Hello, Will You Marry Me? Oh And What's Your Name?

Dear Readers,

Every week I am here I love it more and more. If someone was to tell me that I would feel this way 1 month ago I would not have believed them. Once I got past certain discomforts and stopped focusing on how I felt and started focusing on the purpose of my trip I realized that life here is wonderfully liberating. I love that I am removed from technology and the constant media and advertisements that are in your face 24/7. I love how I have been able to focus my time on embracing my trip. Instead of browsing the internet other than once a week, (facebook stalking and youtube watching) I have been drawing the children at the orphanage, practicing my French, and sitting on my balcony watching the small events of the day take place, such as a woman wrapping her baby up on her back and filling her head tray with food that she plans to sell. I have been reading so much too. I managed to finish a novel in one day. I have been reflecting about many things and I love how freeing it is. Without the constant distractions you seem to notice what is going on around you and appreciate where you are and who you are with.  Of course, I miss so many aspects about my home, but each day I am finding more and more things that I will miss when I go back home. Even the aspect of being alone has stopped bothering me. I have learned to be entertained with my own thoughts and in a way I think it is a healthy thing to be alone sometimes. Plus the children at the orphanage fill the lonely gap. The other day a little girl, Guinelle, told me that when I leave she wants to come with me. I almost burst into tears right in front of her. I told her me too and kissed her on the cheek. Leaving them will possibly be the hardest thing I've ever had to do. I will miss them terribly and not a day could go by without me wondering about them. I truly love them so much.

A slightly embarrassing thing happened the other day, I was playing with a boy, chasing him around and I slipped and fell so hard, a proper wipe out. Everyone had seen and they were dead quiet until I burst out laughing so hard that I couldn't stop and immediately everyone burst out into laughter too. I was embarrassed but I tried to play it cool and I know that they were laughing with me and not at me, at least thats what I like to think! haha!

I wrote this entry into my journal when I was at the orphanage and as I was writing it the director's wife's brother  was standing right over my shoulder watching me write and it was slightly uncomfortable but I tried my best to ignore it. I realized that the culture here is very different in the sense that people don't seem to have the same concept about personal space as people do in the Arab world, Europe, and especially America, but I try not to get offended and I try to keep my mind open that that is how people are here and that is what is normal for them. Another example of the difference in culture is when I am buying food or phone credit and I give a bill that requires change, especially if  I am buying from a man, he won't give me the change until he has received an answer on whether or not I will share my phone number or whether or not I am married and if I want to be his wife. I find it so odd how serious they are when they ask because how could a marriage proposal on the streets by a complete stranger ever be taken seriously? I always say I am married because the hassle of explaining to them that I am happily in love and have zero interest in them just becomes such a nuisance and they don't seem to understand why that would be a reason for me to decline their proposals. 

My professor is another person I will miss terribly. He is such a kind and giving person and I don't think of him as only a professor but also as a friend. We have spoken about so many subjects and have gotten to know each others opinions on a huge range of things. I told him that I have never seen an African production before and the next day he told me that he bought tickets for us to go see a Beninoise play. His thoughtfulness is something very few people have in this world. The play was based in Burkina Faso and it was about a society ruled by the police and military where people don't have any freedom to be individuals. The French was a little too fast for me to follow completely but the professor explained everything to me afterwards. Nevertheless, it was a special treat and I am so fortunate to have met people here who care about me just as much as I care about them. He makes me feel safe by making sure the doors are locked before he leaves and he sometimes calls to see if I am alright. He gave me the biggest compliment anyone has ever given me before. But first let me explain why this touched me so much. He explained how close he was to his daughter and how their connection is stronger than the connection between him and his son. He told me how she sticks up for him when he has an argument with her mother and that she is truly daddy's little girl. He absolutely adores his daughter and one evening when we had discussed our views about relationships and the roles of women and men he told me that he hopes when his daughter grows up she will be like me. It was one of the kindest most genuine things anyone has ever told me and I felt so happy to know that I have become such good friends with this man. 

I know that I have met people here that will remain life long friends and who I will remember and think of with the fondest of memories.

That's all for now!

   À tout à l'heure ! ♥

 "I am a woman and I have the same rights as men" - Damn straight! Love it. 

 The orphanage 

♥ Guinelle ♥ 

 Cotonou

 Beninoise Spectacle!  

Cutie :)