Too Much Sweating Going on…

Well, I have been surviving my days here in Benin. I am beginning to like to a lot! I go on strolls with my little friend every once in awhile…she is two and I love her! People ask me if she is my daughter…I say yea, of course!!! Haha Just a little joke we have going here! I am eating lots and lots, but sometimes I just cant find to the appetite…just so dang hot hot hot! I actually was sick with a bacteria for about 2 weeks, but I took some GOOD medicine and I was fine within three days! Christmas is just around the corner and I have my decorations up in the house…battery operated lights that flash on and off, a Santa and Snowman stocking, candy canes and flameless snowman candles…thanks to the family I can see Christmas even though it’s so bloody hot here! I cant stress it enough! But, you know what, I can get my hair done for cheap here and it looks bomb!!!! (not to be like yea my hair looks good--just saying the truth) haha Oh I often go for walks and there tends to be bushes everywhere so you have to be careful because a chicken, goat, lizard or even a COW will come running out….no lions, tigers, or elephants in my part of the country…just gotta watch out for those chickens…we will never run out of eggs here…my main source of protein besides eating the chicken or buying peanut butter in Cotonou or Porto-Novo! These months are really flying by…my kids just completed the first round of exams…now I have to grade them!! Ugh and a half! Spending hours and hours…they just don’t appreciate me enough! Haha Was going to go on safari but plans changed…maybe another time! I really wanna go riding around looking at lions, elephants, giraffes and such…even though I might pee my pants a few times…yikes…life is full of what if’s! Thanks for the packages I have been getting….love them! It’s a great day when packages get to Cotonou and then into my hands….it’s a struggle, but so worth it! <3 you family and friends……mwah

Eat, Sleep, Teach...

Been super busy these last two months on my own at post. I now have four classes Monday-Thursday…some may say that is not a lot, but believe me it is a lot…It’s almost time for the end of the year test and then Christmas break. I am thinking about going on safari during my time off. That is my top priority for vacations besides coming home X-mas 2011!!!!! Yep, I said it! Believe it! Woop woop! Days have been super hot for me these past couple weeks. It’s hard to sleep even with the fan on. Inside my house is like 20 degrees hotter than outside…no wonder people sleep outside. Sticky, icky, and hot hot hot! Three or more showers a day does the trick! Thank God for my shower…I am blessed.I drink so much water, I pee about every 20 minutes. Cant keep the water in me long enough. Have been able to start cooking on my own-yams, kick butt sauce, rice, beans, plantains….etc…have lots of variety-cant complain because I have an unlimited supply of Sangria! Made the trip to Parakou for PSW training with all the other TEFLers. Going to be here until Friday early morning. Have to take the 8 hour bus ride back to Cotonou then back HOME to Lokossa! Miss it so much there! J We are going to cook some Thanksgiving dinner Thursday at the workstation. I am going to make deviled eggs because I am not able to cook very well. Plus, I would not want anyone getting sick on Kayla’s meal. Hahahahaha I am learning slowly but surely…I can cook spaghetti with mayo, rice, sauce, yams, plantains, and some beans…and of course oatmeal! Yay me! Ha It’s nice to be around the other teachers for the week. We can catch up on all the crazy stories and teaching experiences we have had. Parakou is very beautiful and it is located in the middle of Benin. It’s hilly, green, and there are huge boulders randomly chilling around the town. I believe you can find anything you want in this town, you just have to be patient and know just where to go…lots of fresh air here! It is very dry though and my lips and nose are super dried up! Cant keep chapstick on…pretty much reapply every 30 minutes. C’est la vie! So, I am going to say it--holidays away from home really stinks…but all the way in Africa really is hard. But, I have the support of my family and friends here. Going to have lots of fun being creative with meals, presents, and celebrating! I know I am going to dance a lot! J Makes me happy what can I say? The change in season just does not happen here for me….just a temp of hot and hotter. I cant see the change like the change of leaf color, snow, blizzard, ice, flowers….etc…cant see the change in seasons in the stores…like you see Halloween costumes in your local Wal-Mart, then Christmas ornaments, and fall scarecrows…here we have the same thing everyday…kind of hard, but you know what we can do this! I know I can! When I set my mind to something--I will do it…no matter how hard! Once in a lifetime experience right here, right now! Cant believe how fast time is flying--pretty soon we will be welcoming PSL 24 and saying good-bye to PSL 22 L Wow. Everything is going well, ,have internet, post is great, traveling to where I got to go safe and sound, making friends everywhere I go---must be my great personality--ha--enjoying everyday as much as possible! Love you.

