My Peace Corps service starts one month from today! I want to use this post to tell you what I know and what I'm looking forward to.
First things first. I leave June 11 sometime in the morning to fly to D.C. to meet all the other volunteers. I will be in DC doing a full day of training then we head out the next day June 13th all on the same airplane!
Our flight is from DC to Brussels layover then to Cotonou the airport in Benin! (Check the map, most big cities are on the coast)
I am allowed two suitcases, one carry on, and one personal item. This does not seem like a lot when you think of living abroad for 27 months, but I am told it is too much to lug around. I am still packing things and rearranging to fit all the comfort items I want to bring.
So far my packing list includes:
Solar lights
Headlamp
Keens
Portable charger
Tablet
Cool conservative clothing
Spices
Fairy lights
2 books (i really limited myself here)
Camping shower
Knife set
Loofahs
Quick dry towels
Camping pillows
Lots of motion sickness pills
This is just some of the things I'm sure I have 100 more things I want but may not bring!
After DC we fly to Cotonou and stay the night then me and the 25 other volunteers are off to Lokossa for training. This training lasts 3 months and goes over culture, language, and job specific training. Since I am teaching English, I will have mock classroom and language lessons. Other sectors are Agriculture and Health and they train in neighboring villages but meet us education volunteers for some big trainings.
I have to learn French and a local language depending on my region. I already know the basics of French pretty well but working on conversation will be my challenge. I really am excited to learn a local language and hear stories and legends from West Africa!
I have already learned Benin is the birthplace for Vodun or more well known to us voodoo. No it's not the same as movies but has more regional deities and protections and events. I am very excited to take part in these cultural events! I also am excited to learn cooking techniques and bond with the village mamans. (Mother's)
After three months of training I will get my site. This will be a smaller city in Benin where I have a house and will work all on my own! I teach english in a school and also host clubs and events to connect our cultures for 2 whole years! It will be difficult and I most likely will not have running water and spotty electricity but it is a new experience that a big portion of our world deals will and I can adapt.
Peace corps three goals are to create a better understanding of America to those in other countries, to create better understanding of Benin in America, and to provide Benin with manpower that it requests! Knowing these I am going to keep you ALL informed on life in Benin!!
Above is the map of Benin and I will keep you all informed of my placements and local things in more blog posts! Counting down 30 days!