New Look

I went through my templates and updated the blog with a friendlier interface. There's an American theme going on now with the red, white, and blue, but it's subtle enough to not be overwhelming. I've also added pages up top where you can now find my application time line and my wish list, as well as a more detailed 'about me' section for your viewing pleasure. I'm hoping to make this blog a little more enjoyable to read by including more stories and anecdotes of my life abroad, so check back soon. And as always, let me know if you have any questions or concerns!

Half a year, oh dear! a photo vignette

Since I've been in americaland I've had plenty of time to get all the photos uploaded to picasa and facebook that my little heart could desire. Here are a few examples; I've also enabled public picasa galleries of various benin photos. Just check out the photos of benin banner up above! Enjoy!

the sunset over a mosque in djougou (also my new blog background!)

my pink front porch

a rainbow as seen from my roof

after we swore an oath to protect the constitution

swear in afternoon with some fellow RCHers

painting I bought in cotonou

my livingroom

me and doug, my postmate/big brother at beer fest

some kids playing soccer at sunset

some cute kids outside the maison des jeunes

the crowd at the world aids day 2010 in nati

dancers at world aids day

the t-shirts were awesome

dancing kids for tips at a bar in cotonou

pounding some moringa leaves into powder at IST

Well, that's it for now I think. I'll put up a few more before I head back to benin in a couple weeks.

America, heck yeah!

I've been in America for the last two weeks and I have two more to go. My mom had some surgery so I came back to help out a bit on Peace Corps dime. I am actually extremely thankful for the time and money they've given me to let me be here.

I've done a lot of thinking and came extremely close to early terminating. I had made peace with the idea of never coming back to my little Djougou house; I packed like I was leaving forever and gave away so many things that I'll have to re-buy. But honestly I don't mind. I'm really glad to be coming back, I'm actually a little surprised at how happy I am that I made the decision I did. I feel like I've had this huge weight on my chest for weeks now and it's just completely lifted and I can breathe again.

Which means I can fully enjoy my time here. We're talking movies, and so much American food. And since I've been eating meat in Africa, why change my habits for such a short amount of time here? So I've had cheeseburgers and chicken and pork and omg, I don't think I'm going to be able to go back to being a veg. Colt is making me steaks for Valentine's Day tomorrow and I'm getting a really expensive bottle of Cabernet with my per diem that I've saved up.

Reverse culture shock is a very real, and very strange thing. My dad picked me up from the airport and took me to a super grocery store and I about had a nervous break-down. I looked around and saw all the tomatoes and fruit and cereal and started mumbling like a crazy person. "You can buy the lettuce...and then the onions....and then walk over here and get cookies...and the water comes out and sprays the vegetables..." There was actually tears in my eyes. But give me a break; I was tired and jet lagged out of my mind. I actually got trapped in the Minneapolis airport because of a giant snow storm. I spent the night there when my flight was canceled and while those seats are pretty comfortable, I was still a little shaken at the hugeness of the store.

There are actually probably about a hundred different examples of me being weirded out by things that should be familiar. Colt didn't know what to do with me for a while I think. I just see so much waste here that I didn't notice before. So much ingratitude for so much stuff. I mean, we have so much freaking STUFF. Why? I'm feeling very existentialist about America's materialism right now. But at the same time, wow. I mean, WOW. America is the best place ever. We have everything you could ever want or need. I can get Chinese for lunch and Indian for dinner or get a quiche or a salad or both or buffalo wings (OMG SO GOOD) or cocktails and pizza. You can buy a rug and fan and a table and bed, all premade and ready to go. It's just sort of amazing and I don't think people appreciate it. Plus the democracy? The freedom? The sheer force of American awesomeness?? Well, that's not something I'll be forgetting on my way home to Africa.

It's kind of cool, but a few times now I've referred to my house in Djougou as 'home' without even thinking about it. And it really is. I can't say that I'm jumping at the bit to get back there right away, but knowing I'll be there soon doesn't sound too bad at all.

E