Livin here makes ya wanna...fill in the blank...:)

Well, it has been a long time since I have blogged….super sorry!!! Been dealing with life in Benin! It has its ups and down, but hey I am still here and going strong. I would just like to tell ya about my daily life in Lokossa and my trips to Cotonou…..I teach Monday thru Thursday to 7th and 8th graders. The students are very happy to have my as their teacher, but they can really get me going sometimes. The patience level is def. on a low level some days, but then I think, I can do this! Most of the kids are great though! I can always see their brains thinking super hard and I love those AHHH HAAAA moments!! The kids always like to say “here, ici, Madame, teacher, snap snap…” all for attention because they know the answer. There is no nice hand raising in the schools here, but guess what the students learn quick in Madame Kay’s class because I will not answer them. Haha They are like oh crap Madame Kay sorrry!!! Love it! Actually had a moment where a student was just vomiting under his desk for about 10 minutes…..guess how the students cleaned it up!!! Come on you can do it!!!! They threw some dirt on it and sweeped it up with some sticks! Eww, I had no idea what to do except give stickers to the helpers and pat the boy on the back and say Ca va alle!!!! It’s going to be okay!!!! J My voyages to Cotonou and back…oh well that is a story in itself!! The driver stops and pees on the side of the road about three times a trip one way…vendors shove fish, water, bread….etc in your face until you need to vomit and then there are random traffic jams where men are chasing taxis, ripping doors open and beating the driver….witnessed this…no worries…I just thank God that I always have my helmet…may need it to catch a Zemi or hit someone with it haha But the zemi drivers arent very nice at times either….they like to haggle me for money! ummm yea cause I am American…..go figure lol My day to day walks to school consist of a lot of Good mornings or good afternoons, people are really getting to know who I am through the 5-6 min conversations we have…have to leave 30 minutes early just to make sure I do not offend anyone haha. I find myself taking lots of naps at around 1-2pm everyday…much needed repose…NAP! The French is coming along and the English is slowly flying far away…lol cant speak any language correctly anymore, the animals are reproducing like mad and the stars are beautiful! Actually saw a shooting star two nights ago……….I think….it was super fast….;) Just got a package from Sept and it is not Nov. so yes, I wait and wait…..could be worse….I could get the package a year later even though it was stamped 10 months ago…haha Well, I hope everything is going well at home in the US of A! Miss and love everyone!! Keep me posted on the latest gossip…oh how I ache to hear about life in Ashtabula…BAHAHAHABAHAHAHA ilu xoxoxo Oh, and even if you stay on the path, there is always pooop to be stepped on!!! ewww I know!!! So, that just shows no matter how hard you try to stick to the normal day to day life…you will not be able to find the fun in life! Be adventurous, see the world, explore, find your way! I am def. trying my best!!! Thank you to all those who have stayed in contact and support my throughout my crazy and exciting journeys around the world!

FINALLY arrived @ House Number THREE!

Well, I worked all day to get my house organized!! It is big so I have lots of room to be creative!! It rained this morning but then just got really hot! It's a little overcast, but dont try to do anything or you will just sweat to death!!! Uploading pictures as we speak and feeling like I have accomplished so much! It is hard to work with the people around here sometimes as time is slow, things matter but they matter "maybe later." Having internet in my house is really keeping me sane and allowing me to have a life outside of this crazy life I am living now! It is great here though! The people are nice and I seem to have a lot of connections now! For example, I got my locks changed in the new house, my bumba finished (very cute outfit) and got some food and going to get a shower soon! It is funny how your life changes and what is really important in life when all there is here is food, little kids running around in underwear or not, goats, pigs, cows, dogs, etc...and random church ceremonies, people singing and dancing and the occasional rain drop that people run from here! Rain is like snow! DANGER! hahaha I just go out and walk in the rain and enjoy the relaxation! The crazy American! lol Need to do webcam times with the family and friends asap! Just let me know a time and I will see if it works for me! You guys are busier than I am!!!! Miss and love you all!!!! Thanks for the letters and goodies! Oh how I love them!! A taste of America is always good on a rainy day! But beware they take forever to get here! I will pray and pray that all of my packages make it safe and sound, but you know those pesky mice get in them sometimes and even the occasional thief! Sorry! Thanks for thinking of me! <3

GOT MY INTERNET KEY!!!!!!!!! LOSING PATIENCE AT TIMES BUT EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON!!

