First week down

hi all
I shall try to not post any more misspelled titles in french on this blog!

since wed night i have been with my host family, and they are great: two young parents my age and Nadya their little six month old baby , who is just adorable and fun to play with. I would say they are middle class bec they have a TV and electricity but no running water; therfore i take bucket showers and travel to the latrine nearby. i have my own room and a bed on the ground with a mosquito net. we are doing fine with communication actually and my french has improved in three days: although it can be frusterating at times. they are patient and help me a lot

btw
we are in Natitingou for 9 weeks training; more northern part of Benin


so here is a typical day:
i get up at 630 with chickens and call to prayer ; mosque nearby:
take a bucket shower that feels amaxing as i sweat all night long in bed
walk or moto taxi across town to station where we have variuos sessoins with PC staff and other volunteers which can be language; culture; or technical training for our work
then we have three hour lunch break with families who feed me great by the way and do random stuff like filter and boil water; play with children; practice french with folks; go to market; get a beer with other trainnees; etc
then more work until dinner which is usuqlly fish; rice and sauce with veggies; fish is big here and i love it; more than the goat meat lol

then i study and hang out wwith family: **

today we got our mountain bikes and they are nice but we look like morons even more so LOL
today i fetched water and did laundry and thats a huge ordeal

people ask why the hell im not married with kids at my age! i tell them i have a boyfriend in US waiting so they dont think im a total freak : its just a big thing here
by the way; are u the lucky guy whos name i use?? * wink wink*

love to you all
sara

J ai arrivè

i finally have internet and for more than two minutes yippie

this keyboard is different; just so you know; esp: with punc: marks1
LOL*

well; everything is great so far and i enjoy the life here.
things are almost overwhelming but i am cool with everything and am staying safe and healthy:
Cotonou is a diff African city for sure: all taxis are little two seater mopeds and you know African traffic; its a bit of a thrill! Dont worry; PC requires we wear a helmet on those and eventually on our own trek bikes

i wont have a real address for a while; tommorow i go and move in with my host family for two months trainging in my villqge of natintongou: we are all so excited and will only be speaking french from here on out bsides getting together with other volunteers: wish us luck!

sorry i cannot write more often; soon i can after training is over; i hope so anyway:

i miss you all and hope all is well!
a tout a;l heure
sara