Just a little chit chat :)

Just sitting here at the radio and enjoying another great book. It is vacation here for me and things can get pretty boring around here. No school, kids are in the fields and I read books. Lots of books and shed a few tears once in awhile because of the books… No worries. Things are going really well for me. Nice and smooth. Cool and calm literally. It is the rainy season. I have now reached my one year mark and have moved up in the ranks of grandma. The new trainees are here and it is now time for me to answer those random questions, share my experiences, and breathe oh so well. Despite the constant air pollution from passing dump trucks, motorcycles, mini scooters. You know the people can buy gas like we do in the USA but most of the time it is better for the pocketbook to buy from the side of the road. Yes, they sell the gas from Nigeria in plastic and glass bottles. Just imagine the giant Kool-Aid plastic containers used as gas holders here in Benin. You know if a little flame comes close to the gas area, everyone around could hurt; there could be an explosion. That is just a little chance people take to save a lot of bucks $$! I have been to village and attended many funerals during my vacation. I really enjoyed CAMP GLOW and the Spelling Bee as I said before. I believe I am going to do more camps next year. We shall see. As the days pass, I find time to reflect on the past school year and how I am going to change it for the better. I have many ideas of using less French in the classroom and more visual aids. I believe that the visual aids can really help the students better understand. It is so hard to believe that I am half way done! Goodness gracious. This coming up weekend, I am going to be travelling to work with the trainees for a couple of weeks. I am going to be teaching a model lesson, lesson planning, and trying to get the trainees through another week of STAGE! Been there done that. Glad it is over. HAHA. Once STAGE is over, I am going to Savalou for the yam festival that happens once a year. I will have to take a taxi and a bus to get there. But it is not too far away, but it will be a traveling day for sure. I mean what day of voyage isn’t? You never know if there is going to be a problem: accident, flat tire, slow driver, lost items, etc. I mean, that may sound rough, but I am really used to it. I laugh at the difficult things a lot of the time because if you don’t, you will cry. In other news, I am going to be handing out tourism brochures at one of the many tables that the PCV’s will have. Other tables will include, but not limited to moringa, shea butter, and health and nutrition. It should be a fun time right before school starts back up. It will be nice to have another activity to put on my resume of Peace Corps Benin 2010-2012! Before school starts, I am going to attend a wedding, get some more clothes made and get my hair done, maybe. I kind of enjoy being able to wash my hair in the shower with some smell good shampoo and conditioner from home and not have an itchy head from the braids. LOL!  By new clothes, I mean MORE BUMBAS! They are easy to put on and absorb a lot of the sweat for the walk to and from school, classroom time, and afternoon sun. Yikes, you guys thought you had a hot July in the states. Just kidding, I am sure you guys wanted to do absolutely nothing but sit and sweat to death. I am really sorry you have to suffer through the heat that I sent from Africa. Hahahaha….just wanted some rain for a few months. Okay, I think I have said all I need to say for now. Thank you for the packages and letters! Very nice, thank you! Love you all! Miss you and see you in a few months. December is a great month for me! I can’t wait to see everyone and see all the babies who are growing up so fast. Bye for now. See you soon.