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Merry Christmas
Published on December 22, 2004 By Beninian Annie In Misc
Merry Christmas everyone.

It is my first holidays away from home and I guess it would be dishonest not to admit it is a little hard. But, being on vacation, having rwo weeks away from my students, and being surrounded by other Americans helps ease the pain a bit. With Christmas is obviously another birthday. I am turning 23 and this is the first year I can remember actually feeling older. These past five months, for some reason, have gone by so quickly, but I feel like it has also been a dump into the real world.

I have a house, job, and live in another country. I guess that is a pretty big year.

These past few weeks at post have been both busy and boring. The first quarter is done and the students have finished all theur tests. I held review sessions and open office hours the week before the test. It was funny and cute, I was not sure who to expect or what they would want to review. I had given exerceises and told people to work together and use it as a practive test. Well; close to 40 kids showed up and it was so neat to see. Of course, much like any students, the good ones who really did not need help were overwhelmingly the ones who came.

It is just so neat to see a light bulb go off in their head when they finally understand. The smile, small nod of the head, and the realization they can and will be able to learn. It is something so precious and yet I have to be content with knowing only about half of my students will ever have such a reaction.

My house is also coming together quite nicely. I, in typical Annie fashion, have hung up every picture, decorated the walls, and written quotes or wacky BBC news. Is it true that Cosco is selling coffins? It keeps me sane and I have also come to the realization it is probably the biggest and nicest home I will ever have.

As for boring times, I read a lot and listen to the BBC at least one or two hours a day. They have some great programs as well as African and world news. It is hard to make friends. Actually, nearly impossible. Just because there are few women who are educated and know French more than I know French. There are older students, but that gets awkward because of the professional attitude I must maintain. Men and women in general associate socially along gender lines, so it is okay to talk and visit other teachers, but that is usually it.

To be honest, I have realized these two years are a chance for me to learn about the world not only see it. I find myself readiçng about the history of West Africa. Trying to read and educate myself while I am seeing and experiencing it all. I have cole to realize I was so busy in college and high school, I never really had time for this stuff. I do not regret such decisions, but there is no time like the present.

What else? My hair is getting pretty long and thus hot. I think cutting will soon be in order. I have lost quite a bit of weight. ABout 40 pounds to be exact. Increased physical activity will do that I guess. I almost feel like I am playing basketball again. I have made quite a few good close freinds with other volunteers. I think in some ways this is just as important as the Benin friends I make. They are people to bounce ideas off of, to share the highs and lows, and to just be a nerdy 22 and 362 day year old.

Alrighty, I have rambled on long enough. Love and miss you all more than you know. Please write and e mail. It is your support and love that keep me going. Sing a Carol for me!

Annie

PS I will be checking e mail again around the 15th or 16th of January.

Comments
on Dec 25, 2004
Happy Bday and Merry Christmas Annie! Check your email for my note!
on Dec 26, 2004
Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday Sis,

It's good to hear that you've adjusted so well to life in Benin. It sounds like you're enjoying your classes and your general way of life there. I remember feeling somewhat nervous for you originally because i knew how tough the initial shock would be for you. But it appears you've overcome all that and are enjoying yourself. I've been enjoying the posted pictures you've put online. I was especially interested in the beach pictures with the "gate of no return" or at least i think that's what it was called. The gate was beautiful and so was the beach. I was also interested in the pictures of your house. It's bigger than i anticipated and has a nice porch and everything. It's no SigEp house, but it gets the job done. I hope you are enjoying your break right now. I'm on christmas break as well as you know and it's going well. We saw dad's parents on xmas eve and saw mom's parents and Uncle on xmas day. They were both good times. Right now i'm getting ready for our trip to Peru. I'm looking forward to it very much. Michelle just got a new digital camera that can do everything, but make you a drink. So i'll see if i can send you some pictures from the trip. I wish you the best of luck and hope you are doing well.

Bye for now,
Mike
on Jan 07, 2005
Hey Annie!
We're back safely from Peru, having survived the Amazon, the Inca capital of Cusco, the Sacred Valley of the Incas, and the incredibly amazing "Machu Picchu". Once we got there, I was so sorry that I hadn't flown you there as well, seeing how close the west coast of Africa is to South America. If you end up staying for a third year in Benin, we will try to arrange something like that, which would be "way cool". In the meantime, start the planning process for next year's visit by us to Benin. We can't be too early, can we?! Hope to talk to you soon. Just for fun, why don't you check out to see what kinds of flights to South America fly from Benin.
on Jan 15, 2005
Hey Annie. Happy Birthday, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year. Thanks a mouthful. Well anyway, Peru was really cool and quite different from the other trips. There is a difference between being 11, 12, and 13 vs. being 18. Its the little things that have changed over the past 5 years. In Switzerland I had fun by watching Cartoon Network. In Peru I got drunk with a 30 something Australian and pissed off my balcony into the middle of the Rainforest looking up at the stars on New Years Eve. But seriously, Peru was cool. I know you loved Fred, but we had a guide named Algusto who was one of the most interesting and intreging person I have ever met. He was knowledgable, humble, simple (not in a bad way), and had a deep respect for the Incans because he was a decedant himself. Machu Pichu looked kinda big when we arrived to it. Yet once we started walking around this "ruin" we could really see how gigantic the place really was. In fact, dad got lost in the place! That was when Mike, Michelle, Algusto, and myself climbed up a thousand feet to the top of a nearby mountain by step made by the Incans. I looked down upon Machu Pichu, the rivers below me, the mountains among me, and the trees all around me when I realized how great it was that I could see this place, but yet how awful it was that I could only see so many places in my lifetime. I grew up in Arlington Heights without seeing such sights but while in Peru I could see why so many past cultures, especially the Incans and the Amazon tribes could have such a close religious connection to such a beautiful landscape. Looking down on Machu Pichu was equalled only by looking over the expanse of the rainforest. We walked up this 120 foot tower among the tallest of the trees was just as breath-taking. We could see the bend of the river, but everything else as far as the eye could see was an ocean of a green unreal forest. Enough about Peru, for now, school has also been going well. I got straight Bs during my first semester and on Tuesday I have a job interview at Menards. I would tell you how different college is from high school but it is only laughable compared to what you are dealing with. I know you had a tough Christmas, but so did we. Christmas and Thanksgiving felt really incomplete without you there. I love you and I miss you and I don't know why I haven't posted more often because I have a lot I want to say to you. My first semester of college was a big learning experience in many ways and I'm going to be making a lot of changes. I've attempted to write you a letter a couple times but haven't found the right words to say. Anyways, I'll work on that, and on posted on your blog more often, and I'm going to talk to you tomorrow on the phone. Talk you then.