I can see the light....hmmm maybe! ;)

Well here is your update! It is raining cats and dogs! It is raining more this year that it did last year, I think. I mean buckets and buckets, high winds, lightning that lights up the sky, thunder that will make you think a truck has fallen in your front yard! It is currently raining right now! It started at 2pm and I have class at 3pm-5pm. I cannot get out of my front door because there is a flood. No zem will pick me up-everyone has run for cover! This is serious stuff here! I mean people lost roofs, trees fell, and floods have caused another cholera outbreak! What can you do? You can write another blog, read a book, and think about those quizzes to be graded or maybe have a cup of tea since you can’t make it to school. Test week starts next week (June 4th). I have one more day of classes (Thursday) and then the dreaded test grading week! UGH! On the bright side, I have been able to go to some ceremonies including a seamstress diploma ceremony and a baptism for Geraldine all in on weekend! It was a busy one, but a fun one! At the seamstress diploma ceremony, we greeted the new seamstress-her name is Maman Kayla-and we gave her some money, took pictures, danced, people drank sodabi (not me! It is nasty) and play with the twin girls and some other children. At the baptism, we ate some rice, drank a sprite and took some pictures with presents everyone gave (we gave a photo album-thought it would be useful) and then said good bye in local language-azandee (see you later)! The rain is still coming down just to let you know….I don’t understand it-I really need to have my own vehicle here in Benin. It would make life so much easier…but then again, I would probably get it stuck in the mud with all this RAIN! On the bright bright side, it is nice and cool and I am enjoying that! I can sleep peacefully through the night, not have so much heat rash (still get it sometimes) and drink some tea or hot chocolate! It all works out one way or another. Okay, so I know you are all waiting for the information that is coming right up! I will be finishing my service here in Peace Corps on August 20th, 2012. I will be travelling to Spain to see my friend, Oxana and her husband who I have been dying to meet since college! I will be staying there for two weeks (I believe) and two days in Paris! I have to get this traveling in since I will be poor for a very long time with student loans, etc. But before I leave, I have some unfinished business. I am taking two 4eme girls to Cotonou for “Take Our Daughters to Work Day” and some boys to Ouidah for the boys’ camp. And last but not least, I am having my dance competition in the end of June or beginning of July. We are working on prizes and final paperwork things at the moment. Further updates coming your way! Keep a countdown!! I will start counting in July! Xoxo Okay, so I ended up getting to go to school yesterday! It stopped raining 2 minutes before I was supposed to be there. Go figure! Haha! It was good to get class in though seeing how the test week is next week. It was really muddy, but the sun came out a little. I was able to find a zem and pay 100cfa (20 cents) to get to school. Of course when I got to school, my classroom on Tuesday afternoons is out in the boonies and is an outdoor schoolroom. That means it rained in the classroom. The desks were wet and muddy (I don’t know how the mud happened, but anyways) and of course the students were running late. That happens when they all have to walk to school slipping and sliding in the mud! We were able to start class 30 minutes late which was a good time. The students worked hard to get into their seats and start writing their notes from the board. They can be talkative at times, but they tend to be on time and ready to learn. So, it is Wednesday now and I woke up at 7am and started organizing the grades for quizzes and tests for the students in my notebook. I also completed grading quizzes for two classes all by noon. I was able to cook some eggs and have an omelet sandwich in the process. So I got my protein and energy for the day. It rained again today-poured buckets-for about one hour. I have to go to the radio and record some “English Time” shows with my homologue if he is “AVAILABLE.” He is difficult to work with sometimes as he says he can do something and then he changes the plans right at the last minute. He is always in a hurry and there are other difficulties as well. Maybe he just wasn’t cut out for the job or maybe I have to be more patient. Probably a little of both! We have recorded 10 shows thus far and will possibly do another 4 today. We are going to try to make it to 52 but we will do the best that we can! I am going to chill with Timone and Kea for a little while and head over to the radio at 2pm. Well, my homologue did not make it to the radio today and he decided NOT to call me and let me know. I love just waiting around for people not to come. It makes me feel so warm and cozy inside….maybe my blood is just a little hot! So, if anyone knows me well, you know exactly what I did! Take a second! I called him, used my credit, my money to ask him why he has not shown up and if he thinks that it is responsible not to call someone when you can’t make it. He just laughed and said “Merci!” Patience, Kayla! Anyways, I called him and told him he can come Sunday at 5pm. Maybe, he will come. The radio is just important to me and I want to leave enough for when I am gone in the USA. I guess I have done well so far-have not given up yet!

Almost to the end!

