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!