Benin: Life on the other side of the planet

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About this blog

Hello! Welcome to my Benin Blog. The purpose of this site is to keep everyone updated with my experiences of living in another (undeveloped) country, traveling, and life in the Peace Corps. It does not reflect the views of the United States Peace Corps, just my own personal thoughts, opinions, and experiences. Hopefully, I will be able to access this site frequently to post updates!

• 1

  My Adventure Begins...   Philidelphia, PA on Jul 5, 2005 1 picture 0 comments
• 2

  Staging in Philly   Philidelphia, PA on Jul 6, 2005 5 pictures 0 comments
• 3

  Last Day in America   Philidelphia, PA on Jul 7, 2005 4 pictures 0 comments
• 4

  Paris   Paris, France on Jul 8, 2005 3 pictures 0 comments
• 5

  Arrival in Benin   Cotonou, Benin on Jul 9, 2005 2 pictures 1 comment
• 6

  Cotonou: Benin's largest city   Cotonou, Benin on Jul 10, 2005 1 picture 1 comment
• 7

  Another day...   Cotonou, Benin on Jul 11, 2005 1 picture 0 comments
• 8

  Zemidjan Training   Cotonou, Benin on Jul 12, 2005 6 pictures 0 comments
• 9

  My New Family   Azove, Benin on Jul 13, 2005 4 pictures 0 comments
• 10

  A day in Azove   Azove, Benin on Jul 14, 2005 0 pictures 2 comments
• 11

  Marche Day   Azove, Benin on Jul 15, 2005 1 picture 1 comment
• 12

  Tomatoes, Peppers, and Onions....   Azove, Benin on Jul 16, 2005 3 pictures 0 comments
• 13

  Laundry day   Azove, Benin on Jul 17, 2005 12 pictures 1 comment
• 14

  Just another day   Azove, Benin on Jul 18, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 15

  Chicken murdering and Flat tires   Azove, Benin on Jul 19, 2005 0 pictures 1 comment
• 16

  SALAD!! =)   Azove, Benin on Jul 20, 2005 0 pictures 1 comment
• 17

  Fashion Show   Azove, Benin on Jul 21, 2005 5 pictures 1 comment
• 18

  Sodabi   Azove, Benin on Jul 22, 2005 5 pictures 0 comments
• 19

  Water, taxis, cheese, and tissue   Azove, Benin on Jul 23, 2005 0 pictures 2 comments
• 20

  Ordination Day   Azove, Benin on Jul 24, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 21

  Animals and Burritos   Azove, Benin on Jul 25, 2005 1 picture 0 comments
• 22

  Polygamy in Benin   Azove, Benin on Jul 26, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 23

  New person and new spider   Azove, Benin on Jul 27, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 24

  Bike Gears and Pagnes   Azove, Benin on Jul 28, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 25

  I learned to play Poker!   Azove, Benin on Jul 29, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 26

  Grand Po-Po   Grand Popo, Benin on Jul 30, 2005 5 pictures 0 comments
• 27

  Returning home from the beach   Grand Po-Po, Benin on Jul 31, 2005 10 pictures 0 comments
• 28

  Independence Day   Azove, Benin on Aug 1, 2005 14 pictures 0 comments
• 29

  The next 2 years of my life...   Azove, Benin on Aug 2, 2005 1 picture 0 comments
• 30

  Heading North   Kandi, Benin on Aug 3, 2005 5 pictures 0 comments
• 31

  Adventures like this are why I joined the PC   Banikora, Benin on Aug 4, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 32

  Banikora   Banikora, Benin on Aug 5, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 33

  Adventures of the PC   Kandi, Benin on Aug 6, 2005 10 pictures 0 comments
• 34

  Long day in a taxi   Azove, Benin on Aug 7, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 35

  1 month ago today...   Azove, Benin on Aug 8, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 36

  Mail is fun!   Azove, Benin on Aug 9, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 37

  Cous-Cous   Azove, Benin on Aug 10, 2005 1 picture 0 comments
• 38

  Pascal's Omelets   Azove, Benin on Aug 11, 2005 1 picture 0 comments
• 39

  Bike training and Marketing   Azove, Benin on Aug 12, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 40

  Slave-trade history   Ouidah, Benin on Aug 13, 2005 18 pictures 0 comments
• 41

  Tresses   Azove, Benin on Aug 14, 2005 5 pictures 0 comments
• 42

  Curfews and phone calls   Azove, Benin on Aug 15, 2005 1 picture 0 comments
• 43

  Dead chickens and FanMilk   Azove, Benin on Aug 16, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 44