Well, I am coming down to my last three months here in Benin. Here in Lokossa. Today is May 6th, 2012 and I am showered and feeling good. I actually have a show going on in my house. My dogs are jumping around like maniacs, running room to room, bed to bed; it is quite the show. The sun is shining, but not too brightly for me to sweat to death right after taking a cold shower. So, I have to tell you, I have been to the hospital a lot lately; not for me, no. There have been family friends’ who have been really sick with stomach problems and two very important babies being born. The hospital is not the place to be. The people who know me know that I cannot stand the hospitals in America; I practically pass out being there. But, here in Benin, it is awful. Not so clean, let’s say. I can’t count how many times I used hand sanitizer just standing in a hallway not touching anything. The smell could really make you sick. The patients have a little room shared with many others; they bring their own food and water, and wear whatever panya they have come in. It is a very different system.. Needless to say, the family friends turned out just fine. They were able to scrounge the money from their family and friends in order to pay for their medicines, vitamins, syringes, and nights in the hospital. It costs about 4 dollars a night to stay in the hospital, the doctor prescribes medicines and vitamins, syringes, IV’s etc and you or a family member are to go buy them before they can be treated. So, you guessed it-no money, no service. There is not an insurance plan here for the Beninese people. Well, not that I know of. Every time, I just see people scrounging around for money here and there. Okay, back to the very important babies! There was a baby girl born and her name is KAYLA! Well, that is part of her name. She has a village name, plus Kayla Violet (Violet was a French girl who came to Benin and worked in the forests up north for a couple of months). Isn’t that so cool? I was super happy about my name finally being able to stay in Benin! I have been trying and trying to convince that Mama’s to name their child, Kayla. It happened. She is a beauty too! But, she seems to have a belly ache quite often. I asked the Mama if she burps the baby and she had no idea what burping was! It is true; they do not burp their babies here. I have not seen a single baby being burped. Okay, and then there is the second very important baby. A baby born was born on May 4th, 2012. On the French calendar, which Benin uses, there are names next to each date. Guess whose name is next to May 4th? Sylvain’s! So, the baby could be named Sylvain, but instead he was named CURTISS! I do not know the rest of the name, but baby Curtiss it is! Great! My first and last name will be in Benin forever! I feel accomplished! He is super cute too. I hope to go take pictures of him today. Well, now I have to tell you about my experience in the maternity ward for the first time here in Benin. What a crazy place, but really normal for everyone here. It does not faze them one bit. Okay, so when I first was walking up to the maternity “open way” because there is no door so I cannot say “doorway,” the sign said “Bonne Maternite” which mean Good maternity. I bet every woman wants to rip that sign down! They are in labor and they aren’t very happy and they see a sign that is kind of mocking them. I don’t know, I wouldn’t be happy to see the sign. Also, here in Benin, the men stay outside, practically on the curb. They are not to go into the maternity ward until the mother and the baby are taken to another room. They do not get to see the baby for awhile. It is very different. Anyways, during their time waiting, the men have to go to the pharmacy right around the corner to pay for medicine for the wives. So, what if the money wasn’t available? That would be a difficult situation. Okay, now here is a question! How do baby girls pee better than I do? I mean, if I pee outside or in a latrine (because there is no other place to pee) it is an accomplishment to not splash pee on my feet! They are professionals. Find a spot (anywhere because they are baby girls and that is accepted here), pull down the panties (usually all they are wearing), squat, pee, pull up panties (no they do not wipe), and go on their merry way. Can you imagine? Professionals, I tell you! Also, how many flies can land on the table where I am eating before I get angry? I still have not gotten over this disgusting fly problem here. I mean, who could? Gross. I have washed my own table with soap and water many times and the waitresses never get it! There are whole families that come join me for lunch almost every time! Little ones all the way to queen flies. Gross. Ew is right! So, I am glad April is done and May is here. April was a long month. I took one week of vacation and I was in Cotonou for one week sick. All better now. Anyways, May is here and now we have one week of tests. Tomorrow is the last day (Monday) then one day of class, one day with a meeting, and the rest of the week Culture Days (Thursday, Friday and Saturday). Friday and Saturday I am going to head to Lobogo to hang with Dione while we do a world map painting at her CEG (school). It should be lots of fun! Can’t wait! And then there is the COS (Completion of Service) conference. We are going to be staying at Hotel du Lac which should be really nice. I hope there is a pool there. I will take my swim suit just in case. At the conference, we are going to choose COS date! How exciting! I am hoping to get a date in August so I can go to Paris and Spain for a couple (2) of weeks. I have a friend who is living in Spain with her husband. I went to college with her and would really love to see her again! Also, during the conference, we are going to be going over all kinds of paperwork that needs to be done before the COS date. I am going to have to go through all of my stuff and return a lot of things to Peace Corps. I am also going to have to give away a lot of my things including my dogs. I will not be able to take care of them in the states, plus my sister is allergic. They will stay with Sylvain. They love him. So, yeah, I am counting down the months even though it is going to be difficult to leave, I have my future to look forward to. I have to get back to school and get back into the swing of things soon. I am not getting any younger you know! Haha! But, for now, I get to enjoy the smells of incents that I bought the other day so my house smells good and eat lots of carbs. I still have Fourth of July to celebrate before I come back to the states. I have my flags, flag plates and napkins, and some decorations to put up. Will give an update later gator!

Oh Benin and your day to day life!

