Back down south

I am in Cotonou again for a little while to help train the incoming class of PCVLs. After that there is a National VAC meeting here....and after that the new stage come into Benin. Everyone is excited to welcome the newcomers...and a few of us are excited to be on our way. I think 2 Alibori PCVs are out the 1st week of Aug. I come back down at the end of the month for medical. I think I really need to start on my resume and start spamming those employers. Maybe next week. I hope to get a round of golf in with Elliot before he heads out. I lost a temp guard the other day to illness (as in he is dead), and another guard is getting married so I think they will want me to attend the festivities (funerals are reasons to party here). Recently Kandi hosted a girls camp...girls were brought in from all over the Alibori. They really enjoyed themselves with all the singing and activities and informational sessions. They liked the soccer training the best...especially the header drills.

Still running deaf and blind in the Alibori

Still no internet in the WS. I am lucky enough to be typing on a computer linked by USB key...but it is leaving later today. Spent the fourth (our 2nd anniversary in-country) in Djougou. Many PCVs come out to battle a group of German volunteers in Soccer and Football (american). We tied in soccer...and the ensuing p-ks, which was impressive since we Americans are not known for our soccer affinity nor prowness. Only a little over 2 months to go over here. Trying to wrap things up. Thanks to Kims mom (I think it was Kim's mom) for the info on the warthog tusk....I have one and want to bring it home but I still have not found anything restricting me from bringing it. Warthogs aren't endangered or anything, so I think it will be fine. June was a busy month and July is shaping up to be more of the same...lots of traveling. Ready to get back to the US to be poor and jobless (here in Africa I am only one of those 2 things)

out of contact

My part of the Alibori has been without internet connection for over a month...it makes work only slightly more difficult. Just approved the construction on the new WS house for the incoming PCVL. Sched. my Oral Assessment for the State Dept in the middle of Oct. Does anyone know if a warthog tusk is ivory? Watched the US Vs. Algeria world cup match today. A beninoise was making noise at the ajoining table. I told him the Beninese squirrels weren't playing and he said he was rooting for the 'African' team. I didn't think I had to explain to him that the US team had more players of 'his' african descent compared to the arabic algerian team.

Belated update

Hey everyone. The Alibori has been with out internet (24h/24h) since May 21st...lame. I just got my invite to go to the State Dept oral assessment...but I have to wait until the end of the month to schedule the interview date (when/where). If i don't have to do it in D.C., that would be great. I will have to get some clothes tho...basically 2 years in the African bush mandates that you get an entirely new wardrobe:) Getting excited to see everyone again, and finishing up my service strong!

COS date decided

Finally know my COS date. I am heading out of here on Sept 16th. COS conference was nice. Got the chance to speak with a couple embassy people who helped to flesh out the selection process. Heading back up north tomorrow, so no more warm showers. Rainy season came early this year and is full swing up north. Decided to let PC buy my ticket home instead of getting cash-in-lieu...hopefully did not miss an opportunity to get some extra cash.

Wow, I have been here sooo long

So the last month I have been very preoccupied with the fact that I have been here a very long time. Been looking at alternative sites for the workstation incase we need to move. A large storm blew of a contactor in the electrical closet yesterday that I had replaced 12 hours earlier! Other than that I have been taking it easy this month ahead of COS conference (when we decide your COS date).

Update

I have been pretty busy since my last post. I went back up to post and fixed the workstation computer again. I then started the process to relocate (we might have to move the workstation because the landlord wants to double the rent and his asking price is unreasonable)...this means I talked to everyone I could think of to find out if there were available properties of the size I would be looking for. There are no real estate agents in the Alibori. I talked to NGO directors, school professors, mayor's office officials, my guards, the nuns at the local catholic mission, the post office guys....you get the idea. I finally tracked a couple leads on 4 houses from the guy at UNDP's environmental volunteerism project and the guard at the bus station. The friend of the bus station guard actually looks like my best bet and I will start to see sites on Monday. My last post mentioned I was heading up...I spent 3 days at post, paid guards and started the house hunt...then I went back down to Cotonou for a national VAC meeting...am currently en route to head back up to post and get an eye on these possible workstation sites and get specs/prices. I am half and half on moving workstation sites. On one hand it would be a cool thing to write on a resume that I saved PC 25% on rent costs by finding a new site and relocating....but the move would come at the very tail end of my service....I really did not want to be THAT busy at the end. Weather has been really strange the last few weeks. It actually rained in the Alibori! It was 74 degrees the morning I left (Monday the 26th)! For chaleur weather that is insane, but I really hope it continues. I read some of the reports of the oil spill in the Gulf...I hope that stuff stays away from our pristine white-sand beaches! Grandma, tell Obama this is why FLA is against off-shore drilling!