Over in Benin: August 2008

Opening remarks

To the right of me is my Country Director Sheryl

Here with two women from our partner NGO in Cotonou and a gov't representitive from the Ministry of Social Services

Big thanks to our donors!

Dance competition

Kids playing games at the party

Some other volunteers and the kids making crafts

With Peace Corps staff member Francoise and her cute family!

Here are some of our orphans at the NGO

7 girls moved in so far, more to come gradually

Here is our sign we will hang! It has the name on the side and the main text describes the orphanage - that is is a training center offering the kids social support, advice, and recovery. It also shows the partnership between USA (my PCPP donors) and Benin.

We have another metal sign indicating the place along the highway as well.

Here is our lady

who is going to be working with the girls at the orphanage, teaching them basic skills to make clothing.

08.08.2008

1 month left here

Bonjour! J’espère que tout va bien chez vous!

While trying to wind down projects and get the kids settled in the orphanage, I am also trying to find time to really enjoy my friends here this last month. I’m taking lots of photos and videos and trying to savour all of the light, happy moments in my last month of service. I’m really ready to go though, it’s time. I was just officially diagnosed with an intestinal parasite, although I’m not showing symptoms, and I’m taking a strong medication for it. I’m hoping it disappears soon so I can return to the USA in good health!

Thanks to those who have sent me cards or packages over the last two years. FYI: From now on please don’t send any more to me here. There is a good chance I won’t ever receive it. I leave in less than four weeks and stuff takes usually between three weeks and two months to get here.

So, my last day in village will be September 1. I will spend four days in Cotonou filling out forms, doing medical exams, having interviews, getting letters of recommendations, closing bank accounts, etc. Then the 5th I travel north to Niamey, Niger to meet Sarah, another volunteer, to travel with. We will continue over to Mali, hopefully seeing Timbuktu to do some hiking and take some camel rides. Then we want to take a train down to Abidjan, Ivory Coast where we will enjoy a big, modern city after being in the bush. Then back through Ghana and along the coast to Cotonou where we fly out late September for Paris to spend three days there before coming to Iowa early October. I get tired just thinking about it!

For my birthday last week, I was busy hosting three trainees who recently arrived in country. We had a fun time hanging out for three days while they observed my work and how I live as a volunteer. I gave them lots of advice and we went out a lot with my local friends, which was fun. While they were here, I realized just how many people know me around here, and call me by name, even in different neighbourhoods. At first it was YOVO (white person) and then certain kids understood me to be Tata (aunt), which I said I preferred. It spread like wildfire my second year here, and the cutest thing is when there is a group of kids and one says “yovo!” and before I correct them, I hear another little voice saying, “no, its TATA Sara. Bonjour Tata!”

Orphanage project update: Waiting on electric company to come and install everything, which is proving to be a huge hassle and take a long time. I am fairly confident it will be there before I leave, but not before the kids move in. Not a huge deal I guess though. Meanwhile, I have bought them flashlights and lanterns. We have completed the ceilings in certain rooms, and are planning on moving the first group of kids in early next week. Then we will be having opening ceremonies festivities a few weeks later, just before I leave. We have many fun ideas planned with the guests and kids and other volunteers in the area. I will take lots of photos and post them as soon as I can.

Have a great day! Love, Sara