Today's blog is a bunch of scattered thoughts and unfinished ideas. Enjoy.
Taking a zem (motorbike) to the marché tatonnonkon is so magical. Going through a forest of palm trees so thick it gets dark. The red dirt roads, passing people carrying various crops for the day. These days remind me how different life is here but also how beautiful it is.
My village has a main highway; and along this highway is a little strip of buildings and my favorite place to hang out! There is a tailor, a seller of bissap (hibiscus juice) and beans, and a hairstylist! They have good products and the cutest kids. Also, the woman who sells the beans and bissap speaks English and I can confide in her my feelings more easily than in French. I also practice the local language with them and French of course. Usually, I sit there, drink my juice, talk, and play with the kids. They are scared of me but also play with me! Even little Raphael started to cuddle my leg and talk to me.
Pasta party! I cooked some tomato pasta with chicken and invited Charlie, my language tutor, his language tutor, and two of my students. My students helped me cook and clean which was a lifesaver. The spaghetti was not the best I've ever made, I prepared way too much and was able to give many students food. Sitting on my new couches in my house and eating oranges by squeezing the juice out.
My students were the last to leave, and we sang and danced a little bit. I was able to do better with my classes and control them more. It was not as hard to stand up there and keep going with 50 students in different stages of understanding.
I finally can count to 20 in the local language! It is such a small thing but I know the numbers so I also know the money. I take two classes a week for two hours. When I also walk around I speak local language Weme and French! I have so many languages that I get them mixed up a bit.
Being in a village is impossibly lonely and full of people at the same time. I have people over all the time and students around me walking with me. But sometimes when im at home alone and my friends are in another country or another part of Benin it itself it does feel like I was just dropped off. We are all so busy and tired and stressed that we don't get to talk like we did during training. Im ready to make new relationships here but the fatigue hits sometimes. Today I rode a motorbike to buy a floor mat. It took 45 minutes to get there and 45 min back and even though I didn't do anything I was exhausted from the sun and sitting on an uncomfortable bike for too long. At least I finally got a floor mat!
HAPPY ONE MONTH IN MY VILLAGE!! I have officially finished one month in village plus three ish months in training so to the start of 23 more!
if you wish to send me a letter or anything the address is below
Emma Vacek PCV
Corps de la Paix American
01 B.P. 971
Cotonou, Benin Afrique de l'Ouest