A little help for potential PCVs....

I realized this was about the time I was seriously getting into my PC application process last year, and while I don't remember if I had stumbled across the blog pages yet I figure I can give any potential PC applicant some advice before they sign up officially.
TIPS:
1. If you are in any way adverse to using a hole in a hut as a bathroom or your hands as silverware...do not come to West Africa. (or do what I do and carry a spoon with you at all times)
2. If the idea of a 30 y.o. man, with an equivalent to a third grade education, telling you how stupid your idea is (even if said idea is backed up by millions practicing it's principles worldwide)...don't come to West Africa.
3. Don't bring socks or closed toed shoes...you will never you them.
4. Pack less clothes and stuff and bring more money. (despite the falling dollar)
5. BRING WIND-UP FLASHLIGHTS/RADIOS/CELLPHONE CHARGERS. (we all can't be SEDers, with their electricity and running water)
6. About 2 weeks before you go to pre-staging, send yourself a package to the 971 Cotonou address...i suggest somethings chocolaty or Cliff bars.
7. Know your daypack...it has to be big enough to carry a couple pairs of cloths but be small enough to sit on your lap in crowded conditions.
8. If being the only white (or any other color other than black) person within a 50 km radius, and being constantly reminded of that fact everyday by people with less than a third grade education...don't come to West Africa.
9. If your family is dead set against you contracting some sort of tropical disease...don't come to West Africa.
10. Finally, if you really want to do development work...look elsewhere. PC is not a development agency and most of those wanting out do so because they thought they were getting into something altogether different.

That said, if you finally do decide that PC West Africa is for you (I fail to see how, you could get a Pacific Island post for Christs sake) then PC Benin is a pretty good place to end up. More food available when compared to Niger or Mauritania, and less violence than say Ghana. The downtime can get fairly tedious, but if you want the work you can find it. At the end of the day, every volunteer is over here to make a difference and help a people and nation less developed than our own. That thought alone makes those days when groups of children and adults are laughing at you because the white guy just got off a bike wearing a helmet just bearable...just barely.

Top 5 things I brought to Benin:
1. Inflatable sleeping mat and pillow
2. Blue disaster tarp
3. pocketknife
4. Sharpies
5. wind-up falshlight/radio
notables include: hammock with mosquito netting, camel bak, kitchen knife, micro waterfilter

Safari X-mas

So I'm back from the safari and now knee deep in bike tour plans. The animals were awesome! I went with a number of TEFL volunteers and we saw hippos, elephants, crocs, lions, buffalos, antelopes of various types, monkeys and baboons, a porqupine, and carious birds (eagles/parrots/storks). It was a very successful safari. Afterwards we visited a post of a RCH (health) volunteer and we played in a large waterfall. It was huge, probably around 45 feet high, and I climbed up and jumped off. Pictures will have to wait until I get back to Cotonou. I hope everyone had a happy new year, and I'm sure everyone is enjoying bowl season on their TVs.