An ordinary day in Benin

I've been having fun with lists lately, here is a short list of some observations about daily life in Cotonou:

1. At restaurants, there is just one restroom with stalls for men and women.

2. Presidential Campaign tours involve buses equiped with DJ equipment, neon lights, disco balls throwing fliers and sometimes money into the street.

3. Funeral processions involve drums and dancing.

4. I asked my friend if he knew so and so -- he asked me, is he Black? Among Africans, ethnicity is not so much related to color, as in the US or Haiti. Color is just a descriptor -- as we have brown, dark brown, sandy blond and black hair -- West Africans have various skin tones... When they call someone Black it means that the person is SO black that they actually look black. Then there are light black, lighter and light people -- everyone else is either Chinese, Yovo (european, american) or Lebanese.

5. There are approximately 2,700 Lebanese people living in Cotonou. About 1,000 of them sell cars.

6. Prices in Benin are a box of chocolote, you never know what you are gonna get.Gas is about 4$ a gallon (from a gas station) and about $2.50 a gallon (Bootlegged from Nigeria I think -- bad quality), Cereal is about 8$ for a small box, taxi's cost about $0.20, and typical African lunch costs about $0.70 in the street. Clothing costs about $30 for a typical outfit. CDs cost about $2. Sandals $0.60. Internet costs about $90 a month for DSL. Cell phone calls are $0.50 a min in the same network, $1.00 - 3.00 a min for another network. Text messages are $0.10 a piece. Beer is $0.60 a bottle -- same as Coke.

7. When people give you your change -- they always set it on the counter instead of your hand. (this was a hard one for me to get used to as it can feel rude)

8. Lunch break is from 12:00 - 3:00 (Not for me, our office is "American")

9. There are endless beliefs and attitudes toward sex -- such as giant penis statues that they built in the square to promote condom use, people believe that wearing certain rings can make you impotent or that during certain times of the year special people are able to steal your zizi (or make you impotent) -- to name a few.

10. Much of the education happens informally through aprentiships. Young kids, after primary school, usually choose a trade and work for small money learning the trade. They can then become photographers, mechanics, woodworkers, tailors, etc.