One big fat week before my big fat adventure begins! AHHHHH! And because everyone knows a little bit about the peace corps, but not a lot about Benin or what I'm doing or why I'm going or when they'll see me again or if the food is tasty, I'd like to enlighten all your wonderful selves in one fell swoop.
Q: How long will you be gone? WHAT??
A: My term of service is for 27 months. That includes three months of training in Porto Novo, the capital of the country, and two years of actual service. As for where I'll be once I begin my actual service, I have no idea. I'll be sure to fill you wonderful creatures in once I get the glorious news myself.
Q: Will you come home during your service?
A: Honestly, I have no idea. From what I've googled randomly, it is very expensive to fly to Cotonou, one of the largest cities in Benin, and the Peace Corps does not pay for weekend trips to the States for air conditioning and bacon cheeseburgers. They DO however fly me home for family emergencies, so you guys need to start pretending to be my cousins and maybe plan a "catastrophe" around Christmas. And I do have the option of coming home with my own money and vacation time (which I do earn!). So if you guys want to start donating to the Camille-wants-to-come-home fund, we are now accepting donations. But as of right now, I have no idea if I will a) be able to, or b) want to use my vacation time to come home or to go traveling or both, or whatever.
Q: How can I get in touch with you?
A: Oh you! I know I know, you already miss me and my wit and charm. Obviously my internet will be spotty, as bringing wi-fi to the rest of the world is kinda low down the priority list. But I do have this here blog and my Facebook (naturally). I will be sure to keep them updated on all my shenanigans. Also, once I get all settled, apparently you will be able to call my cell phone from a skype account. For the interested parties I will be happy to pass along my phone number for phone calls from the bush. And there are always letters! I'll post my address soon but I would love love love to receive some letters, especially the kind with stickers and trashy celebrity news and juicy gossip.
Q: What will you be doing?
A: Ummm... My official title will be Natural Resources Advisor in the Environment/Agriculture sector! Yay!
Q: What does that mean?
A: Ha! I'm not quite sure, and that's where that three months of training will come in. Obviously part of that will be language and cultural immersion but that also will clue me in on the environmental issues within the country, and from there I'll know what needs to be done and how I can help. From what I understand, mostly that will mean working in schools, with kids mostly, and teaching them good environmental and agricultural habits and creating a sustainable basis to grow the country towards the future. What a mouthful! Secondly through hundredly, I'll be teaching AIDS education, language training, healthy habits, progressive gender roles, et cetera, et cetera. I will definitely fill you lovelies in on all that once I get the deets as well.
Sound like I'm still not sure what exactly is going on? Yessiree! I'm flying by the seat of my quasi-français-speaking pantalons.
That's all for now my dears! Perhaps I'll follow up with a part two soon.
Q: How long will you be gone? WHAT??
A: My term of service is for 27 months. That includes three months of training in Porto Novo, the capital of the country, and two years of actual service. As for where I'll be once I begin my actual service, I have no idea. I'll be sure to fill you wonderful creatures in once I get the glorious news myself.
Q: Will you come home during your service?
A: Honestly, I have no idea. From what I've googled randomly, it is very expensive to fly to Cotonou, one of the largest cities in Benin, and the Peace Corps does not pay for weekend trips to the States for air conditioning and bacon cheeseburgers. They DO however fly me home for family emergencies, so you guys need to start pretending to be my cousins and maybe plan a "catastrophe" around Christmas. And I do have the option of coming home with my own money and vacation time (which I do earn!). So if you guys want to start donating to the Camille-wants-to-come-home fund, we are now accepting donations. But as of right now, I have no idea if I will a) be able to, or b) want to use my vacation time to come home or to go traveling or both, or whatever.
Q: How can I get in touch with you?
A: Oh you! I know I know, you already miss me and my wit and charm. Obviously my internet will be spotty, as bringing wi-fi to the rest of the world is kinda low down the priority list. But I do have this here blog and my Facebook (naturally). I will be sure to keep them updated on all my shenanigans. Also, once I get all settled, apparently you will be able to call my cell phone from a skype account. For the interested parties I will be happy to pass along my phone number for phone calls from the bush. And there are always letters! I'll post my address soon but I would love love love to receive some letters, especially the kind with stickers and trashy celebrity news and juicy gossip.
Q: What will you be doing?
A: Ummm... My official title will be Natural Resources Advisor in the Environment/Agriculture sector! Yay!
Q: What does that mean?
A: Ha! I'm not quite sure, and that's where that three months of training will come in. Obviously part of that will be language and cultural immersion but that also will clue me in on the environmental issues within the country, and from there I'll know what needs to be done and how I can help. From what I understand, mostly that will mean working in schools, with kids mostly, and teaching them good environmental and agricultural habits and creating a sustainable basis to grow the country towards the future. What a mouthful! Secondly through hundredly, I'll be teaching AIDS education, language training, healthy habits, progressive gender roles, et cetera, et cetera. I will definitely fill you lovelies in on all that once I get the deets as well.
Sound like I'm still not sure what exactly is going on? Yessiree! I'm flying by the seat of my quasi-français-speaking pantalons.
That's all for now my dears! Perhaps I'll follow up with a part two soon.
