The Final Countdown
Trip Start
Jun 02, 2003
1
41
Trip End
Dec 31, 2006
Corpus Christi,
Texas,
United States
Sunday, June 1, 2003
But right now, my eyes hurt. My throat is a little sore. My body is tired. And I am Awake (barely). As usual, I have waited till the last minute to do ridiculous things like burn mix CDs and organize my email account. And, yes, my bed is still covered with things that need to be stored away while I am gone or stuffed into an already overflowing backpack that is surely going to exceed the weight limit. This is who I am: Queen of Procrastinators. Maybe it is really a technique to distract me from the butterflies in my stomach. After all, I fall asleep much easier when I am thoroughly exhausted. I plan on hitting the sack soon, but first a quick rundown on my future and how you can contact me.
For those of you who may not have heard from me in ages (or who may be hearing from me for the first time since meeting me in Europe or elsewhere), I am embarking on a new adventure. I have joined Peace Corps, an American volunteer organization. I will be living in Benin, West Africa, a tiny country between Togo and Nigeria, for the next two years and three months, unless I decide to Early Terminate (ET in Peace Corps lingo...get used to the acronyms). I will be working as an English as a Foreign Language teacher.
The day after tomorrow I board a plane at 6:30 a.m. (UGH!) for Washington, D.C., where I will visit a couple of friends for one night before heading to Staging the next day. Staging is an orientation in the United States before going to the country for training. On Tuesday, I will go to Philadelphia, where the Staging will take place. I will be there for two days meeting the other volunteers and learning a little bit more about the program before getting pumped with some vaccines and then climbing into a plane on Thursday. On Friday night, I will arrive in Cotonou, Benin, and training will begin.
After one week staying in a hotel in Cotonou, we will head to smaller communities to begin our home stay and our more specific training activities. Much of our training will actually come from our host families. Just like a study abroad program, we are expected to integrate ourselves into their daily life as much as possible, learning how to bargain at the market, helping cook Beninese food (I think I may actually be okay with much of what they eat there...we'll see), and attending traditional ceremonies. We will also come together with other volunteers to receive language and technical training (I may eventually be learning a tribal language because I already speak French), learn how to fix the bicycles Peace Corps will provide for us, and discuss our future placement with the head honchos who decide those sorts of things.
Benin is a tiny country between Togo and Nigeria in West Africa. For those of you who don't know where it is, you are not alone! I had to look it up myself when I first found out. It is in the armpit of Africa, the little indention before the coast line goes straight down towards the Southern part of the continent. Check it out on CIA web site (my dad's favorite) or another one. I will try to put some links in future entries, but time is running short right now. Another couple of web sites to check out are www.friends-of-benin.org and the Fon is Fun web site, which you can find easily if you type it in any search engine. The Fon is Fun site has some great pictures, funny stories about one Peace Corps Volunteer's experiences there, Beninese food recipes, and more! The temperature will be much like Corpus Christi (hot and humid), but without air-conditioning. I've heard of some people having fans made for them out of car batteries. We'll see how long it takes before I succumb to such a wonderful invention.
I would love to write more, but I must finish straightening up my room and the house and getting myself organized, or I think I may not make it to Benin for fear of my parent's wrath (just kidding...they've been quite supportive of boxes and papers littering the sunroom for the past few weeks).
Thank you to all who have been very supportive during this process. Some of you have written recommendations for me. Some of you have told me your own Peace Corps stories that have encouraged me during this eternal process. Some of you have given me incredible gifts of books, letters I can open when I am there, and free housing during my in-between times. Many of you have been wonderful, supportive friends, always asking me how I'm doing, where I am in the whole shebang, and doing your best to convince me that I am really capable of doing this. Thank you so much!
Many of you have asked me how you can write me. I am creating a specific entry with instructions on how to go about doing that very thing!
So, the next time you receive news from me, I will be in the craziness of Cotonou, where moped taxis rule the streets and VCRs have replaced the movie theaters (so I hear...one thing I am very depressed about!).
Have a wonderful week!