Wow, what a long couple of weeks it has been! I have def. been on an emotional roller coaster, but yet, I am still hanging in there! I refuse to give up and once I get through this training which by the way is coming up really quickly, I will feel a lot better. I will have my own house, worry about what I want to worry about and live life to the fullest! I will be an official volunteer Sept. 17th!! Oh, it is bittersweet….I will miss a lot of my friends because they are going to be posted kind of far away, but hey that will call for a taxi trip up to see them that is all! We are in our last week of model school! I am about ready to be done for sure!! The kids are great, just is super tough to teach, learn French for a million hours a day, then lesson plan for the next day….AND….come home to my host family. This cultural exchange thing is difficult here sometimes because you never know you are offending someone or doing something that is making another Beninese person mad. I have def. learned a lot and will continue to learn more about the Beninese people so I can get through day to day life a little easier. The teachers traveled to Grand Popo--the BEST day in Benin thus far!! I got to run around in the sand, take jumping pictures with friends, and enjoy the crashing waves and breeze that surrounded the beach! We were not allowed to swim in the water because of the strong under toe but hey Kayla is not swimming in the ocean! No, no, and no! There are big sharks out there waiting for me I know it!! Hahaha!!! Next weekend, we are going to travel to Oidah, a slave port from many years ago. Oh FYI the beach and Oidah are really close to my post!!! I have a place to relax every once in awhile! The beach is my relaxation, just wish I could have the family with me to enjoy the beauty! Miss and love you all!!! P.S. I love the letters and packages I am getting!! They are really helping me survive!!! And of course, they make me smile!!! It’s love from America!!! J

I sit here in my room and I try to come to reality that I am really, truly in Benin, Africa. I look back at my last couple of years and I just cant believe how far I come; I mean I have traveled to Africa for goodness sake! Everyday I learn something new about the culture over here. It is way different than what I expected, I mean I knew it was going to be different, but jeez. The number one thing that I am learning on top of French of course is PATIENCE!! You cant have enough patience here; it is always welcome. I am super happy to be at my post, even though it’s not truly my house….moving into another one someday…supposed to be soon…but hey…we shall see. It’s nice to be done with training. I didn’t think it was ever going to end. I achieved Intermediate High, which by the way is a miracle because I continuously speak Spanish, French and English together…it’s a big cluster in my brain for sure..hahahaha! I am def. ready to get to know my town, the kids, families, and get to know my way around town. I have to get the best deals at the markets and know where the best place to buy American food! lol You never know when you will get those cravings!! I miss the USA and my FAMILY a ton, but I will continue to say I am ready for this; I can do it!! It is only going to be a little less than 2 years now!! I have made it a long way thus far!!! I appreciate all of the support and love I am getting from the US of A! Love you all! xoxoxoxoxoxo Oh and p.s. packages take forever to get here, but I will be sure to check all of the time!!!! && I hope to get an internet key so I can have wi-fi at my house….but that also is still in the process….Oh boy, I have two years! Going to be great! It has changed me into a different person already, but def. for the better!!!! <3

