Get me through December

It is 7:30 in the morning, and I am sitting here in the Natitingou workstation. It just so happens that I have a pretty good internal body alarm (I feel like Kramer saying that), but I now tend to wake up at 6:30 without any problems and then I have a really hard time falling back asleep. So, as I write this, everyone else is comfortably tucked away in their beds sleeping the morning away. I can’t sleep, so I thought that I would write a little journal while I have some time to kill.

Yesterday marked the day of the regional VAC meeting, so most of the PCVs in the Attacora-Donga region got together to talk about various administrative stuff. The meeting itself lasted only an hour and thus the real point of this weekend was to have an excuse for us newbies to get out of post and to have a reunion of sorts. So far, it’s been great—a much needed distraction from the daily grind. Last night, we (about 10 of us—new and old volunteers alike) went out to some buvette/restaurant and got some beverages and delicious steak and fries. The dinner was absolutely amazing and worth every penny; a far cry from the pasta that I have been preparing for myself every night. At the buvette we just gossiped and gossiped. People like me, who are little more isolated, tend to be out of the loop, so I was excited to hear all the stories of Peace Corps Benin. It’s funny, because I never really considered myself I big gossiper in the United States; in fact, I considered it a little unhealthy, but here, man, what I wouldn’t do for a good piece of information. It’s like it is my way to connect back to American culture in a strange, strange way. Anyway, at the buvette, the owner actually knew the older PCVs, just because a year ago, Natitingou is where the SED (small enterprise development) volunteers had there stage, and I guess that his way of showing that he really appreciates us volunteers is to give us free Sodabe. Now, Sodabe is this liquor in Benin that is essential like drinking rubbing alcohol. We are not recommended to drink it because it’s so strong that it can have some really bizarre side effects. I guess that it’s rumored to have a proof of like 160-170. Who knows if that’s actually true or not, though. Anyway, sure enough, after we put in our meal orders he comes out to say that he is going to go search for some Sodabe. Great. Out of sight, out of mind, I finish my meal and forget all about the Sodabe. But, oh no. At around 10 o’clock, back comes the owner with two full bottles of this stuff. The SED volunteers that were with us were excited to drink just because it had been awhile (and it seems like there good be something exciting, something macho about drinking this stuff), me, while not so much excited, but I figure that I will have one little taste just to say that I did it. So everyone “cheers” and then everyone drinks. I have to say that the rumors are true. It was the most disgusting tasting “alcohol” I have ever experienced. It burned all the way down (it did open your sinuses, though), and tasted really awful. The catch was that I guess that it’s rude not to finish the two bottles, so while the rest of us sat there and abstained, just the owner and another volunteer proceeded to finish the two bottles over the course of about 3 hours. Us girls were only slightly annoyed just because we wanted to get back to the house to talk about more “important things.” We did get back—and I must say after the worst zemidjan ride I have had since I’ve been in Benin, it was like he was trying to race all the other zems, I was pretty angry when I got off—however, and watched a movie and then talked some more until about 4 in the morning. Also, at about 3, I whipped out my M&Ms and Peanut Butter, and we ate PB on spoons with M&Ms mixed in (yes, it was amazing; yes, I had two packages waiting here for me; and Boston!!! I received your letter—fantastic—keep spreading as many straight out fabricated stories as you can about how good I was; when I return, I want everyone to be like, “ohhh, there she is.”) It was so great. I feel like my social void as been temporarily restored. This morning, we are planning on going shopping and buying all the little things that you can’t find in our villages as well as going to the cyber, going to the bank, etc. I’ll be spending another night here with the girls (it is Erin, Miriam, Kate, Megan, and myself by the way) and then leaving early the next morning to make it down to Bassila/Manigri with plenty of day left. Natitingou is really great, really gorgeous. One of the great things about having a dictator for so many years is that he poured a lot of the government’s money into making his home town and surrounding drive/area really beautiful, and that place just happens to be Natitingou. There is something also about being in a bigger city that entices me. I like not feeling like I have to “saluer” everyone (and I do saluer everyone in Manigri—it can get pretty old), I like being able to find everything I want in the immediate vicinity, I like knowing that travel around and out and about is not a hassle. There are just definite perks about being in the big city.

Anyway, it sounds like most people are doing pretty great and adjusting really well. It sounds like I am actually having probably the toughest time out of everyone—everyone in this region (I know that’s probably not very comforting to hear, just being honest). I have the most isolated village and the furthest distance between myself and another volunteer (although it’s really not that far), though I really, really love my postmate and get along with her fantastically, she talks about how she knows that she is going to ET (early terminate) and so that is hard knowing that there is a lot of uncertainty there and that she’s not exactly my strong rock. I have the whole French situation—my interview is next week; everyone pray to God, cross your fingers, hold your breath, whatever it takes to help me pass this interview. And it sounds like that although everyone has had really horrible men interactions, that I have had some of the most bizarre and most inappropriate (with the dirty finger and with the conversation after my first day of 5eme). Everything here in Benin passes though, so I just have to remember that “this too shall pass.” It has been interesting hearing stories of teaching, stories of village, stories of sickness, stories life. One of the more fun projects that is underway is that Megan (along with Phoebe and Jordan) is planning a national spelling bee. I really want to try to get Manigri involved, but I will definitely have to work out the logistics with my administration. I could definitely see that not fly with my administration. Okay, well people are starting to stir a little bit, so I am going to go back to being social, but know that I am hanging in there despite things being a little bumpy at times and that I am still happy to be here despite missing everyone like crazy all the time. I’m already thinking about when I can plan a trip back to the states. I would love to do like a whirlwind tour to New York, Kalamazoo, and then, of course, I Cedar Point trip in Ohio. I know that Stage for next year will be coming in earlier (like around July 5th or so) just because of the start of the school year being moved up, so I was thinking about traveling back sometime in August as I would love to be here for the newbies arrival and I would love to work some part of stage to help the kids who will be in similar predicaments as myself. Anyway, just put that in your mental pot and stir it around for a little bit. Possible return voyage in August of 2008. Alright. Cheers from Natitingou. Wishing everyone the best. Lots of Love. Carly

P.S. Today is the 3 month anniversary for us arriving in Benin. THAT is really strange to think about. And, it is strange to think that Halloween is coming up in the US. If I don’t get to post again before than, Happy Halloween (and feel free to send me candy corn or extra candy bars if you feel so inclined!—aka Mom and Dad feel free to send me candy corn or extra candy bars if you feel so inclined).