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Published: March 26th 2008
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My first African sunset
The flight totally murdered my ears It is hard to know the words to choose to begin describing this new adventure of my life, but I guess its just easiest to start at the beginning...
So my last week in Montpellier flew past, every day at school with an awesome class of people who became great friends. We had an awesome night on out final thursday, all meeting up for goodbye drinks, lots of laughs and languages around the table (sorry I forgot the cd with the photos on it, they are no longer on my camera, will post them next time). But studpidly of me I was slightly sick and ignored it and then on Easter sat and sun got real sick, the whole head full of snot and throat like sand paper, story.... Not very good considering I was flying to Africa the next day. But after saying goodbye to Martine and Jean-Pere on Monday, I got on the plane with tissues in hand!! It was weird flying with no expectations, but also no knowledge about what I was flying to. The landing totally killed my ears and I arrived in Africa not being able to hear a thing, its hard enought tyring to
Karin's house in Cotonou
She also has a house in koko where we will go tomorrow understand French normally, but where your ears are blocked, well now there was zero chance... Stepping off the plane in Cotonou after a freezing France was a huge shock, quickly I no longer needed a scarf for my poor throat.
I have always found that the worst part about travelling was waiting for your luggage to appar at the other end, I hate the wait and hoping. Well this time we all trundled though customes, no problem, I took a trolley and then a man lept at me. Apparently each trolley is attached to a person and if you choose to use it you have the person as well, but of course then you pay as well... Well I thought I would just wiat for my luggage and then see about the trolley. Well I waited and waited and waited.... till suddenly a man pulled down a huge silver door over the luggage entrance, and crap I was in Africa, but clearly my luggage wasn't!!!!
But thankfully I was not alone and I noticed a growing line of people in front of the 'bagge claim' office, so I joined in and they simply told me it would be
I'm here!!!
With Miko, Karins dog. Please excuse the three day old clothes and messiness.... I pick up my luggage tonight!!!! on the next flight on Wed evening!!!
So I entered Africa (without my stuff), and was received in a huge hug by Karin. Karin was mums friend back in high school when they played volley ball together, and she has been living in Benin for the last 20 years. She has done incrediable work within a village called Koko, north from Cotonou and it there that I will be helpîng for the next three months.
Karin drove me back to her house in Cotonou, and I got to experience my first sight of mad motorbike drivers. It the dark it was just crazy, half of them dont even have lights!!!
The next day we went into town to change money and to do some things, and again I just struggled to start to describe what life is like around me, I think you can tell from the photos what the roads are like, I can only say I am glad we are in a four wheel drive and I am glad I am not driving. Karin said that she struggles to drive in Switzerland now as she contantly uses the horn at everyone....
It is incrediably
Eat yoghurt and you will look like a sumo man
Not quite the best advertising campaign for at home, but it must work here.... hot, bout 31 degrees, but apparently in Koko its about 38!!! and of course since I dont have my pack I am in the same clothes I was wearing in France, trackies and tramping boots!!!! It is now wed evening and my pack (fingers crossed) is flying here right now.
So tomorrow we leave for Koko where there is no internet, and there is no power.... We just picked up candles and matches, dishwash liquid, laundry power (hand washing my clothes), insect spray, and things that I wont be able to get up there. Market shopping is exausting!!!! I think I have seen about ten white people the whole time, so we are an exception and of course that means they spot you out and try and sell stuff. They have the most crazy stuff, from massage belts, to pens to wool coats (dont they know its hot!!!!).... And all along the roads are women with stalls where they are selling 'things'. But increadiably unlike in Montpellier where at every second street corner was someone begging, no one has asked for money directly. They are all busy with selling their things, but they do not expect money for free.
Karins front gate
The roads here are an adventure in them self.... Well I have to go and pick up my bags, this is only the beginning and I cant even start to explain everything, sorry about the spelling and crazy words, but this keyboard is a bit old school... Tomorrow we drive three hours into the bush and there a new experince awaits. Karin is a wonderful women and I already get on real well with her, I am looking forward to the next part, but feel that the biggest step has already been taken. This is a country of sights and smeels, feelings and senses, I have only seen the outside of it and I am looking forward to seeing inside a vibrant world.
And if you are somewhere near running water where it is cool, enjoy it for me!!!!!
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