Well I have been kinda slacking with my blogs because of the crazy, unorganized things that I have to deal with! Everyday is different, yet the same. I have quit asking why because I believe I just might go crazy. I am going to be moving into my third house in three weeks here in Lokossa. The first one was the previous volunteers, the second was too expensive for the school to pay (why move me there in the first place) and the third, get ready for this is RIGHT ACROSS THE DIRT PATH from the 1st house!!!!!! Yes, if you need to read that sentence again, please feel free to do so!! Anyways, I love Lokossa. It is a great town, everyone is nice even though I have to always be careful with creepers sometimes! That is normal anywhere though, right? I am close enough to other volunteers to go visit or whatever. They come and visit me more because I am the one with the Bank!! I enjoy watching the baby goats, chickens, and little kids dancing. I swear they come out the womb knowing how to bust a move! The way they move their bodies has me in awe! Good thing it is not a bad thing to stare around here. I have met a lot of cool people, older Mama’s and Tata’s. Everyone wants to feed me constantly which is a good and bad thing. I cant seem to get over having to use the bathroom everyday; it just may be the spicy foods that I am not used to yet, or maybe there is a parasite crawling around in me! If it doesn’t get better, I know I can always go to Cotonou for a check-up! It is pretty close; about a 2 hour taxi ride! I started school last week, but didn’t really have to do a thing! I was trying to get my schedule! I went EVERYDAY and they said oh, come back tomorrow! NO SCHEDULE! Going in blind….whatever!!!! A new lifestyle and a new adventure everyday. I am going to a Halloween party on the 30th! Have to get a costume made….hmmmm what should I be!? I have been getting a lot of letters!! I will try to write back to everyone asap! I am planning on getting an internet key so I can talk and use the internet whenever I want! When it rains here, it is super loud and everything is flooded in a blink of an eye!! But, have no worries, the heat comes and sucks all that water into the terrain and there isnt a sign of water anywhere……can you imagine? The skies are so beautiful here at night!! There are so many stars=unbelievable! I could sit outside all night and just relax…but then the mosquitos come out and get ya!!! They sneak up on ya like a raptor from all directions!! I laugh all the time because the Beninese people have a system, they have a cloth that they constantly whip themselves with really fast to keep the little pests away! Or every once in awhile you might hear a big SLAP!!!!! Funny amusement that I deal with on a day to day basis! I have been eating a variety of foods and yes, I am getting enough protein now MOM!!! Finding my way around and getting along with everyone!!! It’s great, I know I can do this!! Now, I just need a schedule so I can plan for vacations to Grand Popo and to a Safari during December or January! Time sure is flying by! Miss and love everyone!!!! xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Power is out once again. Whenever there is a big storm there is no power. Everyone takes cover and the women wear shower caps!!! The hair is so important here. You can find a place to do your clothes and hair anywhere! My kind of place lol! Met a really nice friend. He has all of the connections it seems! He found a fridge man for me, a place to buy a internet key, good food, hes a good cook and even helped me with my laundry!! His sister even braided my hair for free!! Went and watched him play soccer as well!! That was quite the experience seeing how there arent many women there! And I stick out like a sore thumb lol!! Used to it kinda! Bien integre slowly but surely!!!! Well, anyways….lol Its 5 oclock and have not heard anything from the school about moving! noone communicates here. my patience is being tested to the limit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ugh!!!!!!!!!!!! One day I will look back on these past three weeks and laugh, just feel like crying now though! I have no control and we just have to do what SHE says! On a positive note, I am still surviving and still standing! I get my puppy soon!!! xoxo Oh, funny thing=I had to correct my homologue on saying that Coca Cola does NOT have cocaine in it!!! and everyone says they speak SMALL SMALL English lol I am like you should say A LITTLE BIT!!! Fun times!

Patience is one thing I am learning! :)

Wow, what a long couple of weeks it has been! I have def. been on an emotional roller coaster, but yet, I am still hanging in there! I refuse to give up and once I get through this training which by the way is coming up really quickly, I will feel a lot better. I will have my own house, worry about what I want to worry about and live life to the fullest! I will be an official volunteer Sept. 17th!! Oh, it is bittersweet….I will miss a lot of my friends because they are going to be posted kind of far away, but hey that will call for a taxi trip up to see them that is all! We are in our last week of model school! I am about ready to be done for sure!! The kids are great, just is super tough to teach, learn French for a million hours a day, then lesson plan for the next day….AND….come home to my host family. This cultural exchange thing is difficult here sometimes because you never know you are offending someone or doing something that is making another Beninese person mad. I have def. learned a lot and will continue to learn more about the Beninese people so I can get through day to day life a little easier. The teachers traveled to Grand Popo--the BEST day in Benin thus far!! I got to run around in the sand, take jumping pictures with friends, and enjoy the crashing waves and breeze that surrounded the beach! We were not allowed to swim in the water because of the strong under toe but hey Kayla is not swimming in the ocean! No, no, and no! There are big sharks out there waiting for me I know it!! Hahaha!!! Next weekend, we are going to travel to Oidah, a slave port from many years ago. Oh FYI the beach and Oidah are really close to my post!!! I have a place to relax every once in awhile! The beach is my relaxation, just wish I could have the family with me to enjoy the beauty! Miss and love you all!!! P.S. I love the letters and packages I am getting!! They are really helping me survive!!! And of course, they make me smile!!! It’s love from America!!!