Well, today is April 1st 2012 and Benin has a helmet law! Everyone is to wear helmets or they will pay the price, whatever that may be. But what about the babies that are carried on the backs of mothers or little toddlers who have to sit in between the motorcycle driver and parent? Are there helmets for them? Not that I know of! I do not know how long the “law” is going to last, but it’s a start. Okay, so there is a helmet law and all of the vendors are selling helmets or shall we say “something to put on your head.” People are wearing construction hats, fruit shells (like watermelon) with straps on them, old air force helmets/head covering, baseball and softball helmets, anything they can get their hands on. Also, there are people that actually bought decent helmets, but they wear them backwards because the plastic covering bothers their eyes, on their arms instead of their heads, and on their handle bars! Why buy a helmet if you aren’t going to wear it correctly. Now, we come to the problem of people who do not have enough money to buy a helmet. They have to worry about food in their children’s mouths before a helmet. That is the risk they are taking. I went to Cotonou the other day and funny questions run through my head. Why do people yell out “white person?” Do they find pleasure in seeing me turn and look at them? Is it a game to see who sees the “yovo” first like we do with deer in the woods on a hike or car ride? Why must everyone want to know what I eat and how I eat? You know, I am here in Benin, if I don’t eat your food then I would be hungry all of the time! Why don’t the taxi rides smell so bad anymore? Is it because I smell bad now and can’t tell the difference? Can my right arm get any tanner? I mean the sun’s rays beat down so hard on my arm? How long is that baby going to stare at me before his eyes pop out? If every taxi driver carried a trash bag in his car, how much less litter would there be? Everything is thrown out the window. How many times do I have to listen to the same song with the same beat in this taxi? I happened to have the same taxi driver going to AND from Cotonou today and we listened to the same 4 songs up and back! Are you serious? Is my head going to explode? Maybe one day. Well today is Thursday April 5th, 2012 and it is my last day of teaching before the big two week break! I need it! The kids and I are not collaborating very well these last couple of days. Oh CRUD, the President just said that there is to be NO Spring Break! Are you kidding me? Back to school on Tuesday for everyone. OH, the kids are going to be so happy! How are the teachers going to react? Can’t wait to see what is going to happen on Tuesday. That is really I’ve got; live for the drama in Lokossa! :p just kidding. But, the good thing about being an American is that we are allowed to take one week off to rest! God Bless the United States of America! So, the week after next, I am going to take the week off (Monday-Thursday). Today, I had a little Easter egg hunt with the neighbor kids! They were super excited! I put gum and little candies in the eggs. We took pictures with snot and drool running down our noses! EWWW!! So, we shared our candy and gum! It was all gone in 2 seconds! Three slices of gum and candies in the mouth all at once! Yummy right? Wrong! Tomorrow is Easter Sunday. There has been a church get together right outside my house since Friday night (6pm-11pm) Saturday (9am-11pm). They are speaking in French and a local language from Togo! How are people supposed to understand a language from Togo in Benin! Most of the older Beninese people can’t even understand French! Oh Lord, please help them! I guess if they are praising the Lord and saying Hallelujah a million and half times, they will get their prayers across. Until then, I keep my sanity at the radio with internet that is a little faster than at home. I am trying to upload videos again, drinking a Sprite from a glass bottle and some bread with a sauce inside! It is actually pretty delicious. Well, I didn’t get the videos to upload, but I started a movie with all the videos and pictures I have. It is going to take awhile, but it keeps me busy and is kind of fun!  I went to Agame village for Easter. We were all decked out in our “same cloth pattern” outfits while we sat outside of a jam packed church service and then we went to the local CEG (middle school/high school). There, we played cool games like “which box is the hamster going to hide in?” and a game like “pin the tail on the donkey” but it was a blindfolded child who had a pair of scissors in his hand walking towards a clothes line full of presents. His job was to cut the present down. It is not as easy as it sounds. We then sat down and watched some singers and dancers as well as the Zangbeto dancing and doing magic tricks! You see, the Zangbeto spins and dances, but is said to be a spirit and nothing else. So, when we tip the Zangbeto over, there is always a lovely surprise gift for the crowd such as a sacrificed animal, a sculpture with a really large and red male body part, etc. We never know what to expect. Okay, after that long day of excitement, I was able to come home and relax. I started reading a book. Go figure. Monday, there was no school, so I was able to relax some more. It rained Monday, but not too much! It cooled off for about 2 seconds. Bummer. Tuesday, I went to school, but hardly anyone was there, so I went home. Today is Wednesday and I wanted to go visit my post mate who is having a rough time at post at the moment! Ugh. I hate those times! Anyways, he happened to come to Lokossa with another PCV. They were at the BESA (Best English Student Award) award ceremony! I wasn’t invited! But, when I walked in, I was greeted with happy faces and handshakes. Thanks for coming, they said. Okay, so I have learned over the years (I can say that now because it has been years here in Benin for me) people don’t invite, they just assume you will know about it and come and enjoy the festivities. I actually was called up to give a student an award and speak in a microphone. I told the student congratulations and that I was proud of him. The crowds cheered! Oh life as a teacher, white person, female, young lady in Benin can be so entertaining! After a lot of dancing, skits, and singing by BESA students, we all gathered together to sing “We are the World” by Michael Jackson! The teachers were singing! We sang together and waved our hands in the air. It was quite the sight! I had fun. Now, I am home. I checked facebook and my emails on my phone, had a chocolate, protein bar, fed the dogs some fish and pate, read some more and wrote review sheets for my classes. Even though, I am on break for a few more days, I think I will give them the sheets to keep them working. You know no one has any idea when the next test is. Teachers are taking their breaks even though the President said no. The students are exhausted and can’t concentrate. Peace Corps is allowing us to take a week off since we have worked since day one. What to do is the very question? Keep on keeping on is what I hear is best! Haha I am sweating to death even though the sun is not out. It has been pretty gloomy lately-like it wants to rain-but the heat is still lingering, but I do get to enjoy an occasional breeze. Or maybe it is just me. Who knows!?

Roller coaster ride...

