Hello Everyone,
Things are heating up in Founougo, and that is not only
because project work is getting under way. The ‘Chaleur’ or the hot season is
starting, and it is a big adjustment! Here in Northern Benin there is the rainy
season from May to October and the dry season the rest of the year. The first
half of the dry season is cool, and I actually wanted my fleece jacket on a lot
of mornings. Those days are over. The other morning I woke up and stepped
outside and at 7:30 it was already 90 degrees! And it’s going to get a little
worse before it gets better. Cold drinks are going to be my best friend for the
next couple weeks!
Fortunately, having some good work to do does take your mind
off of the heat, or give you a reason to persevere it. Last week I had a ‘consequence
assessment’ meeting with a couple latrine committee members that provided an
interesting communication challenge. It became evident that I spoke French,
Baron-my-counterpart spoke French and Dendi, the third meeting member spoke
Dendi and Bariba, and the fourth spoke Bariba. This resulted in a weird
translation telephone, as a question and answer circulated through the room,
switching from one language to another. God only knows what we lost in
translation, but we all tried to be attentive and clear, and the meeting was
helpful.
In other news, I have become acquainted with a gardening
group that has a fenced in space close to the flooded road. They actually were
kind enough to give me a small plot of my own, and I have planted some carrots
(fingers crossed that they grow!!). The first few days of preparing the soil,
planting the seeds and watering were really a joy. It was so good to be doing
some hands on work, and to be working alongside my neighbors. At one point I
was waiting around at the garden, and I got to pull water up from the well for
women who were watering their plots. The well at the garden is much smaller
than the one at my house, so it felt like an easy way to help. It was so nice
to really feel like I was being of assistance in an immediate way, and it was
refreshing to, for once, have the other person in the conversation be the one
trying to find a new way to say thank you every time they come back for more
water. Finally the plots were watered and it was time to wash off our hands and
feet. People do really try to stay clean, quite an uphill battle here. I was
trying to rinse off my feet and one grandmother was ‘helpfully’ pointing out
spots I missed. This is very normal here. Women have each other’s back, and
aren’t shy about letting you know when something needs to be adjusted. However,
before I knew it, the old gardener was actually helping me wash my feet, and
then washing them for me. And suddenly I was back on my familiar side of the
equation, receiving so much more than I could give. All I could do was laugh
and be grateful and try to joke in Bariba, ‘She is the mom and I am the little
kid!’
Since the seeds have been planted I have gradually relinquished
gardening duty to some little kids that were very determined to help. Despite
the feet-washing anecdote above, it can sometimes be tough to know when it’s
rude to refuse help, and when it’s good to assert your American independence. I
have been more and more grateful to those determined little kids though,
because I have spent the last couple days traveling. I am happy to say that I
am in the process of applying for the grant for the latrine project. This has
required some meetings with my supervisor in Banikoara and more Internet and
electricity than I can usually find in Founougo. I have to say, it has been a
pretty ideal time to be in the land of cold drinks!
I hope everything is well with you as you are reading this.
I understand that there has been some snow in New England. I hope you are all
staying safe, and finding some time to enjoy the season.
Thanks for reading!
With love,
Lauren
No comments:
Post a Comment