Days go by...enjoy that breeze!

Days are just flying by here in Benin! I have heard so many people say life is a roller coaster around here and they are so right! I study everyday for French and try to practice as much as I can at home with my family! Lately, it has been quite interesting, now that I can help around the house and understand what is being said for the most part! There are more laughs and happy times as compared to before where there was frustration and tears..I mean it is still difficult on a daily basis, but there is progress. I have a rough time with doing things the WRONG way! Just different culture, I guess. I have to learn how to do things the RIGHT WAY to fit into the Beninese culture! I have started model school where students come to learn some English during their summer vacation. It is a lot of fun, but a ton of work on top of all the studying I do...oh well life goes on...ONE DAY at a time...sometimes hour by hour! I have enjoyed each day of teaching and have fun with the students for the most part! YAY!!! I am doing all right! I just cant wait to get to my post so I can have my own classes and get with the program there! I take time to enjoy each and every breeze that comes through here and listen to the bugs chirp at night even though there will always be the crazy nightmares that I have about ants and cockroaches in my bed because of the malaria meds. But hey, you just have to take time for yourself--ME TIME!! A wise woman once told me, "all you can do is your best, that has to be good enough, take time to rest your brain, it is a lot to take in...it's like a marathon race, not speed that matters, but endurance!!" Thank YOU MOM! :) Just a couple more weeks of training, I can do this!

Closer and closer :)

Well, Benin, Africa is getting better with just a little communication here and there. I am still sweating every drop of water I drink out right after my bike ride to school in the morning. AND YES IT IS THE RAINY SEASON! Haha I hate to say it, but I might miss the snow….oh not yet!! I am making a lot of new friends—we are def. a big family here. We are full of all kinds of excitement and great ideas. We will be model teaching soon which is where the trainees will be practicing teaching with a friend and getting some feedback….I got this covered…haha so I hope! ;p Went and hung out with some of the stagiers today after school. It was tons of fun. I actually had my first beer from Benin. Everyone was like IT IS ABOUT TIME!!  Been a little sick lately in the bathroom situation, but I believe it will get better. I am determined not to get sick….ugh I know I know it will happen. I think I am just going to cut back on the spicy foods and drink MORE WATER if that is even possible! I get to see my post soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Taking it one day at a time….served my mama dinner, did the dishes, brought in my bike from outside, and took out the trash….moving up in the world…I guess tomorrow I am going to be preparing DINNER!! YIKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think they are in for a  dinner. Haha I will prepare with my sister so no one gets sick…miss everyone!! Xoxox

MY TRIP TO AN FROM LOKOSSA!

The day has come that I have visited my post. It was an amazing experience. I travelled by taxi to Lokossa with my director, three other TEFL volunteers and their directors. Yes, all of us in one taxi. If you could only imagine how sardines feel? Haha It took approx. 3 hours to get to my post. We stopped along the way so our driver could pee behind the car, pay people at various stops for some reason I do not know, and to buy fish, bread, and some other stuff from street vendors. They would just shove the raw fish in my face like I would want it more if I can smell it and see the eyeballs staring back at me saying EAT ME EAT ME!! I was a little woozy! My host family was nice. I had to stay in a room where there was a dead bolt that worked well, but I could not open it back up…It broke constantly…I had to have my little brother come free me from this outside room which by the way was far away from the bathroom (shared with gramps). Interesting having to pass through his room to use the bathroom and shower…I ate pretty well, saw my house—where I will be staying for the next 2 years—went to the market which only happens every four days..there was live crab, yes, more fish, and anything else I will ever need to survive. There are lots of cybers with internet around town and even other Americans. If I need anything, I can go visit the American missionaries that feed my mint choc. Ice cream. I have no idea where they bought it, but they have it! I will learn my way around town pretty quick, I am sure. Sleeping is also kind of hard there. There are baby goats crying all night, roosters and chickens everywhere and I was worried about lions and hippos. I guess I can go see some hippos somewhere close to my post. Heard they like to follow you around. Oh crap, first it was birds, now hippos!!! Haha I might pee my pants and not even care. I mean who cares, people pee wherever they want here anyways. After a couple days at my post, I travelled back to Porto Novo all by myself. The taxi driver actually brought my straight to my house! I must be ok with my French esp. if it a matter of being lost in Africa! I was packed in the taxi like a sardine again and this time there were chickens in a shopping bag just chilling on the floor behind me. Yes, chickens—in the taxi--! I get to have cake again tomorrow bc it’s my host sisters 23rd birthday! Oh, and I had a petit go and buy me a Coca Cola today. It’s great! So, yes, I am surviving and yes I am going to have a ton of stories to tell when I get back—but just know—noone can really understand the life here if you do not live it! Miss and love you all!!! XOXOXOXO p.s. look @ pics on FACEBOOK! 

