Home » Benin » Le Petit Four, 16 Septembre, 2006

Since I asked to publish their journals (yes, I asked), both of my visitors left their notebook at home Friday morning, leaving two days completely blank. That is not acceptable in my writing, so while eating a late lunch/early supper at Le Petit Four, I asked a few questions to fill in the holes.

Le Petit Four, 16 Septembre, 2006

Erika Kraus
2006-10-07 13:45:31

Displayed times (last time: )

pretty raunchy. Not the food, but the being sick part.
Gpa: Disgusting? The lack of bathrooms in Africa [Benin]. No rest stops on the bus between Cotonou and Natitingou. Otherwise I am not easily disgusted. The continual selling of goods by approach. Continual pressure to buy. The necessity to dicker/haggle prices every time.

Ebk: What did you encounter that you did not expect?
Gpa: The climate and the mosquitoes equally. Both in a positive way. Much more pleasant then expected. And I can’t forget the people, [ebk’s] friends. The generosity was much more than expected. Something not so pleasant was the taxi situation in Natitingou, and how the guy assumed he could ride along. [We rented a taxi one evening in Natitingou for two hours to cross town and eat dinner. Ebk made the deal with one guy, only to find another guy driving and the guy ebk had bargained with crowding Greta in the backseat. Ebk asked the crowding third-wheel if he was going to help pay. He got out. Turns out the driver was just happy to drive yovo’s and hadn’t understood he had to wait two hours before ending the day. He was really impatient. Ebk chewed him out, finger shaking and all. That was the first time Ebk was directly angry at a Beninese.]
Greta: The lack of development. I hadn’t realized the degree to which [ebk] was trying to describe.
Ebk: Like what? What sticks out in your mind?
Greta: The “gas stations” of glass bottles lining the roads. The lack of trash removal in the large cities. That same lack was not as obvious in Athiémé or other smaller towns.

Ebk: Do you have a best memory from your trip?
Greta: [Ebk] saving Grandpa’s butt, even though I wasn’t there! Just kidding…
Gpa: [Ebk] speaking French with everyone. The ability and the manner in which [ebk] does. The friendly animation. Beyond that, the plentiful locally produced foods, the variety of trees and crops, and the women with so much weight on ...