The days are just passing by so quickly. I sleep a little because I can’t sleep until around midnight and get up at 6:30-7am. It is either too hot or I have bizarre insomnia. I have had pretty good luck with the kids coming to school this past week and a half. The strike is still going on over 2 months later. The kids were doing everything possible to get the non-government paid teachers out of the class because if there is a strike-everyone is supposed to strike-I don’t know! So, anyways, they didn’t come to school for a couple days for me! But, now they come for the most part and we are almost done with the 6eme book. I checked where the other teachers are in the book and we are all on the same track! So, no worries there. The worry I have is the strike not being over. The President called upon all the ministers, teachers, students’ parents, etc to the palace in Cotonou for a meeting today at 4pm. If they can’t come to an agreement, the year is white! The students will not have any more school, they will have to redo the school year that have already done, repay the tuition/contribution, and no grades will be calculated! Can you imagine paying for a school year, all the supplies, uniforms, etc and then having to do the year all over again. There will be no tests for the kids to take to move up to the next level. Even all of the private schools will be told to stop school until next year! It is a political mess! If there is no school, there is no work for me and no house for me because the school pays my housing! So, I am hoping and praying all works out today in the Presidents Palace as I only have a couple months to go and want to finish up! In the mean time, I have been working on a couple of secondary projects. I am working with the 4eme girls for “Take Your Daughters to Work Day” and I donated a hand washing station for my school. I was able to do a hand washing activity with my classes thanks to my closemate! She helped me with a song: Lave Lave Lave les mains….like row row row your boat! Maybe I will sing it one day for you, yes you! I am trying to get all my paperwork done before I go to Cotonou on Friday morning. That is a pain in itself, but I am doing the best I can! Today is March 22, 2012 and it is 12:33 in the afternoon. Kea is on my left and Timone is at my feet chilling in front of the fan with me on my bed. They have just been fed so all is quiet. My tapioca with sugared milk is cooling on the shelf (made it because it is too darn hot to stay in the kitchen)and have a cut off sleeve on my head with a wet head because I just took a shower shorts and a t-shirt that says “Go Buckeyes!” on the back! But guess what I am still sweating to death and I have to say it “IN A MOOD!” Actually, I have been in this mood for about 3 days now. I do not know how to explain it well, but I will try. I guess this is going to be my “get it all out” blog because I need to get it off of my mind! I am tired of Benin; I just want to wash my clothes in a washer and dry them in a dryer and smell the fresh scent of a dryer sheet! I want to have the option of taking a bath or a shower, not just a maybe cold or maybe hot shower because the pipes are hot! I want the option to choose! I am tired of being sick every time I eat! No, it does not matter if I cook at home or eat out! I boil and filter my water! I am always sick in the stomach! It is a pain I can hardly explain-ouch! Comes and goes as it pleases I should say. If I see one more huge fly flying around my house and close to my ear to mock me I will SCREAM! I think they know and they call their friends! Yes, the flies call their friends, I know it! I want my car to go back and forth to school. It is too hot, my skin in melting! Lotion only helps to a point because the skin just sucks all the moisture out and dries up again within the hour! My legs/belly are pasty white while my feet, arms, a little piece of my shoulders and chest and back are brown! I scare myself in the mirror sometimes! That’s it! I will get rid of the mirror! Great idea! Oh what about sleep? Of course NOT, Kayla! What is sleep? Let’s have bad dreams instead because of the medicine you are taking for malaria, or maybe stress from the “wonderful well-behaved” students that I have! I am waking up in another room; walking in my sleep at age 24! Are you kidding me? No one has the answers! There probably isn’t an answer! And for the strike..is there an end? No idea! Teachers are coming to school, but are they working is the question. They don’t have the love of teaching anymore-their minds are not on school-it is on the government and its strike. I hope it ends soon. So, sorry for the above, I just had to get it out! I know tomorrow will be a better day-maybe this mood will go away. I have had some successes in the past couple of days. I have tutored some girls in English, sang some ABC’s and have not gotten burnt! Sunscreen in my third best friend after the fan and the toilet! Without them, I would definitely be the crazy swamp woman! :P! Everything is going to be all right! Just a roller coaster ride of emotions! I love my job and most of the people here around me. I am almost ready to come home and feel normal again. Well I made it through my Thursday classes! I have four which equals 8 hours of class in one day! Yea, it is normal in the states, but not here! Anyways, the kids were actually ready to learn today...most of them were calm and quiet while copying notes. But, then I came home and had no power for the second day in a ROW!!! which means no fan-until 11pm. I can deal with no lights, but no fan UGH! It is super hot lately with the weather wanting to rain but just being humid instead. So, I slept on a mat in the living room for awhile until the power came back. Friday morning is here and I am up at 6am because I am sweating to death! No power again! Are you serious?! Took a shower, let the dogs out and got ready to go to the bank by 7:30am. I got there at 7:45am and guess what!?! It doesn’t open until 8am. So, I went and had an omelet sandwich and some tea for breakfast with Sylvain before he went to work. So, I went back to the bank by 8:15am and wait in line for about 20 minutes. I finally get to the desk to cash my check from Scholarship Girls Program (25,000cfa) and you know what happened!? The signature (another PCV who signed the check) is not acceptable. It has to be verified by Cotonou’s bank. So, I waited there