I have officially been in Benin for one year now! I would cheers myself but I’m on medication for amoebas (intestinal cysts caused by ingestion of food contaminated with fecal matter) and can’t drink alcohol. The day of our anniversary-July 24- was a pretty awesome day. Woke up early and went for a run (early enough that the number of kids chasing me was a minimum), attended the initiation ceremony for Zè’s first library and computer center (where the token drunk guy hassled the visiting French people instead of me for once), learned the 31 voodoo spells you can put on a person to make them die during intercourse, studied for the GRE in my hammock, and ate dinner while watching 30 Rock.
A year in Benin also means a new wave of volunteers. Getting off the airplane in Cotonou is a pretty harrowing experience and as we all remembered that many volunteers were there to welcome us in, many of us left our towns and villages for the weekend to do the same. Being on the other side of it was pretty amazing. They looked so clean! And pretty! I stayed in Cotonou the whole weekend so that when they weren’t being barraged with Peace Corps policy and safety sessions, they could ask questions of us and we could get to know the group that is now half the Americans in this country.
It was pretty amazing to see how far we’ve come using the new volunteers as a gauge for where we were a year ago. I have unstoppable “franglais” and I’m pretty sure half the advice I gave went misunderstood. They brought news of domestic politics, clothing styles, food fads, popular music, the newest technology, the latest you tube crazes, and a slew of trends we’ve missed out on. Their clothes looked as though they walked out of a Tide commercial, their faces a Neutrogena ad. But we had the appeal of experience, albeit crusted in dirt and with lowered standards of hygiene.
I want to thank everyone who has supported me throughout this year. I have high hopes for next year and am looking forward to sharing the ups and downs with you all.
Pictures below are from my friend's end of the year school party. Enjoy :)