  Dinner chez-moi   Azove, Benin on Aug 17, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 45

  Voodoo demonstration   Azove, Benin on Aug 18, 2005 2 pictures 0 comments
• 46

  Just another day.   Azove, Benin on Aug 19, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 47

  Zzzzzz......   Azove, Benin on Aug 20, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 48

  A "special" dinner   Azove, Benin on Aug 21, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 49

  Meeting my Homologue   Azove, Benin on Aug 22, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 50

  Meeting Houegbo   Houegbo, Benin on Aug 23, 2005 1 picture 0 comments
• 51

  Meeting my new house...   Houegbo, Benin on Aug 24, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 52

  Examinations   Houegbo, Benin on Aug 25, 2005 3 pictures 0 comments
• 53

  A better day.   Houegbo, Benin on Aug 26, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 54

  Getting "lost"   Bohicon, Benin on Aug 27, 2005 3 pictures 1 comment
• 55

  The road back home   Azove, Benin on Aug 28, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 56

  Corn stalks in the night   Azove, Benin on Aug 29, 2005 1 picture 0 comments
• 57

  Laundry at lunch, an exciting day.   Azove, Benin on Aug 30, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 58

  A normal day   Azove, Benin on Aug 31, 2005 1 picture 0 comments
• 59

  Rainy day   Azove, Benin on Sep 1, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 60

  Cooking chez-moi   Azove, Benin on Sep 2, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 61

  Food, food and more food   Azove, Benin on Sep 3, 2005 5 pictures 0 comments
• 62

  Today, I'm a bike mechanic   Azove, Benin on Sep 4, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 63

  Elections and Business Cards   Azove, Benin on Sep 5, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 64

  Swear-In Tissue!   Azove, Benin on Sep 6, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 65

  Breakfast @ Dinner   Azove, Benin on Sep 7, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 66

  A Miracle Tree!   Azove, Benin on Sep 8, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 67

  Bike accident   Azove, Benin on Sep 9, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 68

  Cow skin   Azove, Benin on Sep 10, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 69

  Don't take washing machines for granted!   Azove, Benin on Sep 11, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 70

  French ALL day   Azove, Benin on Sep 12, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 71

  A FanMilk Full Day   Azove, Benin on Sep 13, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 72

  More bike repairs...   Azove, Benin on Sep 14, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 73

  Another great start to my day...   Azove, Benin on Sep 15, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 74

  Teaching tally marks   Azove, Benin on Sep 16, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 75

  Exam day   Azove, Benin on Sep 17, 2005 4 pictures 0 comments
• 76

  Re-tressing   Azove, Benin on Sep 18, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 77

  A slough-off day   Azove, Benin on Sep 19, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 78

  Artisan's Ceremony   Azove, Benin on Sep 20, 2005 2 pictures 0 comments
• 79

  Shopping!   Cotonou, Benin on Sep 21, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 80

  Fridges and cell phones...is this really Africa??   Cotonou, Benin on Sep 22, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 81

  Swear-In Day!   Lokossa, Benin on Sep 23, 2005 14 pictures 0 comments
• 82

  Rain, rain go away...   Azove, Benin on Sep 24, 2005 2 pictures 0 comments
• 83

  Goodbye Azovè, Hello Houègbo   Houegbo, Benin on Sep 25, 2005 9 pictures 0 comments
• 84

  Scrubbing   Houegbo, Benin on Sep 26, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 85

  A day in Houègbo   Houegbo, Benin on Sep 27, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 86

  Pepsi!   Houegbo, Benin on Sep 28, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 87

  Waiting...   Cotonou, Benin on Sep 29, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 88

  Happy Birthday Meredith!   Cotonou, Benin on Oct 1, 2005 1 picture 0 comments
• 89

  Ack! A spider!   Houegbo, Benin on Oct 2, 2005 2 pictures 0 comments
• 90

  TeleCel-a reliable phone service?   Houegbo, Benin on Oct 3, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 91

  Church   Houegbo, Benin on Oct 4, 2005 10 pictures 0 comments
• 92

  Painting pains   Houegbo, Benin on Oct 5, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 93

  Odds N Ends   Houegbo, Benin on Oct 6, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 94

  Sandals and Sewers   Houegbo, Benin on Oct 7, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 95

  Furniture?   Houegbo, Benin on Oct 8, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 96

  Sunday Church Service   Houegbo, Benin on Oct 9, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 97

