Training almost all wrapped up
Essentially we are done and officially become volunteers Friday.
Things have been good lately. I visited my future post two weeks ago- Avrankou is basically a suburb of the capitol Porto Novo, but still semi village life. Had an 8 hour bus ride, and got dumped at a host home for two nights where I was very comfortable. I am working with a small NGO-think I explained it in a previous post. My counterpart there is great, Pierre is his name, and he is a great resource in the community. The Peace Corps assigns you to a person that you work with/for or to simply serve as a mentor guiding you through your various projects in the community. So I chummed around with him all day and he introduced me to everyone and every single office in the community. I think I saluted over a hundred people. Included was the mayor, and in Africa, this is big time important. Good thing he liked me-same goes for the police chief. Pierre paraded me into his office ahead of ten people waiting for their turn to meet with him. That’s something we have to live with- we are treated sometimes like royalty and you just accept it- c’est la vie. But sometimes we Do In Fact, rough it a little. ;)
Ate some good food there, saw some governmental buildings, and buzzed around via zemi-moto taxi. Then I stayed with a volunteer for two days an hour north in his village and I shadowed him to get a feel of the typical workday of a volunteer (well, if there is such a thing) We held a basketball practice with his 12 year olds- they are a bunch of fun. It would be a great side project for me too-they really look upto you and it’s a great chance to make good impressions and further integrate into your community. Then I spent a day at the workstation in Cotonou and stayed with another volunteer in transit. Forgot how good instant coffee was. Also, we went wild and spent [a few USD] on chicken, couscous, and mashed potatoes. All in all it was a good trip; nice vacation from training site.
Something is always going on here. My neighbor who is hosting another volunteer in training had a baby the night we got back, and so now when I go over there I get to play with seven, not 6, kids ;-) The mama loves when I bop over. I think she wants to me marry her oldest son- but really she only loves me because I eat a lot of her food over there, and she gets a kick out of my constant expression-- “I ate too much again mama, I’m gonna lay down with the baby.” I think also she secretly wants me to have a child of my own because I’m getting “too old” and way behind with the baby count -is she plotting?! Donc, I get constant lessons on how to properly bathe, nurse, and sing to the baby.
Yeah, I am discovering, along with some others here, that the best way to do deal with stares is to just accept that we are bizarre and more bizarre no matter what we do/say. Laugh together and soak it all up. My favorite part is when women stare at me because I wear black stretch pants under my wrap skirts. But then when I go over there people are all nice, and we have a laugh about it when I explain why I do it. But in general, people are never meaning it rude- everyone has a big heart here and is always looking out for their visitors.
Recently I passed my language test, with a mark between intermediate high and advanced low/ I was pretty pumped about that considering we only do 20 hours of language per week and more importantly have only been here 8 weeks. We have done more than our share of celebrating the past 5 days since we finished that. I am being told I am developing quite a nice French accent as well. And this time it’s where it should be, with my French, not in my English. Those who know me will understand me here. LOL
My hosts are still great, and I will miss them after I leave, especially playing with my little sister. Only I will not miss the cockroaches- besides the latrine, I haven’t really seen them in the house until lately-----The other night I had my first panic session in my room when after hiding from me, the big guy shows up on the lap of my skirt. Is that normal cockroach behavior? I don’t know, but now I’m always on guard and paranoid. But seriously, there aren’t too many bugs here and I have never seen any snakes yet.
The weather is never boring. So basically when it rains here, everything shuts down and people run and hide. The storms here are amazing. It rains every day (it is the rainy season), and lasts between an hour and four hours. The sky unloads like I have never seen before. It’s so deafening when the tin roof is clanking and you can’t hear your ipod when its on max volume. Interesting stuff. Anyway, so we have had a couple “snow days” here where we miss classes and stuff because it’s raining and in this culture you just stay put no matter what is scheduled. We didn’t hold the class this past Friday that we have been teaching because we knew no one would show up in the rain. Guess what we did instead that afternoon? Yes, one must love the snow days.
Lots of love,
Sara
Things have been good lately. I visited my future post two weeks ago- Avrankou is basically a suburb of the capitol Porto Novo, but still semi village life. Had an 8 hour bus ride, and got dumped at a host home for two nights where I was very comfortable. I am working with a small NGO-think I explained it in a previous post. My counterpart there is great, Pierre is his name, and he is a great resource in the community. The Peace Corps assigns you to a person that you work with/for or to simply serve as a mentor guiding you through your various projects in the community. So I chummed around with him all day and he introduced me to everyone and every single office in the community. I think I saluted over a hundred people. Included was the mayor, and in Africa, this is big time important. Good thing he liked me-same goes for the police chief. Pierre paraded me into his office ahead of ten people waiting for their turn to meet with him. That’s something we have to live with- we are treated sometimes like royalty and you just accept it- c’est la vie. But sometimes we Do In Fact, rough it a little. ;)
Ate some good food there, saw some governmental buildings, and buzzed around via zemi-moto taxi. Then I stayed with a volunteer for two days an hour north in his village and I shadowed him to get a feel of the typical workday of a volunteer (well, if there is such a thing) We held a basketball practice with his 12 year olds- they are a bunch of fun. It would be a great side project for me too-they really look upto you and it’s a great chance to make good impressions and further integrate into your community. Then I spent a day at the workstation in Cotonou and stayed with another volunteer in transit. Forgot how good instant coffee was. Also, we went wild and spent [a few USD] on chicken, couscous, and mashed potatoes. All in all it was a good trip; nice vacation from training site.
