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!
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