** I wrote this on Monday, July 16th**
Hi Everyone!
Today is Monday, the beginning of week 4 in the Peace Corps,
week 3 with the host family. I’m still learning a lot every day, but I am
starting to settle in a little bit too.
On Sunday I went to mass with the whole family. We went to a
different church than the one Mama and I went to the week before. I guess this
one had a better service time for everyone. This church was larger and had more
of a cathedral layout. The service was once again in French and Gune or
possibly Fon (with prayers in French and songs in Gune for the most part).
Again it was really exciting to see church so personally owned in a culture so
different from my home culture, but again it was hard to follow. I am going to
try to look up the French version of some of the big prayers so I can join in
on those next week.
After church we hung around the house for a while. My friend
Amber asked if I wanted to meet up, but my host papa had said about going to
the pond, and I am still really hesitant to spend time away from the family.
You just never know when you are going to observe something helpful and
important (or even better, get to be helpful).
We watched TV, which happened to be a French dub of Peter
Jackson’s King Kong. This is only the second movie I have watched while here in
Benin. The other was also starring Adrian Brody. Coincidence or national
infatuation? I’m hoping for the later! Just kidding. It was nice to watch a
movie though.
I also worked on my knitting and did some crafts with my
host sisters. We braided yarn and made bracelets. I had mentioned before that I
thought it would be fun to teach them how to make friendship bracelets, and it
looks like we are starting at the very beginning with braiding. Both of them
have cropped short hair, so I guess the concept is pretty new for them. I am
going to be keeping an eye out for gimp string and beads. Also, I need to start
brainstorming crafts and ideas for my little host brothers. That could be
tricky.
In the afternoon Papa and Mama and I took a drive and they
showed me the building where parliament meets (and the new parliament building
under construction) as well as a huge statue of one of the famous kings of
Benin, and the ‘pond,’ which was actually a river with a bridge that connects
Porto Novo to Cotonou. After the driving tour we stopped at a Buvette for a
drink and chatted for a while.
I went to bed early because I knew Monday would be a big
day. Heidi, my neighbor and fellow Peace Corps Trainee had learned a route to
Songhai from her host brother. She was confident that we could get there on our
bikes without taking the main road. In the morning, I wasn’t a happy camper. I
hadn’t really organized my bag well for biking, and trying to get it organized
used up my breakfast time, so I just took some bread to go. The roads are
mercifully not hilly, but they certainly are bumpy, with some intimidating
puddles. Still despite all obstacles we trekked along at a good pace. Despite
any disgruntled-ness, I could see why a lot of other trainees swear by the
bikes. It feels so good to get a little physical activity in the day, and to be
doing something by and for yourself. We spend our days receiving lessons, and
vocab and culture notes, and zem rides and food. When we get to make something
happen by our own reasoning and power, it’s very refreshing. I hear that the
opposite will be true at post though!
I ended the difficult ride with a fall on my butt. I knew it
was only a matter of time until that happened, so in a way it was good to get
that out of the way without major incident. We stopped very close to the deep
gutter outside of Songhai, and I really did NOT want to fall in that, and I
basically over compensated, lost my balance, and would up on the ground. It
wasn’t great for my pride, but it can take the hit.
French class was successful, and without incident. Most of
the time we all buy lunch together after practicing French with people on the
street. Today our instructor Aurelien needed to make some copies, so the three
of us eleves or students went out to lunch together. We all got atassi, which
is a mix of rice and beans in a spicy tomato sauce and Bethany and I got a
small piece of fried cheese, a popular topping here. It was nice to go out to
lunch just the three of us.
I am happy to say that the bike ride home was very smooth.
When I got home I got to talk on the phone with my mom a bit, which was so
nice. I’m thinking of you all back home! Thanks for all your support and
interest. It means so much.
With Love,
Lauren
No comments:
Post a Comment