GOT MY POST!!!!!!!!!!

My days in Benin get more and more interesting everyday!!!! Throughout my days, I go to school, learn a ton of French even though it is so tough with this Spanish accent of mine, ride my bike and sweat to death even though it is the rainy season....I go out to get a Coca Cola once in awhile but have to ride a Zem moto...have the burn on my leg to prove it...lol its healing ok...life would not be so much fun without a little craziness hahahaha ANDDDDDDDDD I GOT MY POST!! I will be living in Lokossa in the southwest part of Benin!!!!! It is located in the dept. called MONO! I am two hours from my work station Cotonou..and I believe I am replacing the best volunteer!!! She is amazing because she is leaving me tons of stuff!!!! Such things as school supplies, household things, a fridge, and movies! Thank you Michele!! I am pretty close to the best beach--Gran POPO as well!!! Come visit me you are more than welcome...miss and love you all!!! xoxoxo

Sorry it has been sooo long.....

Well I have survived my first couple of days at the my host family! Benin is nothing like I expected! Nudity is not a problem when in the house, there is trash everywhere and motos are going every which way without a problem for the most part. People are all talking in French all around me…Yovo..yovo is all I hear on the streets. It is quite the experience to be here. I am learning more and more French everyday. Hope I get the hang of it before long. My host family is very helpful; they do not let me really do anything around the house though. My sisters and mama do the work. It is hard because I like to help out and clean all of the time! Haha I am doing okay with the food. Eating a lot of bread, rice, water with Special K drink mix that I brought from home. Protein is hard to come by around here. I have to make sure I ask for some fruit and vegetables. I got my water filter going and my stove put up for boiling the water. I got to go to a Fashion Show one night and hang out with two friends of my sister. Had to ride a moto so guess what? I had to lugg my moto helmet around!!! It is attached to me already. I have limited internet time here. Hopefully when I get to post, it will be better!! One can only hope!! Miss and love you all! Call me if you can! I always have my phone on…xoxoxox

Well, things are going better everyday. I am learning the language slowly but surely and meeting new people all of the time. I am def. living in another world here in Benin. I have to watch my every step just in case I might step in a hole in the sidewalk or even come across the occasional boulder that is resting in the way. I have travelled to many different ATM’s and they are either not in service or do not accept the USA cards. Through the days, I have learned to bathe from buckets, use the restroom without sitting on a seat or in a latrine…a BIG hole in the ground…you have to really watch your aim! Some people miss all the time….I will just let your imagination wonder….GROSS!!! My host family is great. I live with a mama and two sisters. I actually was riding to school with my mama on a moto and she proceeded to go a bit too fast up a pile of sand and we had a little accident….we will be laughing about it for awhile….all is well—she just had to get her plastic cover fixed because it was cracked. I just sit outside sometimes and I hear the occasional trumpet sound, motos in the streets, children singing the YOVO YOVO song, and the different churches praying…it’s a whole new world and I am def. coming home a whole new person….if it hasn’t happened to you…it WILL happen to me…it’s like I cant live a calm life..there is always some kind of crazy thing happening to me…I love every minute of it! XOXOXO

Today is August 1, 2010—The 50th Anniversary/Independence Day of Benin. I wanted to go to the parade and to see the President arrive to speak, but instead I watched it on television. My sisters stay at home and prepare food and clean the house all day and my mama is not feeling very good. So, I have used my time wisely and uploaded pictures on my computer and charged up all of my electronics. I am kind of bored here at my house. We just eat, clean, and sleep, but my weeks go by pretty fast because I have school all day everyday Monday-Saturday. Well Saturdays are only until 12 but it is better than nothing. I am tired a lot because my brain is taking in so much. While in class on Saturday (July 31st) the voodoo parade went by a couple of times. It is just a bunch of music and a man in a BIG BLUE trash bag like dancing around. I thank God for the technology of today. Without it, I would probably go crazy lol!!  I have about 7 more weeks here in Porto Novo. I get to see my post at the end of this week I believe. I am super pumped!!!!! I really hope I am replacing someone, but hey I am just happy to be here and do my part for the Peace Corps. Time is flying by…I forget what feeling cold is…haha soooo hot here and it’s the rainy season….until next time!!! Miss everyone! XOXOX