for about 2 hours-clerks telling me to be patient and how women should not get angry, etc. I guess I looked really mad. But really, come on! So, I finally get up to the counter again and the clerk calls Cotonou-asks me if I can come back-and I say no I want my money, the signature is a good signature! Nope, so he says okay, wait for a FEW more minutes…I sit down and NOW every one of the clerks is going in for a meeting! And we all know meetings can a million years here in Benin, so I am home. I will go back later today after “repo.” I washed my underwear; it is hanging out to dry, swept the floors, fed the dogs, and took a nice long shower, shaved my legs and washed my hair up nice! It is deeply conditioned! My hands are shiverly, but everyone deserves a long relaxing shower every now and then! Right? Well those crazy days are over for awhile because I found a pool in Lokossa! I went there the first day I had a chance! Two days after it opened! It costs 2,000cfa (about 4 dollars) to swim! It was a nice pool, warm, but not too warm and pretty big. Might need it to be cold some days though! I went with 2 other PCV’s! I have to say it helped my morale a little bit. I am ready for another week. Last weekend, I went to the beach and that certainly helped me get through last week. Haha. I guess something is telling me to live close to a beach or have a pool in America! Sounds right! Sounds perfect! I have one more week of school in April and then there is a 2 WEEK break for Easter! What am I going to do with 2 weeksss???? I am going to read a lot of books and go back to the pool of course! I already did my spring cleaning and gave a bunch of things (Christmas decorations, seasonings, candles and such) to a post mate because I certainly will not use them anymore! I only have less than 6 months to go! Yipee! The closer I get to the end of service, the more I think about how tough it is going to be to leave. But, I am certainly tough enough to get through it just as I did to leave the states for 2 years to Benin and struggle to get by/live there. I could really use a good cleaning at the dentist for sure! I have a COS conference in May and there all the PCV’s who came in 2010 will decide the dates for finishing service and get a bunch of paperwork, I am sure. So, until then, all I can say is August (preferred ending time) or mid September. Smile, be happy and have a good day everyone! Always dreaming about that slice of pizza and a cream stick donut! Haha! Xoxo see you soon!

Maybe it is okay to go off the path...sometimes..

Well, I made it back from safari! We left Sunday morning and got to Nati but 5pm. It was a long, hot trip on the bus. I slept some, but the roads get the better of me. After we got to Nati, I was able to meet up with the other volunteers who were going on safari with Sylvain and I at the workstation. We decided on going to eat smooshed yams and wagashi cheese/meat for dinner. During that time, I was able to purchase a handmade airplane and yam bowl and smoosher….that is the best I can describe it to you…haha. There was a man who was selling them as he walked by; he made them himself, I am sure. And we only paid 2 dollars! Can you imagine working so hard and only making 2 dollars? Man, I start thinking..how did he eat today? Was he able to take a shower with soap? He didn’t smell bad, but really if we have to choose between eating or bathing, I would choose eating. The following morning at 5:30am I was up and ready for our trip for safari! We brought plantains, apples, peanut butter, bread, peanuts, crackers, and lots of water. We were set, but probably going to be a little hungry during the trip. We heard that the meals were going to be 12 bucks a meal! Are you serious? I guess that is how they make their big bucks! I mean, the people who do not bring anything to eat are forced to either go hungry or buy some food. The drink prices were outrageous as well. So, we were on our way in the back of a truck. We had a cushion seat with a roof in the back with no seat belts of course. Who needs those, right? We were on the road for a couple hours bumping all the way to a town called Batia. We saw village life at its best with mud huts, people building mud huts, and lots of people, children and adults, waving with a smile on their faces. Some didn’t have any teeth, but the smile was beautiful! I am telling you we take too much for granted in the states. I have a new respect for beauty and kindness. We went from pavement to red, dirt roads. My body was not too happy with me traveling in the back of the truck, but I made it just fine despite the semi trucks and skeletons of vehicles that were on the side of the road from previous accidents. We made it to the entrance to the park after 75km of dirt road. The foreigners had to pay 10,000cfa (20$) and Sylvain got to pay 5,000cfa because he was a host country national; from Benin. We took pictures and got a trash bag from the front desk. There was to be NO littering in the park! Thank goodness. It was a rare scene to see no trash in the park though. I was not used to it because everywhere else in Benin was dirty with trash. The first animal we saw was a huge baboon! Sylvain spotted it right away. He had eagle eyes. I think that is why I brought him along-haha-just kidding! The rest of the morning we saw lions, wart hogs, antelope, gazelle, some birds, and more baboons. Most of these animals were at a watering hole with lots of crocoldiles. They were just peeking their heads out of the water because of the heat, but don’t put your toe in-it will get chopped off along with your leg! It was amazing being that close to the animals. I took some video and lots of pictures. The videos take forever to load here in Benin, so I will show them when I get back, but enjoy the pictures on facebook. After the morning session, we had “repo” from 1pm-4pm. I saw so many WHITE people! I saw so many people wearing short shorts, tanks with no straps, and speaking French that I am not used to. The proper French, you know. Everyone slept except for me. I was just super excited and sweaty. Yes, we were in the north and in the dry season. It was HOT! No other words about it. Right after “repo” we came across two elephants, so we thought! They were really close to a watering hole and we heard a HUGE SPLASH! So, of course, having the great driver and guide, we went off the path on foot. We walked to the watering hole