Sorry for the delay, it is very difficult to get a connection here!
It’s hard to believe it has only been 22 days since I left Canada, it feels like it has been much longer- so much has happened in such a short amount of time!
Amy and I arrived in Cotonou at 7:15pm last Thursday night, wrestled for our baggage in the crowded ariport and spent the night in Cotonou. The next morning we drove with Martha and Dorothy (Doddy- “doe-dy”) the long drive up to Parakou. It was an 8 hour journey, but there was a lot to see- even in the cities, the women carry huge loads on their heads and every time the car stops people run up to sell things. “Black market” petrol is sold on the side of the road from large glass bottles and many of the villages consist of little more than a few huts. There are motorcycles everywhere- and plenty of motorcycle taxis called zemi-johns take you wherever you want to go, it’s common to see women with enormous baskets filled to the brim on their heads and both hands holding on to the edges of the basket while they ride on the back of these motorcycles! Amazing. The road is another adventure, with enormous potholes and areas where the road has simply washed away. Lorries piled sky high and motorcycles alike zigzag across the road to avoid rough areas. It certainly keeps one on their toes.
The compound in Parakou is beautiful, with many flowers and trees and lovely buildings (the missionaries attribute this to the Swiss missionaries who apparently are particularly gifted in gardening). Immediately we were taken under the wing of the Hegemans, Christine and Benjamin. Benjamin is a professor at Houghton College in New York, and he teaches the spring semester there and then teaches at the bible school near Bembereke the other five months, so they are back and forth. Wonderful people, very kind. Christine took Amy and I into town and to purchase our food and groceries, and later we went to buy pagnes (pan-ya) which are the beautiful printed fabrics the women wear as skirts, from the market. Bartering is very much a part of the culture.
French is the official language and is widely spoken, but did you know that there are over 50 languages spoken in Benin?! One of the most common is Baraba, and there are accepted responses to certain questions- “O-o” means yes, and “alafia” means peace. If we make any effort to respond to them in Baraba, they are very pleased! The French has been African-ized as well, for example, “bonne arrivee” is what everyone greets you with wherever you go, and then "et la travail?" to which you respond "oui" or "ca va bien" and then "et la fatigue?" to which you again respond "oui" or "ca va", and then "et la maison?", "et les parents?", etc.
Wearing matching everything is considered being “dressed up” to the Beninese, whereas a skirt and tshirt is seen as quite casual. Modest women must always have their knees and shoulders covered. In the market or at work, married women wear scarves (un fulard) to indicate their status and most do not wear wedding bands.
The food has been no challenge! Milk is made from powdered whole milk (which is actually not bad when it is cold), coffee is instant nescafe (don’t worry, I brought my own, and a french press!), tea is only lipton, and there are oranges, green apples (sort of golden delicious, imported from France), eggplant, large zucchini, tomatoes, onions, garlic, lettuce, carrots, cabbage, etc. Potatoes and yams (the yellow variety) and rice are common starches. Chicken and beef and eggs are also available in the market.
The currency is the West African Franc. Amy and I had to get used to buying things for thousands of francs- it sounds like so much- but it really works out to less than 20 dollars.
Last Tuesday afternoon, after visiting the north station and radio centre, we left for Bembereke! We travelled with Beatrice, a Swiss nurse who married a Beninese man in February, and took a taxi. The taxi was a 1970s sedan that seated 7. In order to save money, Beatrice suggested we take other passengers with us. So we went to the taxi station, and picked up SIX other men! That brought us to 10 people, and it was a long, sticky 2 hour drive over the worst bit of road we’ve seen thus far. I was in the front middle seat, on an angle to allow the driver to switch gears and still make room for the man on the other side! What a hilarious ride.
But finally, we arrived in Bembereke! It is beautiful. I was amazed when I saw it! it’s a very large compound in the middle of a forest/jungle, with lots of different buildings and centres. We got to our house, a beautiful white house with a red door. We were told it is the nicest missionary house! We are so excited to have our own place and settle in after so much travel (we tallied it all up- 24 hours!!!).
The short-termer liason, Katrine, has been so welcoming and helpful. She is a petite Swiss lady who works in pediatrie and has LOTS of energy! There is also another Swiss nurse, Anja, who is staying until December 12. She is very sweet!
We are being oriented to the hospital over this week and next. It is very impressive, with many wards and centres. Then, Amy will be starting on the Pediatric ward with Katrine and I will be on the Medicine ward for the first six months. Apparently this is because I speak more French than Amy- as you can see, there aren’t very many English speakers here!
Please pray:
-for swift learning of French... we are extremely outnumbered here! But the Africans are extremely kind and patient with us, which helps a great deal.
-for us newly graduated nurses, to be of good courage! Pray that we will have confidence in our skills and not be afraid of the things we will see and experience.
-for Christ’s love to grow in our hearts daily, hearts of service that never tire of doing good!
The internet connection has been hilariously impossible, but I think we have something together at this point! Hopefully the posts from now on will not be so long!
Contact info:
In case anyone feels inclined, I have a landline and a cell phone here in Benin. Would love to hear from everyone!
Landline for my house -
00229/ 23 62 11 66
wait for dial tone, then dial 53
apparently this takes a few tries!
Cell phone -
(00229 I think is the country code?)
94 05 86 07
It’s hard to believe it has only been 22 days since I left Canada, it feels like it has been much longer- so much has happened in such a short amount of time!
