AFRICA!

Hey guys! I finally have time to write! Im at the Peace Corps office hanging out because I tested out of all my language classes so I don't have to go for the next two days! Yay! Still, I have weeks of intensive French ahead of me, and then I'll take classes in the local language. OMG though, Parisian French was just drilled into my head at the Sorbonne and this is sooo different! West African French makes me laugh, and its definitely going to take some getting used to!

So far, this experience has exceeded all my expectations. It keeps getting more and more fun. Benin is so poor you really cannot understand it unless you come. The capital is basically a shanty town, and the people are so poor and so sick. Still, they're constantly smiling and are so happy to see you its so amazing. To explain how poor it is, let me explain.

For instance, we have not had water for three days. I, Nora Kaitis, have been taking a bucket showers. Oh yes, washing my body and hair from a bucket. Electricity is completely sporadic, going out about 2-3 times/day. And, a guy in my training class broke his ankle last night. It's the second day. How did he do this? He was sitting on the roof (everyone was on the balcony and roof slants down), stood up and fell straight through to a classroom below him. He has to be medvacked to Senegal or South Africa because they can't fix it here. Poor lad. But yes, roofs cave.

For some reason, we all just take it. I don't even really miss it, because we're all in the same boat. I told you, this is basically like the best summer camp ever for 22-year olds. The food is also really bad. I mean, it's ok, but just not good. Still, you eat it.

The people in my group are amazing and I'm obsessed with them. I also love the other volunteers and staff members. We have so much fun!

I am also so happy to have this blog because Peace Corps reads my other one! So we can't write anything!

So I'm staying at a Catholic Missionary with everyone for five days. They have a bar, so we drink Beninese beer at night with sand and palm trees. Yesterday was Sunday, aka church day, which lasts all day. There were kids everywhere! They were so cute. And among 80 children, not one had a toy. Not one soccer ball, not one doll. They hunt lizards all day and go crazy for digital cameras. You take pictures of them in different poses and then they fall on the floor laughing when they see themselves. I posted pics on facebook. The people here are absolutely gorgeous. The have this dark flawless skin, and they wear traditional African clothing. They're very proud. On the other hand, they're very humiliated by their status in the world and have this sad inferiority complex. 2% of Benin's population has AIDS, which is actually lower than the USA's 5% HIV/AIDS rate (Gabby you might wanna back me up on that).

Today was so much fun because the vast majority of taxis in Benin are motorcycles! So we had training on the zemidjans, the taxi motorcycle. You have not lived until you are on a motorcycle in Africa hahaha. So much fun! They zip through the streets and miss trucks and stones by like inches. Its soo cool. We have to wear helmets and the Beninese think you're crazy for wearing it haha.

Soon I move in with my host family and train for nine weeks and then I get my post! Crazy! There are so many hidden perks to joining the Peace Corps and I love it. Sorry if this email is a little crazy, there are a million people around me right now distracting me hahah. Like right now the volunteers that have been here for a year are freaking out over a People magazine someone brought over haha.

Love you all! I'm doing great and I'm having so much fun.

-Nora