At my post, but no posts

Dave is still at his post in Kemon. The village has no electricity, therefore there are no computers. We talk with him twice a week via our Skype and his cell phone (yes, no running water or electricity, but thankfully cell phone reception). He says that teaching is going well and that he looks forward to his classes each day. He seems to have found a rhythm to his village life. Has breakfast from the nearby elementary school each morning during the week, goes to school, comes home for dinner and visits from the neighborhood kids. He has two cats named Yawkey and Landsdowne that keep him company and keep little furry critters at bay. He has had the pleasure of eating snake stew on two occasions. When the local folks kill a snake, it is very important that Dave sees and then eats it.

The Peace Corps has a policy that new PCVs are not to leave their post (with the exception of medical or banking needs or approved meetings) for 3 months. The idea behind this is to encourage the Volunteeers to assimilate into the culture of their village. So Dave hopes that he will get to internet service and continue his own blogging in December. He also plans on getting a local PO Box to get smaller mail items. Packages (rather large padded envelopes) need to still be sent to the Cotonou address. We learned from his birthday cards and packages that Holiday greetings need to be sent to Dave (in Cotonou) right now!

We know Dave has many faithful followers of his blog, and we also know it will be more interesting when Dave, not us, posts them! But just wanted you to know he is alive and well in Kemon, Benin! Mom and Dad Cowell