and took pictures of 5, yes 5 elephants. They were huge! Their tusks were outstanding and there might have been a lion watching me from behind. Who knows? I took that chance and am okay today. No worries. For the rest of the afternoon, the sun was shining and the storms were rolling in. We had the option to get down from the back of the truck and get into some shelter, but I waited until the last minute and enjoyed every minute of the wind and tiny drops of rain. But when the rain started (which is rare for Feb. in the north) it STARTED! It was muddy in the snap of a finger. We were driving on “ice.” Thank goodness we had a good driver. We didn’t get stuck on the first day. Mission accomplished. He was used to the weather after many years of driving foreigners around to see the animals. He knew all the spots where we could see the animals. What times the animals would pass through and all. It was great. We were lucky we saw the things we did. There are groups who see absolutely nothing. After the adventure, we took showers in the outside areas (there were doors) and ate a nice meal of pig and potatoes. I splurged on one meal! ;) Sylvain had some noodles and chicken for dinner. We drank some boxed wine (one glass) mixed with fizzy cocktail and went to bed in our bungalow. It was so hot in there. I tried not to drink so much water before I went to sleep because I didn’t want to have to go outside in the dark to urinate. Yes, I said urinate. You know there are baboons plus out there. Let your imagination wonder…I didn’t want to get tasted or eaten by the curious WILD animals. Okay, so on to the next day! Woke up at 5:45am to wash, brush my teeth, put on some clothes and go looking for LIONS! I ate some bread with cheese spread and a plantain. I was set to go. We didn’t see any lions, but we saw water buffalo. It was scary because the sun was not up yet, and all we saw big black things in the distance. What is that? Oh my..we need a picture!” is what we were saying! It was great! The sun didn’t shine very much on the second day because of the rainy skies and there were a lot of clouds. I can actually say I was kind of chilly even though it was probably 65 degrees. I stuck it out though. There was no time to think about the cold. The girls (Jenny, Claire, Sam, and Lissa) were drinking some boxed wine during the safari. The talking gradually got louder and louder! The driver dropped them off at the hotel at 11:15am and Sylvain and I continued on after a pit stop at the toilets. We went to a hippo watering hole and Burkina Faso for a minute without a visa. We saw monkeys who were very shy by the way! Again, we got off the path and I toughed it out. I am a changed person. Haha. After “repo” we saw some more antelope and wart hogs. There were so many antelopes! Too many! The lions eat well, I am sure. Probably to make sure that they do not eat us humans! The girls wanted to go in the “log” to see the hippos up close today, but the guide forgot! So, they did it on Wednesday (day three). Sylvain and I stayed on land and got really close to them (three hippos) who kept popping their heads up from the water. We got some good pictures and videos. I was not too fond of the idea, but Sylvain was the adventurous one and the guide kept telling me that the hippos will not come on land until nighttime. Let’s just say I had a lot of confidence for some reason. Maybe an error on my part, but I am here-safe and sound!-After the hippos, we left the park and traveled to the waterfalls in Tangueita. They were beautiful. I jumped in the water in my jeans and shirt. I was soaked, but if I didn’t do it, I would have regretted it for sure. I changed my clothes and we headed back to Nati and got a hotel for the night. I was so worn out from the sun and lack of nutritional foods. I was tired of bread, but thank goodness we had fruit and peanuts! You can never go wrong with bringing food along. It is better for the budget and health. Now, we made it back to Lokossa and I got the pictures up yesterday. I spent around 4 hours putting them up and I hope everyone enjoys them! It was a great experience and I would do it again in a heartbeat. Now, I have to give Kea and Timone a bath and clean the house. Hope all is well at home. I will be there within the next 7 months or so. Take care. Love you all! Xoxox BISOU!!!

to be continued....

So, safari is coming up pretty soon. Less than a week! We are going to spend about 75,000cfa-80,000cfa plus transportation to Nati which is about…well I will have to get back to you on that because gas is super high because of Nigeria and their problems. We get our gas from Nigeria. Sylvain and I are going to ride his motorcycle to Bohicon and leave it with a friend and then we are going to take a bus to Nati because busses leave at 10-10:30am in the morning for Nati. We will not be able to make it on time if we take two-three taxis to Bohicon. Plus, it is cheaper, but my bum will be a little sore from the motorcycle. But, it is okay-I do not mind suffering a little for the sake of seeing lions and elephants and maybe a giraffe! Priceless. Anyways, I am getting super excited. Sylvain and I are going together with Jenny, Lissa, Claire and Sam, our PCVL in Cotonou. It should be so much fun! Hopefully, we can see the lions, some elephants, monkeys, etc! I am not going to see hippos-I think I might pass. You know they can eat our little boat that has little holes in it—we will have people pouring the water out with plates….I have heard stories. I think I will just take pictures of the “brave” ones as they leave on their journey of hippo hunting. I did it once and almost peed in my pants and didn’t see a single one but if I actually see one or three I might lure them in to bite my boat in half and have a good meal. You know animals can sense fear! So, no hard feelings, I am going to live another day hippo free. Anyways, I am super pumped. This is the one thing I have wanted to do since day one. I went to Cotonou last weekend to see if I had any packages with goodies in them and do some paperwork for Peace Corps. I got the paperwork done, watched the “Poop in a Hole” YouTube video with slow internet in the bureau (it was a funny, yet sadly true video), and ate out at an Indian restaurant. I also spent probably too much on a couple shirts and some things made out of fabric (2 purses, 2 oven mitts, a wallet, and 2 bracelets). We call it the “pink