Chuga Chuga Choooo Choooo...umm yea! ;)

My roller coaster ride is still going strong at full speed ahead. I have been through a lot since my last blog post and I would just like to tell you a little about my journey. People are really nice here, but you have to be careful. Always be cautious; pick your friends wisely. Keep your ATM card hidden away from any other eyes or sticky fingers! That is all I am going to say on that! Trust me--fingers are like glue around here. But then again, that is def. everywhere in the world. There are good, trustworthy people and then there are the bad, sneaky people. Period. As far as school is going, the kids are driving me clear up a mountain side (rather than the wall). We are coming up on our 3rd test out of 4 for the year. Time is really flying by! I am pretty much at the same level as the other teachers…just a little ahead…and classes go pretty smooth otherwise. Imagine one day at school with me: Good morning Madame, give me 25 cfa, Madame, Good afternoon, I am thirsty….I am hungry….Do we have class today? Are we going to have a quiz? Madame! I am sick, I want to go home. Madame!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How are you? In a whisper from the girls? Speak up I say…you are intelligent…Madame Kay--He stole my pen, he hit me..she hit me..I need to poop…please Madame…etc…etc…etc…you are beautiful madame! Madame…I am coming over to your house and we are going to prepare la pate….what are you going to prepare for me? Here is some chalk…a present for you! Please do not leave us…stay in Benin! If you cant follow my mummble jumble….welcome to my life! It is a giant mummmmbbbllleee jummmble! Hahaha I go to bed and wake up with a headache…there are times where I dream my kids came over and I wake up and there is noone there. They are def. stuck to me like glue. I am never alone…and they see everything…when I have a pimple…they are like don’t you sleep with a mosquito net?! I was like yea…the sun and sweat does this to my face! That is so funny…the idea of a pimple is not normal around here….just everything is from the mosquito…hmmm. Now, to the life in the USA. Is everyone having a baby or what? My neighbor here is actually going to have a baby soon! Tis the season for babies, I guess. It is super hot here right now! Heat rash on the hands does not seem to want to go away…but sometimes I do think it gets better…it has rained here a couple of times like Noah should bring his Arc for me to float on! My puppy is no longer a puppy anymore…someone cut off her tail….she loves to chase the chickens and goats around…she is my little shadow, but she does like to travel around the neighborhood a lot…she is probably Prego or going to be soon! So, she will join the club of babies--yikes! Coming on 8 months now in Benin…going to be busy with Spelling Bee, BESA which is a test for the top students from each school district around here, Camp Glow, GAD Dinner (Gender and Development) tutoring, and English Club (where I have to explain that Antartica and North and South America are all continents). They are taught that North and South America are just America (one continent) and where is Antartica? Huh? What? Oh south…end of the world…down there…la bas?! When do I sleep? On Wednesday mornings until about 10am. I have been eating pretty well…noone will let me even be a little hungry…I am always about to EXPLODE with constipation sometimes! Too many carbs! Very thankful for great friends around here. Got some more clothes made! I love wearing the traditional clothes here…but then there are days where I just need to wear my good jeans and a nice shirt! I miss everything from the USA….but I know it will be there when I come home! I will be coming home December for three weeks! Yes!!!!!! Oh one last thing…if you have a store or an outside bar (buvet) then you should always include God in the title! Ex: “God is good.” “God is here with us.” “Thank you God.” “God will do it.” They use these names rather than “WalMart, “7/11”, “Sheetz” etc….haha and one of the gas stations I saw was called “Bonjour!” Miss and love you all….still hangin in there…doing the best I can..that is all anyone can ask for…until next time! xoxoxo