Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Ah, Cotonou

Another day here in the humid African air of Cotonou. It seems as if I'll never lose my awe of this place. Yesterday I had my first zemijohn ride through downtown Cotonou (don't worry safety police, it was only a training run so we would know how to do it on our own). For those of you who aren't experts on West African modes of transportation, a zemijohn is essentially a motorcycle taxi and is the most common way to get around the bustling city of Cotonou.
What was interesting about this ride was that it was through the more well-off section of Cotonou. I actually saw my first traffic light and all the roads were paved, zut allors! It never amazes me how shocked people are to see a white person in their neighborhood. They will literally stop in their tracks and stare and the kids will jump and shout "Yovo, yovo" with a huge grin on their faces, it's pretty entertaining and I get a jolly good kick out of it.
After the zemijohn ride we did a tour of the market district. While at first I found it extremely intimidating (I can understand hardly anything!), I settled down and really enjoyed taking in all the sights. It should be an interesting experience when I attempt to haggle for my first couple bananas or yams.
My interview with the TEFL (Teaching English as a Foriegn Language) leader was today and it was just great. Maria, a local Beninois, is her name and her energy is so infecting. I can tell that she has so much to share with all of us and I can't wait to get started. In an interesting side note, she says I remind her of her son, so it seems I have a West African dopelganger!
Homestay begins tomorrow so, needless to say, we are all quivering balls of emotion. I can't wait to meet my new family as I'm sure it will be quite the experience. Rest assured that I'll do right by you all and share many stories from home with them, especially embarrassing ones, those are always the best.

Monday, July 27, 2009

Yovos On Parade

Greetings from the land of friendly people, Benin. It feels amazing to finally be in Africa and I'm trying to soak up everything around me. The flight here was long but pretty fun. Also, I hope my scattered brain can be forgiven as I feel like I've been given new eyes here.
I went to church yesterday and had quite the experience. While it was Catholic I don't think that was the main obstacle to my understanding of the operaton of the service. If you think French is tough (and I do) then do not go to a catholic service where Fon and French are preached. Not only preached mind you, but mingled into an indescernable jumble of words, beautiful jumble, but jumble nonetheless.
The novelty of white people was quite the experience for the worshippers there and the preacher managed to work us into his sermon as we were asked to stand and given a round of applause (the woman next to me actually had to tell me to stand, yes my French/Fon is that good). I was also able to shutup a crying baby, as my sight caused his crying to turn into a curious gaze worthy of a Hallmark card. Oh, and they have good music here, who would've thought? In all seriousness, I absolutely loved the music and dancing. I have no doubt that church turnout would be much higher in the states if you took a cue from Africa and got down in the name of God. Praise Him!
Also, everyone will be happy to know that I was able to run this morning. While my lungs may regret it, my legs sure don't. It felt good to stretch out my stride on African soil, and I also enjoyed the stares and shouts of "Yovo!" from the peanut gallery (Yovo=foreigner).
More to come very soon from my new home. I love everyone here thus far and the excitement and commitment is extremely palpable, I like it! Bonne Chance et Du Courage!

Thursday, July 23, 2009

City Air

City air makes you free, as the old German expression goes, and never has a saying seemed more appropriate. Philadelphia has truly been the city of brotherly love for me these past two days as like minded people gather and exchange aspirations and anxieties for our upcoming trip.
Everyone has been amazing and exactly what I expected from Peace Corps people. I look forward to getting to know them more as our time together continues. How fitting that our last city in the States is Philadelphia, a city rich with history and culture. The second capital of the U.S. of A. for you trivia buffs out there.
To those thirsty for some knowledge I'll drop a few names for you, I'll let you wiki them though, that's the fun part anyway. Good ole' B. Frank (Benjamin Franklin), the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, the First and Second National Bank of the United States (no relation to President Obama's policies), and many other cool things to wake up those brainwaves from the gelatinizing television programs that pass for entertainment these days.
Time is burning, as it always does, and I do believe that I require some more of that city air. I'm not sure about the air situation in Cotonou, although stay tuned for updates. As Benjamin Franklin once said, "Rock on dude," (in more or less words).

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Old Friends

The deer perked his head up toward me as I entered the park. I knew that jumping the construction fence was worth it as soon as our eyes locked. "Long time no see," seemed to be what the deer wished to convey to me. After all, it had been quite awhile since my feet tread upon Marshbank, the place where I first fell in love with running. Just like getting on a bike though, the movements came back to me quickly.
With the construction going on throughout the park my friend seemed to realize that we were on the same side. He was as unwelcome in his home, Marshbank, as I was and together we would be the incognito freedom fighters of the park.
Here it comes again, I thought to myself, that irrepressible running urge. The bushes became the stands and the trees in them my spectators, all itching to see what the young man and his quadrapedal companion could do as they wrought havoc with the fury of their feet. This is why I had come back here. The hills maintain their magic even though we might lose ours. The flies nipping at my head seemed only to spur me on faster toward that elusive goal. I'm home boys, if only for one more night.
My last run stateside. Wow! Enough said. I had chosen the run in late afternoon purposefully so as to catch the last bit of daylight and watch the world slip into dusk. As I came up the hill to exit Marshbank I imagined my fellow deer-ninja running in the woods alongside me. Godspeed friend, mayhaps our paths with cross again, mayhaps not, either way I'll not soon forget you.
After delaying the inevitable as long as I could I finally found myself back in front of my house. Mmm, burgers, beans, and America, that is what was on the menu, and the pungent smells of the afforementioned delicacies greeted my sore muscles as I trotted in. The shadows cast by the setting sun played pleasant tricks with my eyes and I was happy to be home, at least for one more night.
All in all, the last run, like most runs, was more than a run. Rather, it was a dip into my idyllic, prelapsarian childhood, when the world was pure and whole, small rather than large, and welcoming rather than intimidating. As my feet may move me farther from my home, I'm sure my cup will continue to overflow, if from nothing else than from this, my last run in Michigan.

Monday, July 20, 2009

East From Ann Arbor

I've decided to forgo a mission statement or any other form of structured rules to this page. Plans generally don't go along the desired path and, as has been observed before, I'm no planner, so I'll leave as much room for change and dynamism as possible.
With that being said let me shout out a collective phew for all my people out there, "Phew!" While I'm not in Africa yet it feels good to finally have pushed this crazy boulder down the slippery slope. It's been a long road to get here but hang in there, I do declare that the slope shall get more slippery before it's all said and done.
How strange to be in my peaceful suburban basement as I write these first paragraphs. Yesterday I said goodbye to my eternal city, Ann Arbor. A week ago I was in New York City. One more week prior, Saint Louis. It's a wonder my head is still attached, and I believe it still is...yup, it's there.
So now begins the, how shall we call it, process I suppose, of starting something new. They say that every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end (the first of many song quotations friends) and what an ending this has been!
Thanks to everyone who has been apart of shipping me off right these past few months. Your thoughts, company, and love has been far more than I'm worthy of. It is your love that is my most cherished possession as I start down this road, wherever it may lead, and it is with all of you in mind that I hope to do right by the world. Think of me fondly and I shall return the favor.
Sentimentality, ah how I can smell its thick scent in here! I'll not linger much longer as there is much to be done. Stay tuned for more action packed scenes from the life of a Peace Corps trainee! Will our hero succeed in making his flight on time? What awaits him on the other side of our planet? All these questions and more answered in our next installment of...HERE AND THERE! (Brought to you by our sponsors, Borders bookstore, The University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, the beautiful city of Ann Arbor, my family and friends everywhere, and these United States of America.)

Mock, out.