February 5
There is a store on the main road that has the name “vent du chagement” or the wind of change. I find this fitting as the winds are indeed changing right now. Mary Poppins nor the Wiched Witch of the West (I’m currently reading “Wicked”)are on the horizen, however, I think there may be some rain. Around Christmas time the winds suddenly changed bringing cool mornings, dry air, and dust. The month of Janurary was wonderful! Most mornings I woke up shivering! Granted it was only 70 degrees F, but here, that’s cold enough for a hoodie. This morning I woke up sweating and looked at the thermotor only to see 85 degrees F. There was even a faint smell of rain in the now humid air. Our last rain was well before Thanksgiving. I can’t wait for the rain to come, or the peacefulness that it brings Indeed the winds are changing!

Definition - Mini-Bear - Any small rodent that can eat more then their weight in the yummiest human food, creating anger and discord between themselves and the human race. Leading examples are mice, skunks, opossums, chipmunks, rabbits …
The mini-bears of the mousie persuasion have found me, or should I say they found my kitchen. They like to eat my tomatoes! Just as long as they stop there and don’t touch any of my other food. Is it weird to set up a bear bag (or should I say a mini-bear bag) in my house? The word for mouse here is misery, because mice cause misery, especially if I have to set up a bear bag in my house each night. There is one alternitve to a bear bag that I can think of. That is to have one of the hunters come set up traps in my house, to hunt in my house. You see the villages eat the mice. Mayeb the taste good? I think ill stick to getting used to goat, then maybe till branch out to bush rate (think R.O.U.S.) then maybe, just maybe (ok so probably never) i'll think about eating a mouse.

On to some more serious stuff….
At the risk of sounding like an infomercial, did you know that 11 Million children (birth - 5 years) die each year from preventable causes. 7 out of those 10 deaths are due to pneumonia, diarrhoea, measles, malaria, and malnutrition(Facts for Life). If you are interseted in finding out more check out http://www.unicef.org/ffl/.


So all of that being said, work... what exactly am I doing here? Well, I'm getting the message out about the cause of infant deaths. My work partner and I are in the process of starting a program where we go into, rigth now, 2 different villages and id 3 men and 3 females to be our "leaders". Each leader is then responsible for 3 families. We then teach each of the leaders information about how to prevent maladies. Each leader then teaches their families. Next week I'm spending a few nights in one of the villages to observe and enjoy life in village.

Some other projects i'm working are starting up a girls soccer team and a lunch program at the high school down the street from me.


Then of course there is playing with the neighbor kids. I'm teaching, and trying to learn double dutch. Some of the jump rope rhymes are starting to come back to me "Cinderelle dressed in yella went down stairs to kiss a fella, how many kisses did she give, one, two, three....." oh anna banna and her jump rope rhymes!

And chartwheels, the kids love chartwheels. I forgot how much fun they are! At the end of the night i'm red, not from running too hard, but from the dust we kick up playing. Just being kids. My neighbors much think im crazy!



February 20

Just a few upates. Still no rain. Maybe next month? Fingers crossed! The cool air will be a nice change! And about the bush rat, well, I tryed it. It wasn't that bad. But I think i'll stick to the framage (cheese). After I finished eating the ROUS the tantie thought it would be funny to show me the cooked head of the ROUS, buck teeth and all! YUCK!

February 23


Due to techinical difficulties in Cotonou, I couldn't get this to post as planned. Hopefully it will work from Dassa, sorry there arnt any pictures. next time!
much love,

Em