tah-dah!

So…friends…LOTS OF NEWS! Okay really only a little. I have gotten my placement to… (drumroll) Benin! What? Where is Benin? Well it’s just over with all those New Hampshire-y looking places on the west coast of Africa, just south of Niger and west of Nigeria. I will be a “Rural Community Health Advisor”, which means dealing with infant mortality, maternal and child health education, nutrition, HIV/AIDS, other various kinds of disease prevention (malaria, diarrhea).

All this placement stuff has happened very quickly within the last month-ish. I expected to be leaving after summer, perhaps September, however the bulk of Africa programs are leaving in June and July and I sort of had to just jump on the train. So I am leaving MUCH sooner than I expected, and it’s been sort of a shock. I will be leaving July 14th, and from the 14th to 15th I will be in a TBD American “staging area” getting the basic Peace Corps run-down. From July 16th to September 17th, I will be in Benin’s capital of Porto Novo doing my intensive language training and various technical and job trainings. I.e. what parasites will kill you, and how to organize HIV educational presentations. While in Porto Novo I’ll be staying with a host family. From there I will go to my mystery job site for my actual stay, and more training? (I think.) They decide where to send you based on how you do during the in-country pre-service training. And I will theoretically be at my mystery site from Sep 17, 2010 till Sep 17, 2012. Just in time for the Peace Corps 50th anniversary in 2011! (There better be a party.)

So I’ve been reading TONS of paperwork about Benin and my assignment and putting together my packing list. This weekend I’m going to REI to get some hot weather gear. (I will be dressing like a nun. Hopefully a stylish one. Goodbye shoulders and knees, hello heat related hives.) Benin is between two tropical climate countries. The northern area is dry and savanna-like, and the south is more forest-y. There are lots of thunderstorms depending on the season, and the temperatures get pretty up there. It sounds like there are plenty of mangos and tomatoes, so I think I’ll live. And according to what I’ve read from other PCV’s, my odds of having electricity are actually pretty good (although internet will surely be a different story.) I’m gonna be riding around on a mountain bike, traveling via motorcycle taxi, and basically frying out my brain to absorb as much French and technical health training I can consume.
And do you know what else? Djimon Hounsou is from Benin! Yeah, that guy! Y’all should totally read about Benin if you’re interested, it sounds fascinating! (and P.S. dem-o-crat-ic, yay!)
 
So, basically everything is a frenzy right now, and I’m sure it will continue to be so for the next couple months. I’m trying to brush up on my French, and have gotten lots of language CDs. My sister Mel has been speaking to me in French at home, and went to the library to get me Toy Story 2 and Emperor’s New Groove in French, which I’ll probably watch this weekend.

I am just incredibly sad about leaving my job, although I realize it’s one of those inevitabilities. My co-workers at the Alzheimer’s Activity Center are family. As I said to ya’ll in my note, it has been such a privilege to learn from you. You inspire me and show me what it truly means to serve and put your whole life and heart into it. I hope you all know how much I respect and love you, and appreciate so greatly all you’ve taught me.

To the rest of my beloved friends- same for you! I am absolutely in denial about how terribly sad it will be for me (and you I hope) for these couple years. I really think it won’t seem that long, but goodbyes of any kind always suck, don’t they? Your support has meant the world to me, and it what has pushed me on the path to success. I am eternally grateful and hold you all in my hearts everyday, wherever I am.

I hope in future posts, that I will have lots of pictures, and it won’t be such a slog to read, I’m sorry they get so long! I feel very awkward about this whole blogging thing- and I don’t think I sound like myself when things are written down. So please imagine me using a funny voice or something. And feel free to forward this to whoever you want, I have gotten more blog address requests than I can keep up with.

Holy cow, P.S.! Voodoo is like one of the most popular religions! That’s gonna rock for-sheezy!
P.P.S. Elephants? Fingers crossed!

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