Python...in the middle of the road?

Again I have no idea where the time went, but I guess this is an indication of how fast year 2 is going to go. I worked the last 2 weeks of training for the new group and was there for their swear-in, it was good overall, but trying for my patience level. Those last few weeks you are just ready to be a PCV and get to your village and I totally understand that, it was just difficult to be on the other side. I am still doing the same kind of work at post between formations and working on my grant proposal. Things on the PCVL side are going well. I did my first post visit to a 2^nd year PCV and it was really fun! I helped her paint a mural for her health center, I know I am really going to like that part of my job. I have planned to do the bulk of my visits in December. I am doing lots of stuff to get the workspace up to speed since it is still a relatively new position and building. I am waiting on new furniture, trying to get the old stuff reupholstered and decorating the office, among other tasks like safety and security and PCV support…etc. That’s enough about work though.

I moved my house this past weekend. The situation was kind of a mess because the King of the village owns my compound which brings with it many problems. My neighbors haven’t been paying rent or well I don’t know if they ever did, but anyway he’s been threatening this for a long time and never followed through. About 2 weeks ago I received a phone call from his wife (also my work partner) saying I had to move…basically if I didn’t leave neither would they, so his solution was to kick all of us out. I have been looking for houses for the past 2 weeks (also not my job) and I couldn’t find anything to meet housing standards in her price range. Anyway was working on it until the other night he came over around 8PM and forced everyone to get out. I had found a house sort of in the bush where my Maman could live too just that morning and we were planning on moving the next day, but alas we had no choice as he was standing there waiting for us to get out (nice huh?). Long story-short we moved in the middle of the night and now I have a new house—pictures to come….it’s even smaller than the other one, but who cares 10 more months left and I don’t even live there all the time so it’s okay.

Life is good overall. Ha the other day I was walking home from the market around 8-ish and there was a python in the middle of the road. It was so cool! I have never seen a python in the wild before. I wanted to pick it up, but everyone told me I couldn’t and I continued on my way, but how rare is that? Another recent story—I was in a taxi after I did a post visit the other day and it had rained. I was jamming with my earphones in and enjoying the air from the taxi ride when all of a sudden a ton of water splashed all over me. Yes, it finally happened. It was all over my face and in my eyes and everyone in the taxi was freaking out to make sure it was ok and I was just stunned that that actually happened to me! Of course I was fine, but the other passengers still made me roll up the window, haha.

Thanks for everyone’s constant support! I miss you all and hope you are well. Hugs and kisses!!!!!!!

August...that happened???

So yes August went by really really fast for me. I worked the second week of training where we focused on introductory technical skills and the basics about how to do an effective formation. We also visited health structures which was much better for me this time because I speak French! There wasn't anything else too noteworthy the second week. To date only 3 of the trainees have quit which is fantastic, I think by this time my group had lost 6. They are on their post visits now so we will see if that changes. I also hosted 3 trainees at my house in Zinvie for 4 days in the middle of August for a technical visit. We worked at my ONG and they sat in on pre-natal consultations and re-touched my mural. The next day we measured and weighed children at the nutritional recuperation center in my village. They really enjoyed that, especially the question and answer session I set up with the nurse. We also watched a formation in local language which will help them develop facilitation skills and skills needed to work with translators. Then the last day we went to Ganvie! Ganvie is one of the largest tourist attractions in Benin. It is a stilt village, meaning everyone gets around on boats...talk about a malaria risk factor. The picture is actually a school but, unbelievable huh? Anyway it was really fun!

This week I helped the PC staff interview for open positions in the office. It was interesting to see the other side of the process, but tiring to keep asking the same questions and sit for blocks of 3 hours. It is a good way to develop my interviewing skills and something cool to have on my resume! I had a meeting with my "boss" in village today where we did price checks for new equipment at the ONG. I am working on a grant to get supplies for our new building. We are moving towards general medicine and there are some things we really need to function. It went well, I just need to buckle down and start working on the request and the budget. Then like I have mentioned, I am working on starting a Care Group in Yevie and lesson planning for the next school year.

The next two weeks I will be in Porto Novo to work the last 2 weeks of training through swear-in. One of the other health PCVs left in August so I replaced her for one of the weeks. It should be fun to work, there's an excursion to Ouidah, another popular tourist site, plus the trainees will be excited to finish training and become PCVs! A fellow PCV is getting married next Saturday too and he invited me to go to the wedding. I will finally have an occasion to wear my fancy tissue outfit! There isn't anything else new or exciting going on. This Monday marked a year in my village, so happy anniversary to me...that was a weird realization. I think I have made strides with many aspects of my life in village, but there is always room for improvement...again strange to think I have been in my house for a year, but it's a good thing for sure.

I hope you all had a nice Labor Day! And football season is underway, sorry I have to miss yet another one...Go HEELS! Have a great weekend!

My Pet...well kinda!

So this is my pet, he/she has not yet earned a name, but "it" takes a shower with me every night and always keeps me company with it’s practically permanent place on my wall. No really, it does, but for writing purposes we are going to call it a female. This lizard with the handicapped tail is always in my shower area, and has been for the past year. She helps keep the place tidy by eating smaller creatures—flies, ants, mosquitoes and spiders. That is also her rent for living in my ceiling, we worked out a silent deal. The only time she really gets on my nerves is when she decides to chase something in the middle of the night, while I am patiently trying to sleep. Anyway I think she’s a pretty resilient little thing with her half gone tail and I am happy to have her around. It’s comforting seeing her everyday and now you have seen her too!

On a more serious note, we have a new country director as of last week. She is coming from Togo (the country next to Benin) and has been their country director for the past few years. She worked in Benin for 12 years in the past and planned on retiring here next year. Her name is Brownie and she was in the first training group that went to Togo in the 1960’s. We are really excited to have her and it’s definitely a sigh of relief for many of us. Staying on the topic of new things, the new stage has finally arrived! There are now 56 new stagiaires in Benin. I gave some walking tours and helped with the policy discussions, but I am actually working stage next week and can’t wait to start getting to know them.

Everything else is going well. My village is great as usual and work is slowly progressing. I have a lot to do; I just need to stop procrastinating—especially with the lesson planning. And we wonder why I never wanted to be a teacher…haha. PCVL stuff is going well too, I am really starting to enjoy it. Nöel (safety and security officer) and I went on site visits last week to look at 4 new houses and check on their progress for the new group, it was really fun. That is going to be my favorite part I think, going on post visits and providing PCV support!

Like I said earlier I will be working stage next week, in Porto Novo. It will be a nice time to catch up with my host family too—my sister passed the BAC! It’s like their crazy hard test after high school and the only way you can go to college (the French system). Anyway it’s a pretty big deal, so I can’t wait to see her and give her the gifts I bought in the states and of course a big hug! Oh and my other “house” is all set up in the city now. I am staying with my friend Meg; she is another health volunteer working for PSI (HIV/AIDS) stuff. The house is super cute and I have another double bed to sleep in, running water and don’t forget another “super mostiquaire” too! Haha.

I hope everything is great there! Happy Independence Day to Benin! August 1^st (FYI). Talk to you soon and hugs and kisses!