susie homemaker, west africa

well here i am back in bassila. but only for a moment as i have IST, aka in service training. for a few days down in porto novo. then back up to Bassila for a few. I cant wait to be in Porto Novo at least for a few days to see my host family again. and to see all the other volunteers who were at my trianing school with me. see how everyone is doing after three months at post, can you believe it? That means that im an eighth of the way done with my whole service, or if were going by clock idea i explained in earlier posts its now 3am in the morning, still potentially party time, but the party goers are starting to call it a night. in this instance i prefer to think of my time as an eighth. but next time itll be one hour later on my clock of peace corps service, and i think thatll be an easier way of looking at it.
Yestarday was a busy day for me. full of housekeeping activities, i kind of felt like susie homemaker version 2.0, west africa. i dont just put the laundry in the washing machine, no i haul the water, scrub the clothes by hand, drain the water, realize that the water i just scrubbed my clothes in was a discusting shade of brown, haul more water scrub my clothes again, the water this time only being a slightly lighter shade of dark brown, this process continues until im either ok with the color of the water or i decide that they clothes dont smell and that clean is only relative. i bet if you all saw the gray water from your washing machines you would be discusted, and realize like i have that clean is only relative, and lets face it being exceptionally clean and hiding from every speck of dirt and bacteria isnt only a HUGE pain in the ass, but also impossible and probably wont help you in any way shape or form. So in my time here in Benin ive been slowly embracing the idea that clean is only relative, and really there isnt a whole lot i can do to change my surroundings. Africa is hot dusty and full of bacteria. And Im against the use of antibacterial handwashes. So there you have it.
On a lighter note, yestarday was a fun day. I recieved a bubble envelope from my Aunt Peggy, Abbie and Ashley. Thanks guys the trail mix is AMAZING and i used the lemon pepper seasoning you guys stuck in there too. really good. Also i sent out a big bundle of letters yestarday using the stationary that you sent me. I really like the winter theme, as im going to completely skip seeing any hint of winter this year. actually last night it did get a little cold, i then put a sheet around me and felt warm again, yea thats right a bed sheet not a blanket or sweater, a bed sheet. The most special thing to me in the package were the letters. Thanks, i really appreciate it. To everyone eles out there who knows a peace corps volunteer or has a friend overseas for whatever reason, even if you dont know what to say and just talk about the weather, its nice to know that people back home were thinking of you and took the time to write you a little note.