9 month comin' up!

Life in Benin is coming along after a few potholes in the red, sandy paths. I am presently watching “Bambi” 1942 edition! Yes, please believe it! I have actually been watching quite a few movies lately. They help me fall asleep. I think the meds I take to prevent malaria give me insomnia or something. Have weird dreams, I can tell ya that! Anyways, I had the local Spelling Bee in Lokossa and have my two winners. That was def. a struggle because most of my kids got stage fright or something. One of my girls actually was shaking so much, I had to hold her hand. The more ya think about it, the more you see the kids are all the same in 7th and 8th grade all over the world. Kids will be kids. I remember being that young, now I feel like I am getting old, but always young at heart. We are going to travel to Nati in June for the National Spelling Bee. Should be interesting. Now, I am going to pick my girls for Camp GLOW. I plan to get some good chalkboards for my outside classrooms soon. Just having trouble talking with my director. She wants a new classroom and she will not let up. I tell her all the time, that is not what my first priorities are. The kids need chalkboards in the classrooms they do have now. They need lights that actually work, FIRST. She is constantly comparing me to previous volunteers; that sometimes erks me. But hey, everything happens for a reason. I am going to do the best I can and hopefully I can help many people; especially my kids! So, things are coming along as good as “good” can be here. Love it. The food is really loving me for the most part…we eat a lot of things with peppers…the kind of peppers that make your lips numb and your bum…well ya know. Haha I eat a special sauce with la pate called “Kling Kling” which is slimy, yet satisfying…Hakuna Matata! On another note---OMGoodness it is SOOO HOT HERE! Showers don’t help much either as my pipes usually make the water warm!!!! NEED cold WATER!! And maybe a towel to wipe the sweat off my face, neck and back during the walk to school and during class time! Never will say I am hot again in the USA haha! It has a rained a few times, but that doesn’t last very long…but I sure do sleep well when it falls. Actually had to go to school one day and it was pouring..but I was loving every minute of it. I had my poncho and I was set to go. All the zems refused to take me to school, but I got lucky and found one on his way. Yes, he went through the biggest mud puddle on the huge road and yes, he laughed the whole time. I was like BE CAREFUL- but I laughed all the way to school! And get this! I get there and my vice principal was like why didn’t you stay home? HUH!!!!!! Learning my share of local language--love greeting and talking a little here and there. I cant stress how nice people are here. They keep saying that I should live here forever and have at least 6 kids…oh boy not 6 kids! This year is the election year and boy has it been a roller coaster ride for the Beninese people here. The Presidential election date was changed several times and many people are not happy. But, life goes on. There is a lot of fighting going on in the countries surrounding Benin, such as Burkina Faso, Niger, Cote de Ivore. Libya, and in Egypyt before. But do not worry, Benin is actually pretty calm for the time being. I feel safe and sound in Lokossa, so please don’t worry. I would come home the first second there was danger! ;) Great news, I am coming home in December for a couple of weeks! I am going to spend Christmas and New Years in the STATES!!! I am so happy! It will def. be a good break to come back and finish off my service in Benin in Aug. or Sept. 2012 (at the latest). I spend a lot of my nights watching the shooting stars up in the sky! They are just so beautiful. I believe I also see the bright satelites that are up in space. It is a fun game to try and count all the stars…that will def. get you a little tired! I wish I could share the same experience of the stars here with my whole family and all my friends! It is so amazing! Miss and love you all! I appreciate all the support from family, friends, and teachers from home! Xoxoxoxoxoxo See ya in 8 months or so! Haha J Bisou Bisou!