Being A Stranger

I am a stranger in Benin, I know it's a huge shock. But the amount I stick out like a sore thumb when I walk around is almost comical. I am the only white person on my side of town. Within the population of Bassila there are a total of 4 white people. I've heard there are about 10,000 people in the town itself (I question the accuracy of this esitmate, I think it's lower), But either way it means that I am pretty much the only white person in most social situations. And consequently I feel a little left out. But the culture of Benin kicks in here. For example people think that if you are a stranger in the area, or a forienger it is their job as citizens to invite you into their family so that you are effectively not a stranger anymore. People in Benin rely heavily on family support for a number of things, looking after children, helping with cooking and gathering firewood, financially helping one another. It's a huge deal when someone enters a new place without family. They see this as not only being sad and alone, but virtually impossible to live without your support system. I go around and say hello to my neighbors and landlord and they always want to give me something, for example my landlord has his wife cook me up something quick when I'm there just to say hi. They want you, as a new member of their family, to be healthy aka well-fed. They will even loudly show off their accomplishment to other people when they see you may have gained weight. The opposite is that they feel inqdequate and they think they're doing something terribly wrong when you lose weight. Their wanting to feed you, wanting to give you things, their commenting on your weight, while it may seem entirely obnoxious is just their way of showing how much they care for you, their new son, daughter, sister, cousin, etc. I have been told by a few people who I see on a regular basis 'you are like my daughter' or 'I am your grandmother and you are my granddaughter'. When I first came to Benin as a Peace Corps Volunteer I thought I was going to be alone and would have to work really hard at keeping myself occupied to deter the lonliness. But now I realize that is not the case. I wish I would have known how open and warm the people are here before I came. This is something that I will carry away from this expirence, opening up my home and life to strangers in a new place and helping them feel less like strangers and more like citizens.