  A Baptism   Houegbo, Benin on Oct 10, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 98

  "Formations" Meeting   Sehoue, Benin on Oct 11, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 99

  The mornings are freezing!   Houegbo, Benin on Oct 12, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 100

  Mom's Cookies!   Houegbo, Benin on Oct 13, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 101

  My first trip to Cotonou-ALONE!   Cotonou, Benin on Oct 14, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 102

  We're Cookin'   Cotonou, Benin on Oct 16, 2005 4 pictures 0 comments
• 103

  What's in the PC Cookbook?   Houégbo, Benin on Oct 18, 2005 1 picture 0 comments
• 104

  Not for the Queasy   Houégbo, Benin on Oct 28, 2005 1 picture 0 comments
• 105

  Apple Pie   Houégbo, Benin on Oct 29, 2005 1 picture 0 comments
• 106

  Another Dinner...   Houégbo, Benin on Nov 10, 2005 2 pictures 0 comments
• 107

  My New Home   Houégbo, Benin on Nov 20, 2005 7 pictures 0 comments
• 108

  My Town   Houégbo, Benin on Nov 21, 2005 9 pictures 0 comments
• 109

  Egg Salad   Houégbo, Benin on Nov 24, 2005 1 picture 0 comments
• 110

  Be it ever so humble, There is no place like home.   Houégbo, Benin on Nov 25, 2005 5 pictures 0 comments
• 111

  Thanksgiving   Parakou, Benin on Nov 26, 2005 9 pictures 0 comments
• 112

  The Chouk Marché   Parakou, Benin on Nov 27, 2005 1 picture 0 comments
• 113

  Visiting Toffo   Toffo, Benin on Dec 9, 2005 6 pictures 0 comments
• 114

  Visiting Allada   Allada, Benin on Dec 17, 2005 4 pictures 0 comments
• 115

  Chocolate Chip Cookies   Houégbo, Benin on Dec 19, 2005 1 picture 0 comments
• 116

  Christmas at the BEACH!   Grand Popo, Benin on Dec 23, 2005 5 pictures 0 comments
• 117

  Christmas Eve Day   Grand Popo, Benin on Dec 25, 2005 2 pictures 0 comments
• 118

  Christmas with My Family (Benin)   Azové, Benin on Dec 26, 2005 2 pictures 0 comments
• 119

  Christmas in Houègbo   Houègbo, Benin on Dec 27, 2005 1 picture 0 comments
• 120

  Happy New Year   Houègbo, Benin on Jan 1, 2006 4 pictures 0 comments
• 121

  Visit to the Neighbor   Houègbo, Benin on Jan 4, 2006 1 picture 0 comments
• 122

  A Beninese Funeral   Houègbo, Benin on Jan 29, 2006 15 pictures 0 comments
• 123

  Another Funeral   Houégbo, Benin on Feb 12, 2006 6 pictures 0 comments
• 124

  "Drink Offering" Ceremony   Abomey, Benin on Feb 13, 2006 6 pictures 0 comments
• 125

  "The OC" has arrived.   Houégbo, Benin on Feb 26, 2006 1 picture 0 comments
• 126

  My New House   Houégbo, Benin on Mar 25, 2006 11 pictures 0 comments
• 127

  Allada   Allada, Benin on Mar 26, 2006 1 picture 0 comments
• 128

  My Garden   Houégbo, Benin on Mar 29, 2006 2 pictures 0 comments
• 129

  The Day of the Solar Eclipse   Houégbo, Benin on Mar 30, 2006 6 pictures 1 comment
• 130

  Looking African   Houégbo, Benin on Mar 31, 2006 1 picture 0 comments
• 131

  Neighbor Girls   Houégbo, Benin on Apr 6, 2006 4 pictures 0 comments
• 132

  The Election   Houégbo, Benin on Apr 7, 2006 2 pictures 0 comments
• 133

  Genevieve   Houégbo, Benin on Apr 8, 2006 3 pictures 0 comments
• 134

  Giant Snails   Houégbo, Benin on Apr 9, 2006 2 pictures 0 comments
• 135

  My Fon Teacher   Houégbo, Benin on Apr 10, 2006 1 picture 0 comments
• 136

  All-Vol Conference   Cotonou, Benin on Apr 14, 2006 3 pictures 0 comments
• 137

  Easter Weekend   Cotonou, Benin on Apr 15, 2006 7 pictures 0 comments
• 138

  In-Service Training Week   Ouidah, Benin on Apr 17, 2006 3 pictures 0 comments
• 139