store” because it is a small store on a side road that was painted PINK! There is also another little boutique where artwork is sold. It is called “Hakuna Matata!” Go figure! I didn’t get any packages; actually hardly anyone did! The mail system is not working so well here again. I mean it is never good, but now it is terrible. I hope it shapes up because I have books coming from the states to give to the orphanage. You see I signed up for the “Books On Board” thing for PCV’s who have a need for books during their service. I was one of the lucky ones who were sent books. They should come within 2 weeks until 2 months! Cross your fingers for me pretty please. I know the kids will love the books! I am sitting in bed because I have been sick for a day or so. Hopefully, it is just a 24 hour bug. More like a million bugs in 24 hours, but hey who is counting? The dogs, Kea and Timone, are playing and being goofy. They get so riled up sometimes, they run through the house like crazy dogs. I have a single bed in the living room and a big bed in the bedroom. They run from bed to bed! The floors are slippery, so it is quite the show! Let’s just say it keeps my spirits up on days like today. Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day, but I do not think anything major is going to happen. Here in Lokossa, there are not any flower stores, heart candy boxes, etc. But, we shall see. Maybe I will get rid of this bug. That would be a great relief! Ok, hold on I will be right back, thank God for a toilet…..:S ugh. Okay, I am back. I just don’t understand, I ate nothing last night from about 3pm-this morning at 8:30 am. I had porridge (Bouille-bwee) and some bread. You think there would be nothing else inside of me?! I guess I just start pooping out my brains. Sorry, I said pooping-it is normal word around here and I use it quite often. Well, I have nothing else to say at the moment…I will write some more this week to let you know how I am feeling/how the strike is going (too long) and my packing list for safari! You know I bought some cool shades and going to get LOTS and LOTS of batteries because I don’t want to miss a beat! Okay byes going to play family feud and some yahtzee on the computer! My life consists of Skip-Bo, UNO, computer games and KINDLE reading in my spare time. RIP Whitney Houston! <3
Well, one more full day at post and then I am off to travel to safari! I am super excited and am getting my packing done now! I will write after the trip…..xoxo

It's been awhile...life goes on. Period.

My way back to Benin!
Hung out with my parents for a few hours, sat down after a worked said, “would you like to rest your weary bones?” haha priceless! I went through security, a full body x-ray and made it through fine even though there was a lady worker yelling orders left and right. I guess you have to in order to keep the order. Get it? Ha ha anyways, I went to my gate and of course no one let me know that they changed the gate to one down and around the corner. Good thing another lady went and asked about it. I was super confused. It all worked out though. I got some burnt chicken fingers and ranch sauce and ate up. I got on my small plane; two seats on each side. I was ready to go. I flew Cleveland to Detroit which was only 25 minutes long and got to see a nice sunset. I took a picture and the guy I was sitting next to me had no idea. He was sleeping by the window. There was not much turbulence on the way but a little on the descending –got my stomach pretty good! Yikes! I got off the plane and the Detroit airport is huge! There is a train and escalators everywhere. I had to walk a long way to gate A60 and I saw that my flight is on-time, so I went and bought a cherry pepsi. I have no idea why a pepsi, but it sounded good. I tried internet, but I would have to pay out “the you know what” for just a couple hours. So, I am going to sit here and watch tv on the big screen and get on my plane when the time comes. It is going to be a long flight. Hopefully, everything goes as planned and on-time!
So, today is my 24th birthday and I feel good. I have been to the states, had our second round of testing for the school year, already have a strike going on in the school systems, and am actually used to sweating my booty off in Benin, West Africa. It is kind of a relief to be able to say, I am doing okay for all that has happened. Let me start off right before I left for the states in December. Thanksgiving was coming up and I was ready to kill a rooster, cook some sweet potatoes and have a good meal. I did all of that, no problem. It was the second Thanksgiving away from home and that meant the last. I will be able to have an ALL AMERICAN Thanksgiving from now on; unless you know I travel again…haha. Anyways, that was all good and dandy, then there was about two weeks left in my countdown for The United States of America! I was dreaming of pizza, chicken wings, cream sticks, and some 1% milk. Yes, MILK! I was planning on having a Worlds AIDS Day at my school as well. I had everything planned-female and male condoms, posters, translators, teachers and students combined. It was going to be a great day! Then, the unexpected happened. My grandmother passed away. I went to Cotonou and stayed with my PCVL for a couple of days and I had to change my ticket and get a flight home a little earlier. Peace Corps was very understanding and helpful throughout the whole process. The doctors were great as well. I really have to send a special thanks to Sam! She was with me through it all! Thanks Dione as well! You were there when I needed to talk! Love you girls! Good thing we are so close and live in the same STATE! O-H-I-O! I say this because I am very lucky to be a part of Peace Corps Benin as we are like a family! Seriously, every time I am in the office, I stop and greet as many people as I can. I love to see their smiling faces. They are very grateful of us, the volunteers. Anyways, I got a flight home and went from 100 degrees to about 10 or below degrees. I was freezing getting off the plane. I almost can’t explain how cold I was getting off the plane! I mean, seriously, Frosty the Snowman was playing in the airport! Can you believe it? No lies. Then, I saw Papa and Dad. It was such a relief to be able to hug them! Papa had a cream stick donut for me! It was perfect! Got all my luggage successfully once again. I have had the best luck with luggage, but I won’t say that too too loud. I don’t want to jinx anything. So, I got to the van shivering, brain was going to explode and put on some sneakers, a sweatshirt and cranked up that heat! We were on our way to Ashtabula! It was just a little rainy and organized highway systems. I haven’t seen one of those in 16 months. It kind of made me nervous though as everyone was using their turn signals, going to speed limit, and had all their lights working in their vehicles. We made it home and Mom had an American flag and Peace Corps Flag up on the house! It was great! So festive for my homecoming! Thank you!  