My First Scorpion!

So I guess I should start with discussing the title. The past few nights at my house have been eventful. I left school on my bike with my friend Mani and the tire was immediately flat. It was already 7:00 because I stayed late for French tutoring, which means it was already getting dark. Which is a problem since we aren't really supposed to be out after dark. So we had to walk the bike home to her house (we only live a street apart) so her brothers could try to fix it. They took it to the bike shop that was conveniently located around the corner. As I turn the corner my little sister is running towards me because my mama had sent her to look for me. Then she stayed and the other one came to look for both of us. It was pretty funny. I didn't get in the house until almost 9:00, needless to say I had to force dinner down because at that point I was so tired I wasn't hungry.

The next night tops that off though. So it rained all day until about 4PM. I got back to the house at about 7:30ish. I went into my room to drop off my backpack before dinner and the tailor was there to measure me for the outfit I am having made for Sunday. To my surprise my roof had leaked and water had gotten in under the door. Therefore all my clothes were soaked! There were probably 5 or 6 items that weren't soaked. So my three sisters, mama and the domestique came in to help me clean up the mess. We had to wash everything and hang it, sweep and mop. Then we brought in bricks to elevate everything. The whole ordeal took a little over 2 hours. I was exhausted and boiling my water before we sat down for dinner and looked up to a scorpion on my wall. Haha it was hilarious. I called Pamey in there and she called mama who promptly took care of it. I'm not sure what she did with it, all I know is that it wasn't in my room anymore! I can't believe I was so calm, but it's not like it was running at me or attacking or anything...whatever!

After that I still had to get measured and design my outfit for the tailor. He probably thought I was crazy. At that point I could barely stand let alone understand French. Then since it's rainy season my clothes got soaked again the next morning. Everything is dry now except for a few things which are hanging in my mama's room since she has a fan. Ha it makes me laugh typing this. I just kept saying thank you and sorry in French, haha!

Last night my mama had me trying on all her traditional outfits--aka Bombas. They were even wrapping the tissue around my head. My sisters were rolling around on the ground laughing. Yesterday my mama cooked lunch for three of my friends and I. Then we all walked down to the water with my sisters to the petit marche. We watched people bringing in fish and got some bons bons for the little ones. We also stopped at the house where people live who are living with AIDS. I met the doctor last week and he is extremely nice and knowledgeable about some of the health work I am interested in doing. There are some crocodiles there and other cool animals. My little sisters really like it and were excited to show my friends.

Sunday afternoon is the 22nd anniversary of my mama's mother's death. She has been preparing for weeks. Yesterday I asked her how many people she was expecting and she said over the whole day probably 1,000!? I think it will be a cross-cultural experience for sure. Yesterday the hair dresser was at the house doing her hair. She wanted me to get braids I said maybe two big ones, but that's as far as I am going at the moment. The weather is similar to NC so the humidity and sweating hasn't been that hard of an adjustment for me. Some of the other trainees have begun getting sick--only about 6 or 7 that I know of, but so far I'm healthy. As I type that I am knocking on wood.

The PCVs warned us about how much your host family will feed you because in Benin it is a good thing to be overweight. It means you are healthy, etc... I explained to my mama in the first few days that in the US that is not a good thing, so I get to serve myself. Hopefully I will not put on 25 lbs. like one of the PCVs did in her first 3 months. The diet here is pretty heavy on starch. I should be fine though. I have been riding my bike for almost an hour a day and I am going to start running in the morning this weekend. I just wanted to get comfortable with my neighborhood first.

Saturday we are going out to a village and giving a presentation about the importance of breastfeeding in French--needless to say I will not be talking much, haha! Then we are practicing baby weighing and growth chart stuff.

I can't wait for Sunday I will have to take a picture of me in the outfit I designed, hopefully it will be what I intended, I was a little tired that night. This tissue aka material I picked out is pretty cool. My mama took me to the grande marche to pick it out the other day. She is the best price haggler ever. She is just a boss...I can't wait until I actually need to get stuff for post, she will be such an asset.

French is coming slowly. I understand a lot already it's just hard for me to respond. I want to say everything perfect the first time and I get confused with Spanish sometimes. I have to just remind myself that it is okay to mess up and have confidence about speaking. It's only been a little over a week of French instruction anyway.

Until next time...Au revoir!