Almost time for my host Family :)

I am having a great time here in Cotonu, Benin. All of the people are very nice and helpful no matter what I need. I changed my money at the Western Union today--bring $100 bills and you can get the best exchange!!!! I take malaria pills everyday and shots such as typhoid on Wednesday! I had my first tutoring session today with my teacher--he is very nice---I am in the Novice Low level but am very determined to learn as fast as I can. The staff here is great and I have 100% confidence in them! :) I am going to have training tomorrow for the motos!! (main transportation here in Cotonu! I also had my interview discussing my post-I have really no idea where I will be posted though. We shall see! Also, I do not know how I am going to get all of my stuff into a taxi to get to my post! I have now a moto helmet, bike, bike helmet, french books from my teacher and staff, and my 80 pounds of things I brought from the USA! If there is a will there is a way!! Haha I am having a great time and will try to keep my blog updated. Can't wait to meet my host family so I can get some clothes made for me!

IN BENIN!!

Arrived in Benin, do not have much time! Having a great time! Everyone is so nice and I am going to start learning French tomorrow! Oh, I am so excited!!! I will be getting a phone soon! Have to change my dollars into FRANKS!! Ok, dont worry!! I will try to keep in contact more when I am at my host family and post!!

Off to Benin I go...

Leaving in the morning to go to Philly then we have a not so wonderful bus trip to JFK airport to fly to Benin, Africa! Had a wonderful weekend with the family even though it started to rain!! I practiced some French in the car, but I might of practiced the wrong pronunciation!! Haha Oh well, I am very excited to meet some new people and start learning FRENCH from a teacher! I am all packed up; hope I have everything I need! It is going to be hard to leave the family for a couple years, but I know I will see them again! We will keep in contact all of the time! Thank goodness for technology!!! I will try to keep the blogs coming! Training might take up a lot of my time! But hey, it will be great!! Thank you to all my supporters out there! It really helps me feel a little more comfortable!! Love you all!!

Only days away...

...from arriving in Benin...packing is almost done and I am going on my final vacation with the family to Letchworth State Park in New York. I am going to spend my last couple of days relaxing around a campfire and hiking...The family and I are going to enjoy every second!!! It is going to be really hard to leave everyone for so long, but I know I can get through! I cant wait to meet all of the wonderful Peace Corps volunteers already over in Benin patiently waiting for the new arrivals!!! :) I have some requests as well that I will be bringing to Benin from the United States! Hahaha. See everyone soon!!! Can't wait!!!

8 DAYS!!

The weekend was amazing. My friend from Maryland came to stay with me for a couple of days...we had a great time! Even got to go to breakfast at Cracker Barrel (our favorite place) with my dad on the way back from the airport...that was nice and yummy!!! My parents planned a very fun going away party for me as well! Love you guys! Went shopping for some comfortable sandals that I will need for riding my mountain bike and hiking all around Benin!! I also found a cute, yet appropriate skirt below my knees...it is important to look respectful so the people are not offended in Benin....it's ok with me...I am going to learn and become acquainted with a brand new culture...I can't wait! :) I am getting a little nervous though as the days are moving faster and faster! Learning French and getting used to the pace of life there is going to be the hardest part for me...but who knows, maybe I will learn French pretty quick...oh boy my fingers are crossed! I THINK I CAN...I THINK I CAN!

Packing for Benin :)

15 days until I leave for Benin, Africa!!! Words can't express how excited I am! Packing in just two suitcases and a carry-on is really difficult for me!!! I seem to pack more than I need...what girl doesn't? Hahaha Time seems to be moving super fast...the family is having a going away party for me this Saturday from 4pm-ALL NIGHT!! That is going to be a great night! Can't wait!! I have a great family and a wonderful group of friends!!! :) I will make sure I get everyone my mailing address so I can get some care packages and letters...hint hint!! I am going to enjoy these last couple weeks in the United States and prepare my mind for the next 27 months in Benin!