I saw Mom and she just hugged and hugged me! No crying allowed. Yea right!?! I showed the parents the things I brought back from Benin and jumped in the bath! It was amazing! I was so tired. I went to bed around 8pm that night and woke up at 5am. Jet lag really stinks. But, I got used to the time change pretty quickly because I was super busy helping out the family and getting things organized. We celebrated Christmas and New Years and a little of bit of snow came while I was home. I was able to go visit a 2nd grade class and talk to the children about Beninese students and their schools. They were so interested and had great questions. I enjoyed my day with the kids. They asked, “why do the students have to shave their heads? Why isn’t your head shaved? What do they do for fun? What animals do you see in Africa? Do you miss your Mommy and Daddy? “ I could go on and on. Being with the 2nd graders made me realize how much fun it is to teach about new cultures and how much we, as Americans, are well-off compared to Benin. I have chalk and a chalkboard offered to me and then that is all for the teaching tools. It is up to me to supply visual aids, colored chalk, etc for teaching the students. That is one of my responsibilities in Benin; I help the teachers to use visual aids, more Student Talking Time, etc because every student learns differently. I train teachers to see the options and use them instead of just talking at the students and writing lots of words on the board. My Mom also organized a get-together for family and friends to come and see “me” and talk about Benin as well as see artwork, listen to music, and view pictures and videos. It was a great time. Everyone who came brought a toy for the orphanage. I had a suitcase FULL of toys for the orphans. Thank you everyone once again. You have no idea how happy the kids are to have those toys. Some of them just stared at the toys, not even knowing how to use them. It was a very special day for them and I appreciate everyone who helped out from the bottom of my heart. At the get-together I wanted to show everyone my dance moves I learned in Benin, but time flew by. After all the business of the vacation, I was able to decorate the Christmas tree with my sister. It was a good time and great to be able to decorate a little for the holiday because it is my favorite holiday of the year. We enjoyed cinnamon rolls Christmas morning made by me this year of course and opened some presents. YAY! Now, 2012 has come around and I am ready for a new year! Out with the old, in with the new they say! I made it back to Benin all right! Super jet lagged of course. I had a lot of luck as I was able to travel from Paris to Benin with another volunteer so we were able to get our luggage in a taxi and drive over to the office for the night. Lucky lucky! I made it back to post the next day and my house was a mess. For anyone who knows me, I HAD to clean it right then and there. I had to, but you know what I did? I went and ate some PATE and passed out in my bed with a hard mattress and not so comfy pillows and woke up the next morning and cleaned the whole house. Not that it is big, it is just not easy getting on your hands and knees and scrubbing, killing bugs, chasing after my puppies, and getting used to the HEAT once again. But, you know I would prefer the heat over being cold any day and Mom would agree. ;) After all the cleaning, I went back to school the following Monday. I was able to enjoy the herds of goats that would run through the school fields and lizards coming from every which was chasing bugs and bat droppings all over the place. I was happy to be back. The kids were so surprised I was back. They thought I was never coming back. Maybe because I told them when I was mad that if they didn’t shape up, I was going back to the states. They take things to heart you know. Everyone was happy to see me as I was them. I graded tests for hours and hours and finally got on a little bit of a normal schedule. But then, the strike started. It has been going on for a couple of weeks now. The teachers work Monday and Friday. That is all. They are not getting the correct pay or something. It is not fair for the students or the teachers. I wish they would figure something out and soon because I am going to be ahead in my classes while the others are going to be behind. How are we going to have a 3rd test when everyone is everywhere in the books? Ugh. Anyways, things will work themselves out eventually; they always do. I just think about when the school year will end. Are we going to go until July or August? Oh Lord, I hope not! Oh before I forget! When volunteers go back to the states, they usually gain a lot of weight and come back a little heavier to Benin. Well, I guess I lost weight because everyone here tells me that I have lost a lot. It is like I am the neighborhood talk, all the zems, mama’s, and even students are like “Madame, you’ve lost weight!? Are you eating? You need to eat!” I have been working out more, getting up earlier in the mornings, and have been really busy these last couple of weeks! Who knows?! Can’t please them all, right? Sometimes, friends come over and cook for me! I am so full after those days! I am super spoiled sometimes! Okay, so today I am not having a really huge thing for my birthday. I am getting old, I know it! Haha. I think I am just going to watch a soccer match at a friend’s house and drink a Sprite. I have no school today, so it all works out for the best. Thanks again for all of the support and wish everyone a happy new year. I will be going to the COS conference in May and will find out the exact date I will be coming home for sure (August/September). See you then. Love you all. Until then, enjoy the famous photo shoots that happen in Benin. I will keep the pictures posted! xoxo