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The Summary:
Stuart finally has blue lips. He is the only one of the Kansas family that has been in the West African coastal waters for two hours or more. Three of the remaining four stayed for an hour or so. The fifth waded in until a man cleaned out his sinuses without forewarning. Ew; she went back to her book.

Bonne Fete

Erika Kraus
2007-01-23 13:22:42

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after her, Dad, Lana, and Stuart were dragged into the mix as well. Mass was extra long due to the increase in energy level.

Christmas day followed international standards of laziness. By 16h30 we were seated around the table in the home of one of the best families in Athiémé. The feasting commenced: la pate, futu (pounded manioc) pork, chicken, rice, beer,

Dad was doing some Tae Kwon Do moves on the porch. He refused a picture, as hard as I had tried to sneak one.
and sodabe. The question was asked about beverage preference, but in the end the response didn’t matter and everyone got beer. For the first time, Mom highly encouraged beer drinking; the command “chug!” was given in a sentence directed to Stuart.

Digesting that meal extended to a light salad at lunch the next day, before going to another friend’s home to feast; la pate, rice, okra sauce, rabbit, chicken, onion/tomato sauce, and chocolate-mint cake contributed by an outside source. Once again, walking home expended all the remaining energy.
The following day was spent meeting the host family in Aplahoue, and from there, going to meet the extended host family in a village a ways away, where one would think there is a sodabe spring. The following days consisted of a trip to Cotonou to meet the office administrators and eat pizza and salad and ice cream. Then to Lac Doukon to meet the hippo family, not far from Lokossa, eating la pate rouge and yams for lunch from the neighbor. Then a much needed day of rest.

Sunday the 31st of December was basketball, a game between the Americans with the neighborhood kids and everyone else. For the party that evening, the American clothes came out of the closet to dance in-style at the local bar. “Shakira” is a good party starter; five-minute long songs are put on repeat, especially when people keep dancing. When church gets out, the party comes alive.

New Years’ Day was a double feast- lunch ...