dum dum dum....

Well, I just feel like writing today and thought I would talk a little bit about my last couple weeks at post before school starts again. It has been quite the couple weeks, let me tell you. Like I said before, I wanted to start my playground project this Friday. I came the morning of and there were a million bricks in my plot of land. That was a problem. So, I said I will be back on Wednesday (because of mid-service appt) to start the playground. Michel and the kids said that they would have the ground all level and ready to go! Okay, so they promised me. Maybe promises are true. Just maybe. Well, today is Wednesday! Let’s see if the ground is ready. Are the bricks all gone-relocated? Hmm. What do you think? A BIG NO! I stayed with the kids-put bricks on their heads, and they hauled them to another location. I have the scratches and dirty hands to prove it. These kids work like machines! Yes, they carried the bricks on their heads. Two at a time sometimes. Intense. Little baby mice and mommy mice were found. The kids are so determined to kill them as well as any lizards that came pooping out of the bricks. They move like Speedy Gonzalez and get the job done-but then they have to show me. Yea, nice huh? Anyways, we moved bricks in the rain. Okay, now Thursday is here. We have started the playground. The kids surprised me and went out working on the land once again starting at 6:30am. I was so happy! They made it all nice and pretty. The kids and I put 15 tires in the ground-one is actually used as a trampoline. Check the pictures out ;) I have to go to Cotonou once again to see a special doctor. I guess I have a weird looking mole on my side. Better safe than sorry-just do not like traveling back and forth to Cotonou all the time. This will be the 4th time in one month-not cool. Anyways, it feels kind of nice to have a sore back, calves, and battle wounds on my hands and feet. Work hard; it will pay off eventually. Saturday, we are going to start on the balance beam and stairs with the tires and hopefully be done for the time being. Hope it turns out okay. The kids seem to enjoy it this far. It was nice to see them laughing and enjoying themselves. They were being so imaginative-pretending to be driving a car, motorcycle and even tunnel crawling. It is so fun!

Fall is coming in America-THE SUN is coming back in Benin!

September is finally here! The last month of school vacation, but trust me it has not felt like a vacation. This month alone I have been gathering tires and organizing my playground project with the orphanage. I explain and go over the logistics with Michel, the orphanage caretaker. Everything was ready, the spot I was going to use was cleared for flattening out and starting the playground and guess what?! The next day there were three huge piles of sand in the spot! Are you kidding me? Now, I have to get the orphanage to clear that out of the way. I went this morning to get started on clearing the spot and putting the tires; monster truck and tiny tires; under the mango tree at the orphanage. But you guessed it; he is nowhere to be found! He knew I was coming this morning. When he arrives, I have a child coming to get me at my house and am going to be “beeped” on my cell phone. He is a nice guy, but he is hard to get a hold of for sure. So, yeah I have to stay home all day waiting and praying for someone to let me know they are ready. I feel like I am aging quite quickly these days lol. YAY I got word that Michel is at the orphanage. Gotta run! Well, that was a great experience. The kids worked hard, even the babies. They were picking up big rocks and relocating them away from the plot of land we are using. They were very protective of their rocks. Some were stealing rocks just to have the “most” in the bowl. What really touched me is that there were kids with braces on their legs who were working so hard. They were not thinking about their disability; they were there to help Madame Kay. The lesson for me here is: No matter how tired I may be or how much I think no one cares about my playground, just know they care! Every single one of those kids worked hard, in the sun, with the supplies we were able to find. We had one hoe, one rake, a MTN sign, two shovels, and a couple of big bowls and some plastic lids that we used to clear the land. It looks nice and ready for building. Tomorrow, I am going to go back in the morning and show some examples of how we are going to arrange the tires. I have to go to Cotonou Wednesday so I will be coming back Thursday to get the tires out and ready for building. Hopefully, we can get the playground up within these next 2-3 weeks. I told the kids that I would give them gifts for helping me; for working in the heat. I will be giving them notebooks, pencils, pens and whatever else I can find for school supplies. (have tons thanks to MOM!) Yes, it is a big gift for the kids. Every year they have trouble finding the money for notebooks and such. I really hope this project turns out to be a success! God willing everything will work out as planned. Yesterday was September 11, 2011. It marked the 10th year of the terrorism attack on the USA. Here in Benin, the people would ask me if I enjoyed my day, if I partied well, why I was so quiet and calm and I do not think anyone can explain how hard the day is for the world. I had to explain, we do not celebrate this day; we remember the people who lost their lives, the firefighters, the police, the military; anyone who wanted to help. We thank our troops have been fighting for ten years. We will never forget . The second plane hitting the World Trade Center will never leave my head. I was in 8th grade in Advanced English class. I cried. God Bless America. So, I will be traveling to Cotonou three times this month. I already went once to teach UNHCR-the refugees-English. I actually taught with Julia; PCV for the environment. There were refugees from Togo, Burkina Faso, Congo, and the Ivory Coast. I taught Intermediate and Advanced levels. At the Intermediate level, I taught the difference between Simple Present tense and Present Continuous and at the Advanced level I taught/debated global warming. I will be teaching only once every couple months. There are many other PCV’s who will come teach English as well. It is a great program. The refugees were very nice and very interested in learning and speaking English. I will heading to Cotonou again this week for a Volunteer Allegation training. Next week is my mid-service physical. That is going to be an experience in itself I believe. Three mif-kits, blood work, etc. I really hope I do not need to stay there too long. But, you know life goes on. Have to take it one day at a time. We should not sweat the things we can’t control too much here in Benin. But, wish me luck! ;) P.S. I am starting to sweat just looking outside...lol ;)