A more pressing question- why the fuck am i only one posting on this blog? Im in Africa people, give me something so I can remember my former life!
T, if you think its weird to be known as “Miss Kaczmarek”, well over here I’m “Madame Nora”! Totally odd. At any given day, I have about 50 children charging at me screaming; “Madame Nora! Madame Nora! Ca va?” and then they try to carry my book bag for me. They also pick me flowers and bring them to me or if I drop a pencil or something, I have five little boys diving for it! It’s so freaking cute and my kids are so adorable and smart I just love them!
I’ve already started teaching. Peace Corps just throws you fucking in- its unbelievable. We do in nine weeks what people do in two years of school. It’s also incredible. You would never believe that some of the volunteers just started teaching two weeks ago. This week, I have to plan to teach for two hours a day, 4 times a week- really hard when my days usually go from 7-7 and then I have to go home and lesson plan. We’re teaching free summer school right now- basically Peace Corps advertises free English lessons taught by Yovos, and the children just show up. The kids are amazing. Amazing! They’re so freaking cute and so good. They say the cutest things like; “I want to eat my family.” And you have to not laugh and say; “You mean you want to eat WITH your family?”. When we grade tests, we literally spend two hours just hysterically laughing at their English mistakes. They’re so cute! Hahaha I’m teaching my kids how to sing “Umbrella”- which they just love. Ella-ella-ey-ey-ey. I videotaped it and I’ll put it up as soon as I get a good internet connection! It’s adorable! Plus you’ll get to see an African classroom- my kids have no books, two notebooks and a pencil. That’s it.
Actually Teresa, I do think the urban poor in Africa is comparable to the urban poor in the US. I mean, poverty is poverty. I mean, its still Africa- the “very poor” are on a completely different level. I went to my first African slum the other day and it was just awful. So sad. But there are rich people here and there are poor people here, and poor people all over the world feel the exact same way. I just think the US is a lot more dangerous- although it gets kind of spooky at night, I rarely feel unsafe here.
Africa is still great, although the food is kind of wearing on me. One more day of millet porridge and I may shoot myself. And the worst part about it is my family is so excited to give it to me, so I have to pretend to like it. Also they serve super spicy dishes that makes my nose run and my eyes water. Luckily we’ve all discovered peanut butter, pineapples and fried turkey- which is all amazing. Hahaha there is an upside- we’re all dropping weight like mad. The guys especially- two have lost about 20 lbs! I’m pissed b/c my boobs are getting smaller.
I officially become a volunteer on September 5. We’re having a huge party for our swear-in ceremony and the President of Benin is coming! Yay! It may seriously be the proudest day of my life. Then I leave for my village, Biro, on September 7 and start my two years of service. During the first three months, we’re on what we like to call “lockdown”. We cannot leave the village for more than a day for three months, until Thanksgiving. Hahaha so don’t expect to really hear form me- I’ll be lost in the African bush!
I’m so glad I did Peace Corps. I can’t say enough good things about the organization. I can honestly and genuinely say we do good things over here, I promise. We’re not just wasting tax dollars! Plus, I really like Africa! I’m also becoming really close with my fellow volunteers, they’re really amazing. Keep the updates coming, I have absolutely no idea what the hell is happening on the other side of the Atlantic. Send me letters and packages and come visit!
Love, Nora
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