Sunday, July 27, 2008

The Hot and Not List of Benin PSL 21, 2008

HOT
Dark clothing.
Quick dry clothing
cell phones
Tasty treats from home (see below)
Flip flops
Internet 4 communication
Having personal french tutors
Large Beniniese beers


NOT
Anything Kakki or White
SPF clothing
SLOW internet connection
Fish fried with heads still attatched
Keens that say they r waterproof but that is really a lie
French Keybords
Having to learn French only to learn most of the people u will talk to speak a local language
rehydration salts

I forgot..

If you want to send things send them to the adress under my contact info....if possible send things in bubble envemopes: cost around 10 bucks. If not, you can send stuff with those flat rate boxes and I pay for larger packages but it is fine.
Things us PC trainees would love:
Oreos or Milanos or Choc chip cookies....all r good
Hard shell gum: ie. eclipse
Peanut or normal m&ms
drink mix: ie. gatorade or kool aid or any of the like .... seriously
protien bars...but flavor is a top concern. I found that the South Beach Living brand by Kraft was pretty good, at least the cinn raison.

Also those cheap windup flashlights at kmart/walmart r serious money here

Finally Im going to try and read some mails now, but 1st I can tell u all that i am assigned to a post in a village a little north of Porto Novo and i will most likly be participating in a fisheries project. I can't be more specific due to PC regulations. Talk to u guys later, i think im 5 hours ahead so call around 7 to 10 in the morning to catch me at lunch

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

i told u once a month

Right now i am in Porto Novo for stqging. I live with a christian celeste family. Everything is fine. 5 people have already quit. I wish I could put pix up now but the connection is SOOO slow and the power has gone out 3 times already...i have waited an hour to type this! call me if you get an african callling card: 011 229 98 52 74 84 around this time i am free (my lunch). Peace out folks, and no jimmy the fly ladies don,t come to W.Africa :/

Saturday, July 5, 2008

Finally here!!

Very hectic, right now I am at the Peace Corps office doing my bike fitting, more vaccinations, and language training. I have lots of pictures but I have to set up a account on picasa so I'll put a link up later. Food is good, high humidity. I have my own room at staging.

Thursday, July 3, 2008

In the airport

Sitting in the Philly airport with my new Gov. passport. 7 hour plane trip to Paris. 5 hour wait. 5 hour plane ride to Africa. Interesting way to celebrate the 4th of July...if anyone is trying to get a hold of me with my phone it is on vacation (for 5 something a month). I might get a new cell phone in country

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Africa Bound

Finished 2 days of pre-departure training (very boring). Everyone seems very nice. On thursday we get some shots and leave the country. Pretty soon I'll be speaking French every day.

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Eve of Leaving

Spent last night in Grand Hyatt so no one would have to drive me to Tampa Int. @ 3 in the AM. Currently sitting in the terminal waiting for my plane to board in about 20 min. Good-bye to anyone at home I missed. Hopefully I'll meet my bags in Philly and after surviving the 1st day I'll meet up with my relatives for some dinner.