A Year of reflection

I recently came across a blog entry that I had written the last few days I was in Benin. I meant to post it the day I left, only, if I remember correctly, the internet was down. Then I traveled and came home. Life was a roller coaster for the first few months then eventually went back to normal… whatever normal really is. After rereading the following entry and reflecting on the past year, I thought it was fitting that I should post this on the one year anniversary for my close of service (COS) with the Peace Corps. A lot of it still rings true. Not a day goes by that I don’t think of my neighbors and wonder what they are doing, or how the market was, or what the kids are up to in school, or the positive ways they influenced my life.

This past year has included a whole set of new challenges and consequently new lessons learned. I am so thankful for the unexpected and divinely placed friends, people and events that have crossed my path. I hope I never forget the struggles or successes from the past three years. As a new year starts, I eagerly await the upcoming challenges, lessons, and adventures. Life is an Adventure, enjoy the ride!

* June 18, 2009*

Living in Benin for the past two years has taught me more about myself and life then I could have ever imagined. My time spent here has been difficult yet simplistic, sorrowful yet joyous, incredibly frustrating yet gratifying. There were days when I would have done anything to leave it all behind. Then there were days where I didn’t want them to end. All in all it has been an experience of a life time, and I wouldn’t have had it any other way.

Through out my service I kept a piece of paper taped to my kitchen door where I write lessons I have learned. I would like to share a few of them with you all.

You control your attitude; Grace; A problem is just another challenge to solve; The cowboy way still applies; Push your comfort zone daily; Just dance; There is beauty is every situation, person and place, if you look for it you can find it; Communicate, communicate, communicate; Always think the best of people; Have patience; Pray without ceasing; Keep it simple; Ruff it; Sometimes offering help is a way of asking for help, likewise, asking for help is a away of helping others.

As for accomplishments, I can not own them all myself. If it weren’t for the support and prayers from family and friends the past two years would not have been possible. So I want to say a grand THANK YOU to everyone. Words can not express the gratitude I feel.

As I leave Benin tomorrow, this is the Benin that I will be thinking about, it is the Benin that I want to remember.

My favorite time of day, here, is between 6-7pm. Around 6pm I tie up my running shoes and hit the terre rouge, just as the sun is moving toward setting. When there were clouds in the sky, they glow angelically, reflecting the sun. While I run, people start to come in from the fields after a hard day of

work. As I pass them they wave and smile (sometimes making comments about la dame sportive). More often then not, school kids will run with me, keeping pace in their kacki school uniforms and bare feet. When I get back to my house there are usually half a dozen neighbor kids waiting for me to “faire le sport”(“to play sport”) with them. So we race, and do cartwheels, and stretch, and laugh! After a while the Dad’s come home signaling that play time is over and study time must begin. We all shake hands and

part ways for the evening, usually to the little voice of “Emily, a demine” (“see you tomorrow”). “Emily, bonne weekend: (“have a good weekend”, even when it’s a week day). Then I just laugh, and wave bye.