Planning my life in Benin is quite a relay race! Always something to do; always another turn to take. I feel like I am in the best shape of my life and out of breath at the same time! I just finished my application process for the Scholarship Girls program. The program consists of paying of tuition, uniform, notebooks, pens, along with anything else is needed for one girl in Lokossa, Benin (my post). The Peace Corps volunteers can choose to do this project and I wanted to, no I needed to do this for a girl. If, I could I would try to get all of the girls in Benin the scholarship, but sadly there are only 20 scholarships for Benin. We (PCVs) work hard every year with GAD (Gender and Development) projects to earn money for the girls and women of Benin. Slowly, but surely, every girl will have the help and support to at least go to school. The girl that succeeded in the application process at my school is a 9th-10th grader. She lost her father due to an illness that included urine in the blood. Her mother just works out the house and earns very little. The girl is named Gisele and she works really hard during the summer vacations just to pay for school for a year. It is only 15,000 cFa which is about 30$ in US dollars. Can you imagine? 30$ is only a couple hours of work for us. Anyways, she is very happy, her mother was almost in tears. She didn’t speak French, but I could understand everything just from her happiness and facial expressions. I almost cried, but I was strong for my Scholarship Girl-Gisele! I am now going to have the time to work with an English Club at my school. We are going to write letters to America and work on English grammar and such. ALSO!! We are going to take pictures for the “Where’s Matt?” from The Today Show. We are going to make signs that say, “Bonjour America” and “Matt is in Lokossa, Benin!” I give all the props to my mom though. She is the one who sent me the link to “Flat Matt.” I hope we can get on TV or something. I think the kids will just have a good time with the taking of pictures. Just to see them smile makes my service worthwhile. I am still teaching for the UNHCR in Cotonou once in awhile. Teaching the refugees is always a treat! I have been to two days of teaching the beginners, intermediates, and advanced children and adults and one day of conversation hour. Another project that I am GOING to do is a hand-washing station or two at my school. The kids use the WC (latrine), pee, eat, drink water, etc and DO NOT wash their hands. It drives me crazy! And then there is me with my hand sanitizer and the kids going EWWW that stinks! I say OK-but my hands are clean. Another problem or may I say misunderstanding?... is that people say they wash their hands; but it is only with water! NO SOAP! So, I am going to do a sensitization (talking to a group of parents and kids) on how to wash your hands properly with soap and water in both French and English and maybe, just maybe local language from a translator! Haha! I am not that good in local language! ;)
My second year has been going pretty smoothly. I have started my classes with no problems, had a couple of days off due to downpour of rain, All Saints Day, and “Tabaski” holiday for the Muslim religion. But I have seen two rainbows I believe, interesting, yet scary cloud formations, and unbearable sunshine along the way. I keep telling the locals that I am not made of sugar and I will not melt because you know everyone and anyone is afraid of the rain. But, I think they have that right. There was someone who got washed up in the rainstorm-fell off his motorcycle and into a ditch and passed away. We have to think-the roads are sand and dirt. When we mix it with water it is a huge mud pit! Quite dangerous to walk in, drive in, etc. So, normally we just stay indoors and play Skip-Bo, UNO and watch movies! Oh yea and I have read so many books! If you don’t love reading-it is going to be a long service in Peace Corps. I have a book with me when I travel in the taxi, stop at the mechanic for the motorcycle problems, at the radio station, at school meetings that don’t start on-time, when I have insomnia…umm probably could go on and on. It is not that we have free-time, it’s that we work at a slower pace here. I just kind of get used to it. Who knows how my time in the states will be after my two-year service here. But, I always remember, the “turtle won the race!” and that is all that matters.
I am counting down the days until I get to see SNOW!! Who would of ever thought I would say that! Okay, I probably do not have a choice in seeing snow, I can’t wait to see family and friends! It is going to be a great time. We are going to have Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years all in the 19 day period I am going to be home. Is it possible? Oh yes it is! I know I am going to gain a lot of weight from being at home, but so be it! My pants are falling off of me here-maybe because of hand washing or the food and water. Who knows? Cream sticks at the airport, Cracker Barrel right after along with whatever else comes along…I won’t refuse anything…will do my some good. Also, I will be able to see the Steelers vs Browns game on Christmas Eve! Go Steelers! I think a couple of my family and friend members might come to Benin and choke me for saying that! I have been working on getting presents for the family from Benin. Let me tell you how hard it is to find things that people are actually going to use in the USA. The clothes, shoes, everything is different here. The style is so different in the states. But, I have been quite imaginative and creative! You WILL see! It is a secret.
Let me end this blog on a weird malaria medicine dream that I had. Yes, my medication gives me weird dreams-sometime s hallucinations and nightmares, but it is all right. This particular dream that I had was so interesting that I still remember it one week later. There were a lot of PCVs who were losing teeth here in Benin. I was one of them. I lost one of my molars-root and all and I could not find any milk to put it in. So, instead a nurse (old lady) who I do not know took my tooth and put mayonnaise on it and wrapped it in a napkin. So, after this, the PCVs and I were running around everywhere with a certain doctor/dentist-again I don’t know him-to get the teeth put back into our mouths. He had to call in and get the building opened. During this time, my tooth was turning into a moldy carrot because of course it was covered in mayonnaise. I NEEDED MILK! Evidently, this problem was normal for Benin. Anyways, we finally go into the office and I got my tooth back in my mouth. I was showing everyone around that I was finally cured of my missing tooth. There was no mold and such-I think I forgot that part of the dream-anyways-I woke up feeling all my teeth! All were there. Okay, so you ask why I had that dream. I asked myself the same thing and I came up with something. Here in Benin, the water does not have fluoride like it does in the states. So, our teeth do not get proper care and I am always worried. But, we never know why we have the weird dreams. I always blame the malaria medicine. But then I thank the medication for saving me from MALARIA!
See you all soon! Love you!
P.S. Thank you for the post card from Holland! That was very thoughtful of you. It made my day!
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