Blogs from South, Benin, Africa - page 5

This is late, but these are photos of Kate and Tina's visit in June. ... read more

here's a link to a map of our trip http://www.travelblog.org/gmaps/map_4f0.html... read more

This is an entry I have posted on the Peace Corps website, but I am publishing here because I want to add pictures. The pictures with this entry actually have no relation with the writing. Following entries might or might not have the same pictures/writing relationship. I have kept a journal for along time; since third grade, with only a few months missing here and there. Usually writing, especially journal writing, flows easily from my brain to my pen-controlling hand, as easily as one foot follows the other while running. Lately I have had many false starts- the 18th of March, again the 25th, and the 26th- attempts to interest a larger audience in my only occasionally interesting life. Was I stressed, trying too hard? Maybe. But this evening, sitting on the front porch steps ... read more

My eyes met directly with two others this morning. Two blondish ears, kind of over-large for my companion’s being, perked eagerly, awaiting my response. This was the unspoken dialogue: Bubs: “Can we wake up now?” Erika: “No.” His elbows thunked and he sighed as he went back to waiting. The weather has changed again. Harmattan and its dust have left, leaving clear blue skies. These clear blue skies are otherwise known as direct sunrays. Ugh. Hot. My elbows thunk and I sigh as I, and everyone else, wait for the rain. Work is moving, if I translate directly. Le boulôt bouge. The Planificateur from the mayor’s office and I have started a clean school competition for all the primary schools and the secondary school of Athiémé. I didn’t branch too far from the idea of the ... read more

Harmattan has arrived. Harmattan is a wind that blows from the north, from the Sahara desert. The wind carries dust, and it’s the dust that blocks the sunlight and creates “winter” in equatorial West Africa. To me, Harmattan is as close to winter as I will get for some time still to come. I am colder than I was during the rainy season, and more regularly. I close all the doors and cover with a sheet every night. I sleep all the night through, no dripping sweat to awake me, and I get out of bed slowly, wearing two pagnes and socks, or pants if they’re clean, and heat my water for coffee and a warm bath. And I still shiver, until 10h or so, when the sun has sufficiently heated the porch to be warm ... read more