Something is always going on here. My neighbor who is hosting another volunteer in training had a baby the night we got back, and so now when I go over there I get to play with seven, not 6, kids ;-) The mama loves when I bop over. I think she wants to me marry her oldest son- but really she only loves me because I eat a lot of her food over there, and she gets a kick out of my constant expression-- “I ate too much again mama, I’m gonna lay down with the baby.” I think also she secretly wants me to have a child of my own because I’m getting “too old” and way behind with the baby count -is she plotting?! Donc, I get constant lessons on how to properly bathe, nurse, and sing to the baby.
Yeah, I am discovering, along with some others here, that the best way to do deal with stares is to just accept that we are bizarre and more bizarre no matter what we do/say. Laugh together and soak it all up. My favorite part is when women stare at me because I wear black stretch pants under my wrap skirts. But then when I go over there people are all nice, and we have a laugh about it when I explain why I do it. But in general, people are never meaning it rude- everyone has a big heart here and is always looking out for their visitors.
Recently I passed my language test, with a mark between intermediate high and advanced low/ I was pretty pumped about that considering we only do 20 hours of language per week and more importantly have only been here 8 weeks. We have done more than our share of celebrating the past 5 days since we finished that. I am being told I am developing quite a nice French accent as well. And this time it’s where it should be, with my French, not in my English. Those who know me will understand me here. LOL
My hosts are still great, and I will miss them after I leave, especially playing with my little sister. Only I will not miss the cockroaches- besides the latrine, I haven’t really seen them in the house until lately-----The other night I had my first panic session in my room when after hiding from me, the big guy shows up on the lap of my skirt. Is that normal cockroach behavior? I don’t know, but now I’m always on guard and paranoid. But seriously, there aren’t too many bugs here and I have never seen any snakes yet.
The weather is never boring. So basically when it rains here, everything shuts down and people run and hide. The storms here are amazing. It rains every day (it is the rainy season), and lasts between an hour and four hours. The sky unloads like I have never seen before. It’s so deafening when the tin roof is clanking and you can’t hear your ipod when its on max volume. Interesting stuff. Anyway, so we have had a couple “snow days” here where we miss classes and stuff because it’s raining and in this culture you just stay put no matter what is scheduled. We didn’t hold the class this past Friday that we have been teaching because we knew no one would show up in the rain. Guess what we did instead that afternoon? Yes, one must love the snow days.
Lots of love,
Sara
posted by Sara Birkenholz at 3:59 AM
5 Comments:
You're doing so great, chere! I think your PC experience is all so far is very good. You will be "obruni koko" or "yavu yavu gayibo" for the next two years, you're right, so you just have to do it. My unfavorite thing that used to happen in Ghana was when mothers would hold their babies up in my face and scare the bejeebers out of them and make them bawl because they told them I was going to get them or something. Stupid and cruel. Go stay with as many other volunteers on their sites as you can. Great way to see more of the country, learn more about the culture, and get that jolt of home that you will appreciate now and then. Someone to sympathize with, too. I am still in Ames. Not doing to well psychologically-wise, but I guess something will change eventually and I will be on a plane. Everybody in Russia is waiting with bated breath for my arrival, but it is all out of my hands. Cowan wants to have coffee with me before I go. I haven't seen her for months. I'm going to send her your blog address. She might get a kick out of it. I met one of the little Nigerian girls who is an exchange student at Ames Hight - from that group that that man you brought to IEOP last summer is involved with. Her name is Aisha, she's a tiny little thing, headscarf falling off at every moment, HUGE smile and just absolutely adorable. I told my daughter Jane to make friends with her. They're in the same modern dance class and Aisha is going to the Unitarian Fellowship with her host and belongs to Jane's youth group there. It's cute; she's living in Somerset with the grandmother of a family from church who has two young girls. What a neat thing to do! Wish she were ours.
Love and grosses bises,
Mary
Sara: I think you are doing some wonderful things and I wish I could see where you are. I can hardly believe that you are way over there and I think of you a lot. I'm very proud of you and would love to see you. I really enjoy reading your blogs (your dad helps me). I am doing o.k. and still eating everything on my plate. We had a big hot air balloon here the other day that took some people up a little ways, but I decided not to go because I went once before. I miss you and can't wait to see you. Love, grandma B.
So good to see an update on your blog. Your stories are always very interesting and comical. Way to go on your final test! We'll be anxious to hear your "accent" when we connect by phone sometime soon. Wonder how it will sound mixed with your former "Eastern European" accent! So you're learning how to take care of babies--that will be good practice for the future. We're really proud of you and what you are accomplishing.
Hugs and Kisses,
Mom
Oi c'est vrai que l'experience a Benin c'est un bonne chose pour ton future! My French has gotten so rusty
I saw MAry B and also Donna Cowan recently they are so interested in your PC experience!
Is Gandma B. your grandmother in Newton? So sweet to have her blogging! I would say to her "YOU GO GIRL!" Ha Ha.
I liked the "snow day" comment! Flood and tropical rainy season days! Yeah, in the tropics with dirt streets and roads that's serious stuff! Of course, in the pioneer days Iowa was the same! I've seen pictures of wagons or old cars/trucks stuck up to the axel on our dirt roads!
Your experience is being shared with undergraduate students through the International Studies and programs web site and is a great recruiting too for that program! Thanks for doing this.
S Schmidt
Hi Sara. I am just catching up reading some of your posts now. It sounds like you have already have had some wonderful experiences and it is good to hear that everyone is treating you well. I'm glad you were able to meet some other volunteers and take some photos. The children are so adorable. I am really curious about the surrounding area. You always have the best observations, so keep writing and taking photos. Be well, keep doing what you are doing, and Best Wishes! Miss you & Thinking of You! xo -Melanie
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