Blogs from South, Benin, Africa - page 4

Africa » Benin » South » Athiémé January 25th 2008

I never expected to eat a chicken head, but as I studied the bone structure of my meal in the twilight of the 2nd of January, 2008, I discovered that chicken-head meat is pleasant. I refrained from gnawing on the eye sockets, but everything else went down well. Since December 25th, 2007, I have more often than not only needed to eat every other day, finished with a cup of coffee for digestion while sitting in a pagne for a bathrobe as waistline relief. On Christmas Day I visited my host family. I was greeted as warmly as ever, given the customary water to drink, and then began eating. Oh, and such good foods- Santa Claus-belly-sized pots of rice with well-spiced sauces and goat meat, beans and fresh bread, and salad with a homemade mayonnaise dressing, ... read more

BENIN IN 48 HOURS

Africa » Benin » South » Ouidah January 17th 2008

GANVIE

Viajerong Pinoy

The border is just over an hour away from Chez Alice.We were given 48 hour visas at the border, lots of food vendors on both sides of the frontier. We drove to Ouidah, stopped at the Immaculate Conception church and had a few hours to walk around town, we decided to go to the Snake temple nearby and Chrissy, Ingrid, Mark and Jo had their photos taken with a phyton round their necks, I opted out. Then we went to the Museum of History, quite interesting place, but cant take photos. We met up at an outside bar next to the church and a few people are getting drunk. We bought some tasty pineapples on the street, very sweet. We drove to our campsite for the night next to the beach with a very nice swimming ... read more

For the Love of the Game

Africa » Benin » South » Athiémé January 5th 2008

Passing

Erika

When I was a little kid I spent a lot of time playing in the dirt. I eventually had a backboard to shoot hoops, but it was on our gravel driveway; to this day I can make a basket like an ace but I dribble like my only fingers are left-hand thumbs- though not said to be ungrateful, Dad. I was able to make do up to a point, but I only really learned the game of basketball when I joined the junior high basketball team and had instruction and a flat surface. The local basketball teams here are in a similar position as I was as a beginning basketball player. We have made-do with what we have, but have reached the point that to really improve the game, we need better equipment. For more ... read more

For a Change

Africa » Benin » South » Athiémé December 21st 2007

Erika

For a change, I am reporting and commenting on observations I made in the school yard of the central primary school in my town. There are two schools in one compound, and my good friend Mathurin is the director for one school and the superior of the second school’s director. There are about 400 students in my friend’s school, divided between six classes and eight teachers. Roughly double that for the total number of students and teachers in the compound. Students come to school by 8h and sweep out the classrooms and erase the chalkboards, and classes start by 8h30. Lunch break starts at noon, and the students and teachers go home until just before 3p.m. The day ends at 5:30 p.m. And no school on Wednesday evenings; in this French school system, Wednesday evenings are ... read more

Hot Drinks at Nap Time

Africa » Benin » South » Athiémé December 21st 2007

Erika

I awoke from my nap thinking, ‘I might like some coffee.’ My next thought was, ‘Coffee? Are you ill Erika? It’s the middle of the afternoon!’ A third and more coherent thought was, ‘Oh, the breeze picked up. I feel cooler. That’s why I dreamt of coffee.’ I stretched, woke up Bubs who was lying beside me, and kicked us both off the mat. The best nap spot in my home is on the mat in front of the wide-open double doors, with the curtains drawn. I pull the curtains so that visitors can act like they don’t see me sleeping, and I can act like I am not seen. Sometimes the breeze pushes the curtains so far inside that they brush the arm thrown over my face, or the pulled-up knee, and I awake enough ... read more

A Caterpillar Named Laisa

Africa » Benin » South » Athiémé December 21st 2007

Erika

My youngest host brother, Feujus, is the cutest six-year old monster. His eyebrows even turn up a little, like horns. He beat me twice at UNO; he gave himself all the wild plus-four cards before dealing. I hadn’t been to visit my host family since my return from vacation, so I stayed the weekend. I watched a lot of TV- Papa had bought a small satellite and my host brothers and sister were skimming the eight channels for films and music. On Monday back at home, the waste-management tractor came through my neighborhood. We had to wait until the river left this neighborhood before beginning the trash collection. All of my neighbors know me and understand French, so I worked door-to-door to sign them up. All homes but two joined. Florent, from As.P.E.L., was visibly encouraged ... read more

Soothsayer Chocolate

Africa » Benin » South » Athiémé December 10th 2007

Erika

‘Sit in your yard and watch the leaves fall.’ Dove Dark Chocolate Promise. Yes, the front porch with a book and a breeze is all well and good until you’ve done it for a week. Sorry Dove- I don’t mean to be bitter, but all I have been doing is sitting. I wish I only had a moment to watch the leaves fall, rather than that being my main activity. This first week back at post after the States was harder than I thought it would be. I was lonely as I had never felt it before. I had been used to living alone of course, before my vacation, but after being constantly with family and friends in the U.S., I was jolted by the return to a lack of conversation in my home. No matter ... read more

A Field Trip

Africa » Benin » South » Athiémé September 26th 2007

Strong Words

Erika

Working with students at the local library on the history of Athieme eventually led to a field trip to Abomey to tour the royal palace and the statue of the last Danhomeian king (Danxome being the previous name for the country of Benin) who resisted French colonization. We had a lot of fun looking at stuff and hearing blood and guts stories of ancient times.... read more

The Mono River

Africa » Benin » South » Athiémé September 26th 2007

Sunday

Erika

These pictures are of the flooded Mono river during the first two weeks. After the first two weeks, the river went back to its bed, but only stayed there for a week before flooding again. When we were drying out, the air reeked of rotting vegetation, but now that we are wet again, I have a fresh breeze off the water. I am told that the third time the river leaves its banks in its flooding season, which is now, big fish come with the water. (Obviously big fish don't come into my yard during the dry season...) The first two times I only saw lots of little fish and many tadpoles, which the kingfishers feasted upon. Now, even late at night, I hear sounds of what seem to be large fish hitting the top of ... read more