had lost control of them. I don’t know how we got back to business, but we did and they were a little bit better behaved…but I may lose my mind with this class by the end of the year!!

I cannot believe that January is nearly complete. I feel that time is moving faster than ever. Does it ever slow down again? Here are some things that I am looking forward to in the coming months:
February
camp GLOW meeting, important breakfast at the ambassador's
March
Gender And Development weekend up north
April
find out if I got the job in France
May
COS (close of service) conference, Gender And Development dinner in Cotonou
June
end of the school year, Camp GLOW! (PLEASE donate =)
July
hmmm…the new group arrives on the 9th
August
hopefully coming home mid- to late in the month
September
home! (hopefully) leave for France, my birthday
Look at that…something for every month! That seems to make things go by quicker.