A Long Post, or My Beninise Life So Far...

The other day my host papa drove me to "class" in sheets of rain, so much so that it made the dirt roads nearly impossible to navigate, all the more because his car is equipped with non-functioning wind shield wipers. Then--in the middle of the road--we stopped. "C'est fini" he says. We've run out of gas. So, he goes to look for some telling me to wait in the car. But don't worry, all was safe--the Beninois know better than to go out in the rain...funny that...Fifteen minutes later he returns--drenched--with gas, we laugh for a bit, and continue on our merry way. C'est la vie.

Well, despite (or because of?) such minor incidents as the above and the daily bike ride of terror, complete with goat-dodging, I'm loving every minute of life the Beninese way. Stage (pronounce this with your best French accent) is going great--today we weighed some babies at a village just outside of Porto Novo and this weekend we're going to Ouidah to visit a Python Temple.

My host family is amazing I currently live in a baller house (just as nice as anywhere in the US except for no running water--bucket showers anyone?) My mama is a diva hairdresser who claims that I don't eat well (or at all in her opinion) and my papa, as you can already, tell is pretty much awesome. There are ten children in the house ranging from 2 to 23, although it is not clear if they're all from the same mother or even biologically related.

Regardless, we pass the time by watching tv (yay for spanish soap operas) and dancing to Akon, Akon, more Akon, and maybe some Michael Jackson if I'm lucky. So in summary, I'm happy, I'm healthy, and I'm terrified to be doing this on my own au village. But hey--I've got two years to figure it out...

Just Another Day in Cotonou...

So we arrived fairly on time in Cotonou (a large port city in southern Benin) on the 4th to a massive, living, breathing monster that was the Cotonou Airport baggage claim. Two hours later we entered St. Jean Eudes, a Jesuit/missionary/convent school thing where we're staying until Wednesday afternoon. So far we've been doing a lot of orientation, collecting needed essentials (e.g. bikes and helmets), and beginnning French classes.

Cotonou itself is incredibly chaotic, loud, and dirty--there's tons of pollution. Also, of course, traffic here is insane especially with thousands of zemijdans (motorcycles) zipping in and out of cars and trucks, apparently immune to traffic rules (if there are any). On Wednesday we leave for the capital, Porto Novo, where we'll meet our host families and really begin training. I can't wait!

Quickly: toilets are all squat, I've already had to take a bucket shower (since water and electricity cut out frequently at St. Jean Eudes, and the food is pretty good!)

Staging!

Does anyone know why they call two days of orientation "staging"? This remains a mystery for me. Regardless, it's already over--the past two days have been packed with awkward ice breakers, group projects, and self- and "official" terms and definitions. But despite all that, I immediately felt at home here, everyone is a blast and what's more they're not what I expected. Of course, there are representatives of the "traditional" Peace Corps volunteer (think...hippie...) but no one fits exactly into any one box or category, I love it. Tonight we went to an amazing sushi place then on to just a local bar..I wish we had more time to explore Philly but I suppose we have bigger fish to fry. Tomorrow we get malaria medicine then catch a flight to Charles de Gualle at 6pm. As my last night in America for two years, I have to say that this was a pretty good one. The next one will be in Cotonou, Benin!

Nuts and Bolts...

forgot to mention: my mailing address in Benin for the first few months will be:

Heidi Kershner, Peace Corps Volunteer
Corps de la Paix
B.P.971
Cotonou, Benin

Feel free to mail me stuff...it may take a while to get to me but that's alright. Also, if you're thinking of sending care packages make sure that they're not too heavy..it's expensive to pick them up from the post office!

Also, a word about this blog--I've included on the right some links to a wiki I created with just a few facts about Benin and Africa in general (some of it is a little on the ranting side), and pictures. I have a link to Benin pictures, I'll try to update that as much as possible but who knows what that'll be like..I also included pictures from my trip to Tanzania last summer (for the benefit of relatives without facebook!). Enjoy:D

Leaving on a jet plane..

So as of last Wednesday—when summer classes ended—I am officially no longer an undergraduate at Michigan State, and am now well on my way towards acquiring (as one gentleman I know put it) “more degrees than a thermometer.” But since on-line courses are…on-line…I’ve actually spent the majority of the last two months alternatively watching the Golden Girls (the best show ever made) and trudging through the free Rosetta Stone trial the Peace Corps provides like I was storming the beach at Normandy. Soon however all that excruciating language learning will be put to good use since in just a few short days I will be flying out to serve for two years in Benin, West Africa. Staging, a sort of orientation deal thing, is going to be held in Philadelphia and will last for two days before we fly out for Paris then Cotonou on the 4th. Right now they’ve said that my position will be one of several “community health advisors” (delightfully vague…) and once we arrive, me and the other trainees will be paired with host families and undergo training until September. And that’s for the most part all I know—Peace Corps loves to keep you on your toes and guessing!

Everyone has been asking lately how I feel about going and if I'm excited or not...I always answer with something like "up and down" or "sometimes excited and other times scared out of my mind." But mostly I think I feel ready--to see what's going to happen, what it will be like, and what I'll do. Anyway, I hope you'll follow along (I promise not to be too christmas newsletter-y) and feel free to email my parents at tkershner@charter.net or me at hkershner@gmail.com with questions or whatever (although I can't promise I'll get back to you in any sort of a timely manner)! And thank you so much to all my friends and family for their incredible support, I wouldn't be here without it or all of you!