Surprise!!

Has it really been since November that I've last posted? Well, time does fly when you don't have the internet...

Ryan and I are in Cotonou for our Close of Service Medical exams. So if this post ends in the middle of an incomplete sentence, you'll know that the doctor finally was able to see me! And since we're on the topic of Close of Service, it's now common knowledge that Ryan and I will be leaving Benin on July 29th to return to New Jersey! Until then, we'll be mostly in our village doing the same old greeting people, trying to find something to eat, and sweating. I just cut our moringa trees before we left and will make the leaves into a powder when I return home. Maybe I'll even get to give the powder to these malnourished twins that keep coming to the maternity... I brought my tissue to the tailor and he's making my "going home" outfit. He was the first person I told when we were leaving and I had to hold myself back from crying after I said it. I didn't think I would be emotional about that, but it really struck a nerve putting our end date out there for everyone to hear. He's pretty tactful, but other people have already started asking, "When are you leaving? What are you giving me?" To which I say, "good health" and then try to ignore their persistent, "But really, what will you give me?" I've said it once, and I'll say it probably at least 100 times before I leave (esp. in moments of dire frustration) I'm ready to leave Benin.


So on that note, we just booked our tickets to travel to Denver for Shannon and Ryan J.'s wedding in August and are excited to do some traveling in southwestern Colorado. We're looking forward to spending time with my family and friends in the NJ area before then and hopefully getting jobs in September.

Well that's it for now, I'm going to read while I wait for the doctors!