Comé, Benin Travel Blogs

One more week...
Dec 7, 2003

... to hear that someone high up is supporting your efforts. We also made a seperate trip to Porto Novo (political capital of Benin) where we visitied another sustainable farm system. The farm we visited a couple of weeks ago was established by a person who ...

We're going to Materi
Oct 26, 2003

... out. We're told the market is pretty spectacular because people from Burkina Faso, Togo and the rural outskirts of Materi come in, including some Fulani, or the nomadic people that inhabit the North. We've heard great things about the area from other ...

Life in Comé
Oct 5, 2003

... . Zimidjan meqns go fast in the local language Fon. They are little mopeds or small motorcycles that are the main taxis here in Benin. In order to get around, Peace Corps hired a bunch of them so we could practice calling them over, saying where you want ...

Week two
Oct 12, 2003

... a isit to the local hospital as well as the local health center to begin learning about the health system structure in Benin. Jasons included building a fuel efficient mud stove out of clay and straw. This involved mixing the clay with their feet and is ...

Togothon day 3, part II
Oct 3, 2009 (27 photos)

... ewe what we wanted and he walked us there---after about 100 yards we were stopped by water.  water! apparently we couldn't touch Benin. we felt like idiots--we completely failed to notice the river on the map. but there it was staring us in the face. ...

Is training over yet???
Nov 16, 2003

... only thing around besides your basic corn flour for making pate (pronounced pot). This is the main dish prepared in every household of Benin. Its made of corn flour and water, and is like a very think cream of wheat that maintains its shape like jello. ...

Week 8 Comé, Cotonou, Grand Popo
Nov 23, 2003

... be working at is a totally self-sustaining, completely organic farm. The site was in the very beautiful tropical part of Benin and there were green lush forests everywhere. The farm is self-sustainable because after it starts working there are no outside ...

Week 3 of PC training
Oct 19, 2003

Hi everyone! The time is really flying by, its hard to believe its the beginning of the 4th week of training. This week we will find out where we weill be posted for the next two years. We met with our program director on Friday and she told us we're ...

Pre departure update
Oct 29, 2003

... out next week if this is the most common mlanguage at our post. Dendi is the most spoken language throughout the north of Benin and we have been told that its the easiest to learn. Jason got his first boomba made out of local fabric. Boombas are ...

We're now officially volunteers!
Dec 13, 2003

... nice. The ambasador was unfortunately out of the country so his second in command was there to swear us in as well as Benin's directors of the environment, health, and business. Everyone gave a short speach and then a few from our group got up and gave ...

Training the new batch of volunteers
Sep 14, 2004

... because from all the questions the new volunteers are asking you, you begin to feel like an expert on living and working in Benin. When you answer/suggest a solution to a concern of the new volunteers, you can see the worries and concerns melt off faces, ...

post-thanksgiving update
Nov 30, 2003

... her salsa instructor come by and anyone who wanted took a turn and it was lots of fun. She told me that salsa is really big in benin and everyone knows how to dance to it here. It was also really nice just having a day off to sit around and relax. It has ...

Sunrise and Seashells in the African Heat
Oct 26, 2007

... 't feel very good being at this hotel. It had a really rich ambiance and seemed so incredibly out of place in the Benin that I've been discovering. I felt uneasy being there and didn't want to be seen as another rich white tourist staying in ...

Leaving Lokossa and New Experiences
Nov 21, 2007

Hey everyone! So this is going to be my last quick blog for the trip, as I leave tomorrow for my second host community and will be without internet! It has been such an incredible 3 months here in Lokossa and I'm having very mixed feelings about ...