Swearing in Soon
Trip Start
Jun 02, 2003
1
6
41
Trip End
Dec 31, 2006
Lokossa,
Benin
Monday, August 11, 2003
So many stories, so little time... I won't try to catch up for the moment, though I may backtrack and write little vignettes from stage at a future date. Let me tell you what is happening now.
In less than two weeks, I will be an official Peace Corps volunteer. The Swear In ceremony is on August 22nd. It is quite a big deal. All the trainees and I have purchased matching tissue and are getting outfits made at tailors
Chicken slaughtering! Weak stomachs BEWARE!
. We also bought matching tissue for our facilitators. Wearing the same tissue for ceremonies-everything from funerals to baptisms-is the tradition here, and in order to symbolize our integration into Beninese culture, the stagaires each year sport matching outfits. The Swearing In is actually televised on the Beninese national station! I will have to give a speech in Bariba, the local language I am learning. I am a little nervous about this as I have yet to extend my vocabulary beyond 20 minutes of salutations:" -How did you wake up this morning?
-Good.
-How is your body holding up?
-Body's doing well.
-And yesterday's fatigue?
-Good.
-And your house?
-Good.
-And your children?
-Good.
-And your husband?
-Good. "
It goes on. You get the picture. I guess it only has to be a 3-5 minute speech, though, so I guess I'm good.
My mama is hiring a photographer to film this special occasion, so I better practice. I also better make sure my room is spotless. I saw the video she made last year (the soundtrack was absolutely fabulous elevator music), and the photographer went into Melanie's room (Melanie was the stagaire last year) and zoomed in on her shampoo bottles and messy tables for more than sufficient amount of time. It was a VERY thorough video, to say the least.
I have mixed feelings about swearing in. Obviously, I am very excited to become a volunteer and move on to N'Dali, which will become my home for the next two years. But, as with any big transition, I can't help but be sad at the same time. My host family has been wonderful. I think I have the best one out of the bunch! Also, N'Dali is pretty far from the majority of my close volunteer/stagaire friends. I am optimistic about my post, though. N'Dali is a nice town, and I have very friendly neighbors, who will hopefully become good friends. My house is also very spacious, which means I can accomodate plenty of visitors! Do capitalize on this opportunity! :)
N'Dali is in the north, so I have been trying to take advantage of being in the south during Stage. The south provides many more opportunities to see voodoo ceremonies, and most of the big tourist destinations are here. Through language classes and group excursions, I have been able to visit -in Ouidah- the Slave Route, the Sacred Forests, and the Temple of the Pythons. I have met and had a question/answer session with the chief of all Voodoo in Benin. My mama took me "au village" near Grand Popo to see a Zangbeto ceremony/dance. I also got my first taste of sodabi that night. I will try to write more about these experiences in the next update.
N Kua Sia for now! Bariba class is waiting...
