So, this past week was Benin PSL25's first IST. IST stands for
In-Service Training, and it's basically a chance to get all the
volunteers together after their 3-month integration period, see what
they've been up to, and to talk about things with them (par example,
funding sources) that you couldn't cover in PST. TEFL had their IST
earlier than EA/CED/RCH because of their school schedule, but the ~45
other PCVs descended on Parakou like a swarm of alcoholic locusts.
I was lucky enough that the president of my ONG (NGO in English)
happened to be heading home to Parakou the day that I had to head over
there, so he gave me (first a ride to Nati to drop Ellie off with my
ex-neighbors) and a couple of my friends a ride to IST. In his Land
Rover. Which was fabulous.
EA got a little shafted on the hotel front…CED's hotel had hot water,
a pool, WIFI, and a patisserie…but it was nice none-the-less. The
staff were all really nice (customer service is not usually a thing
here), and our room had AC, so no complaints. Also, our hotel had a
night club with a monkey, two crocodiles, two sulcatas, and three
bunnies (no idea why)...so, yeah. We only ate lunch there though, the
night club part was closed during the week.
I'm not sure if the people who fed us were from the hotel or were
outside caterers that PC found, but the food was AMAZING. I haven't
eaten that well since I've gotten here. There were peas. PEAS. Also,
carrots, potatoes, yummy jus, couscous, yummy rice, croissants
everywhere, PIGS IN A BLANKET (with real saucisson!), honey crepes,
omelets, Fulani fromage, hard-boiled eggs, and the list goes on. I
have discovered that tapioca pudding (with a [un]healthy serving of
condensed milk and peanuts) is de-licious. I pretty much ate my weight
in food (/carbs) every day. I started to sympathize with really
pregnant women whose internal organs are so smushed by their babies
that it's hard to breathe…THAT is how much food I ate. It was a little
nutso. I didn't even have to buy dinner once because I was still so
full from lunch/snacks. The best part? I only gained one pound.
Overall, it was wonderful seeing everyone, especially my very good
friends who live on the other end of the country. I was able to
introduce them to tchouk, which was popular, and it was nice to swap
post stories. Although we all have a ways to go with our language and
integration and work projects, we have come a long way since arriving
in country 6 months ago.
The workstation is nice, but I definitely prefer mine/Nati as it's
much quieter (et, à mon avis, prettier) than Parakou.
Sadly, in Parakou a zem stole my phone so I had to go through the
rigmarole of buying a new phone and getting my numbers back…which only
worked for MTN. My new moov number is (011-229-94669705).
Business names that I liked:
Next to the hotel, there is a buvette called "Chez Tanti
Vrai-Vrai"…hard to translate to English, fun to say. ("The house of
Auntie True-True")
Next to the workstation there is "Poissonerie Dieu Ne Dort Pas" – This
translates to "Fish Store God Doesn't Sleep."
When I got back to Nati the other night (it was too late to continue
to Tanguiéta), Jocelyn and I went to Jazz Night at our friend's
restaurant and made brownies the next morning. Little did I know that
during this, my cat was giving birth to 3 beautiful kittens! They are
so tiny and very cute, and momma is resting at my neighbors' house in
Nati, where they brought her while I was out of town. So I am
officially a co-grandma! I picked up Ellie, who, true-to-form started
acting like a disaster the second I arrived, though my neighbors swear
she was good all week.
In returning to post, I realized how much this place has become my
home. I was happy to see my neighbors, and saluate everyone (egg lady,
phone credit guy, etc). I was happy to eat igname frites, use my
latrine, and relax in my own bed. IST was a welcome mini vacation, but
there is no place like home! I have learned, though, that it doesn't
matter how long you've been gone, everyone will just say "hey, I
haven't seen you for two days!" You learn something new every day.
Also, I signed up for the Atacora bike tour in February. We'll be
going from village to village doing sensibilisations about nutrition.
150km in 4 days…I need to start biking more!
Xoxo. I hope everyone is having the best possible holiday season!
Everyone affected by the tragedy in Sandy Hook (and senseless violence
around the world) is in my thoughts and prayers.
[disclaimer to Mom: I am not an alcoholic locust. I acted responsibly.]
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