Life On the Up and Up

Well, Here I am in Natitingou again. I thought I would post something before I go back to Boukoumbe. Do you guys want to hear some good news?!!! I'm on the internet right now WITH MY OWN COMPUTER!!!! I know that seems like nothing to you guys, but it is sinfully delicious for me over here!!! I still do have to get to the cyber in Natitingou for it, but now I can download things, I can type on an English keyboard, I don't have to deal with their protective system quarks that they keep on their computers... *Heaven. I'm in Heaven...*

I really don't have much news, since it has only been a couple days since I last posted. The radio show that Kate and I are going to start just got the 'all systems clear' check though, and so I guess I will soon be a local radio celebrity. Funny, eh. I just wish I had one of those sultry radio voices... Anyway, I'm really excited to get started on that. We are going to have 30 minutes once a weak Monday evenings. Hopefully we are going to start with some American music with a few minutes of talk in between every few songs. I think we are going to start by talking about the benefits of saving money. This may seem terribly basic for you guys, but radio is really the best form to distribute this information to where people will take it in, and many people do not understand how to save.

Other than that, I've been hanging out with some of the new Benin volunteers as well (My new post mate is actually in Togo, remember), and it's interesting to see others at that place where I was a year ago. I now realize that the hard part wasn't just the cultural adjustments and stereotypes, although those issues are incredibly difficult... but I now realize that the really difficult dilemma is the idea of taking a perfectly good life in America, complete with friends and family and ammenities, and cutting all contact. It's like dropping a daimond ring down a shower drain. That daimond was JUST SO BEAUTIFUL!!!!

It's not only me and my perspective that is changing lately: Group/regional volunteer dynamics has changed incredibly with the leaving of old volunteers and the coming in of the new ones. I find that I am now like those seniors in high school who get all that credit that really isn't deserved. I find I have learned a lot about life and how to deal with things, but I wouldn't say I/we deserve all the credit that seems to be handed to us. It just seems like people can adjust to anything, and to give us credit for something that anyone and everyone does naturally, well, is that really so much deserved?

That's about all I have for today. Maybe I'll post more next weak. Best of luck to all of you.

Sarah