In the end, it's always music

Singing and dancing is a part of everyday life in Kemon, and in Beninese culture in general. Here are a few videos of the stunning colors and sounds from the students at my school in Kemon.




This was taken at the Liberation ceremony for apprentices at my next door neighbor's shop. This is a typical Fon dance.








This is the presentation of gifts given to the Mistress at the end of the Liberation Ceremony.





Another example of Fon dance. This particular girl has especially punctuated movements.







This is a bunch of my favorite girl students performing during the opening ceremony to our cultural days last May. The clip is a bit rough, but you get the idea.

The only living boy in New York...

It's an interesting thing, being back Stateside. It's not a cultural shock, it's not a "regression" into who I was before I left, it's not exactly a more acute awareness of American consumerism/efficiency... it's just different.

It's absolutely fantastic to be back with my friends and family. My parents and Ali were there waiting for me at the end of my 20 hour expedition, and we continued on to Boston, where I participated in some of the more touristy excursions in the Hub. Nachos, draft beer, hamburgers, MILK, and a visit to Trader Joe's, my old grocery store, rounded off those perfect couple of days. Coffee now makes me irrevocably jittery for the better part of the day, so I think I'll not take more than a couple sips every morning for the duration of my stay. Here are some views from my time back home: Stateside Photos!
(note: you do not need to be a part of the facebook phenomenon, or need a login, to look at these pictures)

Back in Benin, I last updated on the day that the new trainees were arriving. It's been a whirlwind since then. I hosted my replacement, Michael, who is going to do really well in Kemon. I hosted a party for my friends in village which lasted for a few days, and I moved all of my things to my new home, Parakou, which is in a different department in Benin. Goodbye, Collines; hello, Borgou. Life is good right now, if a bit hectic, and I'm looking forward to my new job next year. The new stagiaires seem to be a bit stronger than we were on the whole, so Benin should have a good couple years ahead of it. (photos: July/August 2010, May 2010, Camps of Summer/World Cup pics)

So that's my life up until now. I've got a little over a week before I head back to work another week of training for the newbs, who are no longer really newbs, I guess. God bless America. Happy 50th anniversary to Benin. Good luck to all volunteers who are finishing their service while I'm in the States. You'll all be missed, but I'm sure all of you will find success over here.

To the friends and families of the present trainees, morale is high! You have reason to be proud of all of them.