  Le Petit Miguelito   Cotonou, Benin on Apr 22, 2006 4 pictures 0 comments
• 140

  How to Open a Coconut   Houegbo, Benin on Apr 27, 2006 5 pictures 0 comments
• 141

  Meeting in Zinvie   Zinvie, Benin on Apr 28, 2006 1 picture 0 comments
• 142

  National Rugby Team   Zinvie, Benin on Apr 29, 2006 2 pictures 0 comments
• 143

  My Birthday   Northern Benin, Benin on May 7, 2006 1 picture 0 comments
• 144

  Departure   Natitingou, Benin on May 8, 2006 9 pictures 0 comments
• 145

  Presentations   Boukoumbé, Benin on May 9, 2006 10 pictures 0 comments
• 146

  Bike Trip-Day 3   Bongou, Benin on May 10, 2006 6 pictures 0 comments
• 147

  Day 4- Biaccou   Biaccou, Benin on May 11, 2006 3 pictures 0 comments
• 148

  Kids and Toys   Ouansokou/Wasanku, Benin on May 12, 2006 1 picture 0 comments
• 149

  An Uphill kind of Day   Tamépgré, Benin on May 13, 2006 2 pictures 0 comments
• 150

  Grasshopper   Houegbo, Benin on May 15, 2006 1 picture 0 comments
• 151

  Belated Birthday Celebration   Houebgo, Benin on May 16, 2006 1 picture 0 comments
• 152

  My Garden   Houebgo, Benin on May 19, 2006 3 pictures 0 comments
• 153

  Flooded   Houegbo, Benin on May 26, 2006 2 pictures 0 comments
• 154

  A New Plan   Houegbo, Benin on Jun 7, 2006 1 picture 0 comments
• 155

  Pigs   Unknown, Benin on Jun 11, 2006 3 pictures 0 comments
• 156

  World Map Makers   Houegbo, Benin on Jun 14, 2006 2 pictures 0 comments
• 157

  The World is Painted....   Houegbo, Benin on Jun 16, 2006 1 picture 0 comments
• 158

  My Birthday Continues   Houegbo, Benin on Jun 16, 2006 1 picture 0 comments
• 159

  Dassa Funeral   Dassa, Benin on Jun 24, 2006 0 pictures 0 comments
• 160

  The Priest in Sehoue   Sehoue, Benin on Jun 27, 2006 1 picture 0 comments
• 161

  Camp GLOW (Girls Leading Our World)   Porto Novo, Benin on Jul 2, 2006 4 pictures 0 comments
• 162

  Project Songhai   Porto Novo, Benin on Jul 7, 2006 7 pictures 0 comments
• 163

  The End of Camp   Porto Novo, Benin on Jul 8, 2006 3 pictures 0 comments
• 164

  Down on the Farm   Houegbo, Benin on Jul 12, 2006 3 pictures 0 comments
• 165

  Another Funeral   Benin, Benin on Jul 15, 2006 3 pictures 0 comments
• 166

  Updating the World   Houegbo, Benin on Jul 24, 2006 2 pictures 0 comments
• 167

  Bodybuilding Competition   Benin, Benin on Jul 30, 2006 2 pictures 0 comments
• 168

  Making Ice Cream   Toffo, Benin on Aug 2, 2006 1 picture 0 comments
• 169

  August 15th Party   Houegbo, Benin on Aug 16, 2006 3 pictures 0 comments
• 170

  Labor Day   Houegbo, Benin on Sep 4, 2006 1 picture 0 comments
• 171

  My Class Teaches Me   Sehoue, Benin on Sep 13, 2006 4 pictures 0 comments
• 172

  Another Garden Attempt   Houegbo, Benin on Sep 27, 2006 1 picture 0 comments
• 173

  Family Arrives in Cotonou   Cotonou, Benin on Dec 23, 2006 3 pictures 0 comments
• 174

  Culture Shock!!!!   Cotonou, Benin on Dec 24, 2006 7 pictures 0 comments
• 175

  Christmas Eve with the Family   Azove, Benin on Dec 25, 2006 5 pictures 0 comments
• 176

  Joyeaux Noel (Merry Christmas)   Azove, Benin on Dec 25, 2006 6 pictures 0 comments
• 177

  Going on a Safari   Natitingou, Benin on Dec 26, 2006 14 pictures 0 comments
• 178

  Off to the Chutes   Parc de la Pendjari, Benin on Dec 30, 2006 4 pictures 0 comments