I am eating peanut butter with a spoon. Beninoise peanut butter. What’s funny is that peanuts are a staple crop in Benin, but aren’t used much in cooking, and as far as I know, not for peanut butter either. I bought this peanut butter from a woman who works for the Peace Corps. She recognized the opportunity to earn a little extra, and learned how to make peanut butter for all us deprived Americans. Of course, the peanut butter doesn’t have the sugar I am used to, so I will still appreciate some good p.b. from the U.S. Until then, this [View Full Entry]

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I am continually impressed with how similar my life in Benin is to my life in America. Granted, as my cross-cultural professor says repeatedly, “culture” is an iceberg, and there is a lot I have yet to see. But so far I am a little disappointed in the lack of shockingly different lifestyles. I have four distinct examples to share- The first is the Independence Day parade held August first. Just like any parade, I had a special seat in the grandstands with the other Peace Corps people and the mayor and all the dignitaries. Also, since there were about 20 [View Full Entry]

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So this is Africa. The Peace Corps does a very good job of masking reality, to some extent, to prevent culture shock. I spent five days in Cotonou before traveling to Aplahoue with eight other stagaires. In Aplahoue, we met our host families. My name now is Asse Beth Erika. I was told I would become the eighth child of this family, but I think there are only four children actually born from my mother and father. The definition of family here is very inclusive; I think the other children are cousins or friends who have families not as capable of [View Full Entry]

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Here I sit, with WalMart bags surrounding me and clothes spread throughout the room, preparing for my trip to Benin, Africa. I leave July 4th for Philadelphia, the ultimate destination for any true freedom celebrater. Fifty people from the United States will meet in Philadelphia for three days before we all leave for Africa. We arrive in Cotonou, Benin on July 8th, where we will begin our training. For three months, I will live with a host family in Segbouhe, Benin, not far from Cotonou, and will learn how to cook, clean, live, and play like a true Beninoise. Along with [View Full Entry]

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