Amy and I arrived in Cotonou at 7:15pm last Thursday night, wrestled for our baggage in the crowded ariport and spent the night in Cotonou. The next morning we drove with Martha and Dorothy (Doddy- “doe-dy”) the long drive up to Parakou. It was an 8 hour journey, but there was a lot to see- even in the cities, the women carry huge loads on their heads and every time the car stops people run up to sell things. “Black market” petrol is sold on the side of the road from large glass bottles and many of the villages consist of little more than a few huts. There are motorcycles everywhere- and plenty of motorcycle taxis called zemi-johns take you wherever you want to go, it’s common to see women with enormous baskets filled to the brim on their heads and both hands holding on to the edges of the basket while they ride on the back of these motorcycles! Amazing. The road is another adventure, with enormous potholes and areas where the road has simply washed away. Lorries piled sky high and motorcycles alike zigzag across the road to avoid rough areas. It certainly keeps one on their toes.
The compound in Parakou is beautiful, with many flowers and trees and lovely buildings (the missionaries attribute this to the Swiss missionaries who apparently are particularly gifted in gardening). Immediately we were taken under the wing of the Hegemans, Christine and Benjamin. Benjamin is a professor at Houghton College in New York, and he teaches the spring semester there and then teaches at the bible school near Bembereke the other five months, so they are back and forth. Wonderful people, very kind. Christine took Amy and I into town and to purchase our food and groceries, and later we went to buy pagnes (pan-ya) which are the beautiful printed fabrics the women wear as skirts, from the market. Bartering is very much a part of the culture.
French is the official language and is widely spoken, but did you know that there are over 50 languages spoken in Benin?! One of the most common is Baraba, and there are accepted responses to certain questions- “O-o” means yes, and “alafia” means peace. If we make any effort to respond to them in Baraba, they are very pleased! The French has been African-ized as well, for example, “bonne arrivee” is what everyone greets you with wherever you go, and then "et la travail?" to which you respond "oui" or "ca va bien" and then "et la fatigue?" to which you again respond "oui" or "ca va", and then "et la maison?", "et les parents?", etc.
Wearing matching everything is considered being “dressed up” to the Beninese, whereas a skirt and tshirt is seen as quite casual. Modest women must always have their knees and shoulders covered. In the market or at work, married women wear scarves (un fulard) to indicate their status and most do not wear wedding bands.
The food has been no challenge! Milk is made from powdered whole milk (which is actually not bad when it is cold), coffee is instant nescafe (don’t worry, I brought my own, and a french press!), tea is only lipton, and there are oranges, green apples (sort of golden delicious, imported from France), eggplant, large zucchini, tomatoes, onions, garlic, lettuce, carrots, cabbage, etc. Potatoes and yams (the yellow variety) and rice are common starches. Chicken and beef and eggs are also available in the market.
The currency is the West African Franc. Amy and I had to get used to buying things for thousands of francs- it sounds like so much- but it really works out to less than 20 dollars.
Last Tuesday afternoon, after visiting the north station and radio centre, we left for Bembereke! We travelled with Beatrice, a Swiss nurse who married a Beninese man in February, and took a taxi. The taxi was a 1970s sedan that seated 7. In order to save money, Beatrice suggested we take other passengers with us. So we went to the taxi station, and picked up SIX other men! That brought us to 10 people, and it was a long, sticky 2 hour drive over the worst bit of road we’ve seen thus far. I was in the front middle seat, on an angle to allow the driver to switch gears and still make room for the man on the other side! What a hilarious ride.
But finally, we arrived in Bembereke! It is beautiful. I was amazed when I saw it! it’s a very large compound in the middle of a forest/jungle, with lots of different buildings and centres. We got to our house, a beautiful white house with a red door. We were told it is the nicest missionary house! We are so excited to have our own place and settle in after so much travel (we tallied it all up- 24 hours!!!).
The short-termer liason, Katrine, has been so welcoming and helpful. She is a petite Swiss lady who works in pediatrie and has LOTS of energy! There is also another Swiss nurse, Anja, who is staying until December 12. She is very sweet!
We are being oriented to the hospital over this week and next. It is very impressive, with many wards and centres. Then, Amy will be starting on the Pediatric ward with Katrine and I will be on the Medicine ward for the first six months. Apparently this is because I speak more French than Amy- as you can see, there aren’t very many English speakers here!
Please pray:
-for swift learning of French... we are extremely outnumbered here! But the Africans are extremely kind and patient with us, which helps a great deal.
-for us newly graduated nurses, to be of good courage! Pray that we will have confidence in our skills and not be afraid of the things we will see and experience.
-for Christ’s love to grow in our hearts daily, hearts of service that never tire of doing good!
The internet connection has been hilariously impossible, but I think we have something together at this point! Hopefully the posts from now on will not be so long!
Contact info:
In case anyone feels inclined, I have a landline and a cell phone here in Benin. Would love to hear from everyone!
Landline for my house -
00229/ 23 62 11 66
wait for dial tone, then dial 53
apparently this takes a few tries!
Cell phone -
(00229 I think is the country code?)
94 05 86 07
texting works too :)
Mailing address -
Charity Dowdell
HEB UEEB/SIM
B.P. 28
BJ - Bembéréké
République du BENIN
Mail will take at least 3 weeks to get here, but it would be great to receive mail!
With love,
Charity
Mailing address -
Charity Dowdell
HEB UEEB/SIM
B.P. 28
BJ - Bembéréké
République du BENIN
Mail will take at least 3 weeks to get here, but it would be great to receive mail!
With love,
Charity
So proud of you Char and glad to hear of the joy-filled adventures!
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