The Adventure Begins

Bonjour mes amis (Hello my friends)!

Well, my teacher Mary said to be open to knew experiences on this trip, and she was right! It has been an adventure already, starting with my shoe suitcase not making it on from Paris. I have been wearing the same pair of shoes for the last 2 days. Other then that, the trip has been amazing.

I didn't realize how big the Songhai Center really was; it's an amazing accomplishment. I can't believe how so much has come from the dream of one person. I can't wait to post some pictures to show everyone the beauty of this place. The Center is self-sufficient and gets no governmental aid. They have created a system which utilizes every bit of produce and waste to work into another aspect of the Center, including making biogas. The people who work here are amazing. Truly, we are very sheltered and well taken care of, so you can stop worrying mom! Right now, my biggest problem is that the key board is different, so I have to keep retyping things.

Today, I got to go back to Cotonou to try and recover my suitcase with a couple of classmates and a man named Teodore. He was wonderful, although I think he spent quite a bit of time laughing at us crazy, talkative women. Sarah (a classmate) and I tried a lot of French, with some success thanks mostly to Mary. Under

Teodore's watchful eye, we exchanged money at a bank and an ATM, learned to barter a little at a market, and ate some lunch at a restaurant in Cotonou! Bartering is an interesting practice; a difficult art, but really fun. I did OK. It felt weird to barter down prices when I knew it cost so little in American money, but I also knew it was expected. Lots of cultural lessons for the four of us today. Mary's was the funniest, she learned not to strike up a conversation with a street vender unless you are serious about buying. He was persistent and talked with her all the way to the bank, and followed us all the way back to the car; sadly, no sale for him.

OK, that's all the typing I can handle tonight. My fingers are sore trying to figure out where all the letters are! My love to you all. Pictures to come when I figure out a way to load them.
Pia