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The contents of this website are mine personally and do not reflect any position of the U.S. government, the Peace Corps, or The Farm School.
Author Archives: Heidi
When winter sleeps the garden
I sat up abruptly. In the dark, I reached around for my phone to check the time – 4:30 AM. Go back to sleep, I thought. But when I laid down and closed my eyes, I had a different thought. … Continue reading
Season’s Greetings
“I’ll be home for Christmas.” This phrase has been stuck in my head for the past few weeks, because this is the first Christmas – the first big holiday, actually – since Peace Corps that I’m spending with my family, in … Continue reading
793 Days
They tell us from the beginning that the hardest part of Peace Corps service is leaving, and I can now confirm that this is indeed true. Both ways. Leaving America to spend two years far away from everything I knew … Continue reading
Yours vraiment, American expats on the fourth
Dear America, This one’s for you. * * * * “Happy Independence Day!” I announce, throwing open my front door. The random kids who’ve been playing noisily on my porch all morning stare at me blankly then ask for sugar … Continue reading
Waiting
“Attends,” Angelle says. Wait. Her French is limited, but she knows this word. And she uses it a lot. She drags a plastic chair out of the house and plunks it down in the middle of the concession for me. … Continue reading
Project Updates
This post is just to let you all know where I am at with various projects. Here we go… The Chickens: Remember when I started this project? The chicks are almost six months old now! They’ve been doing pretty well. The vet … Continue reading
Four opportunities to make a difference!
This is it! My 27 months of Peace Corps service in Benin, West Africa will be coming to a close in August or September of this year. It’s been quite a ride, and I can’t thank my friends and family … Continue reading
Two steps forward, one and a half back
The mayor has shut down the health center in my village. Electricity has been getting cut for weeks at a time in my region. And teachers all over Benin have been on strike so frequently that the government may decide … Continue reading
It’s In A Book!
Over the past 20 months, I’ve been sent several boxes of books from home – French English dictionaries and English picture books for my English club students. I never imagined how much love and use these books would see! But … Continue reading
You Simply Must Come: Bringing My Family To Benin
I never wanted to come to Benin. Of all the countries in which peace corps operates in francophone sub-Saharan Africa, Benin would have been my last choice. But it wasn’t my choice to make – only to accept or decline. … Continue reading