08.15.2007 — Two of my closest friends recently came to Benin to visit me. At the end of their visit, as we were running around the capital, I gave them some questions to answer and they filled in the blanks. I did too. These are some of the responses:
 
My most remarkable incident upon entering Benin was:
 
Tina - Walking into Erika's bathroom and seeing the most ginormous spider in the world sprawled across the roll of toilet paper. "Ummm, Erika??"
 
I tried la pâte once and thought:
 
Kate - 'This is ok. The rice is better.'
 
Erika - 'Corn flour jello?'
 
And the second time I thought:
 
Kate - 'Pâte rouge is fantastic. Make all food pink to make it taste better.'
 
Erika - 'Hey, corn flour jello plate-to-mouth via my hand! Tasty! And oh, what a good legume sauce, bon appetite!
 
Not knowing the language is like:
 
Tina - Nothing else in the world. I hear sounds, but no words. I know you are talking to me, but I am helpless and cannot respond. Though guessing is entertaining as well.
 
When I don't have medical school to occupy me, I can read:
 
Kate - Three books and one book-on-tape in two weeks in Benin.
 
Erika - Medical school only occupies me when Tina and/or Kate send an e-mail, so my reading is not affected.
 
Though I am easily distracted by:
 
Tina - Uh...the sky, the ground, the trees, the porch, the dogs, the people, the chairs, the smells of food, the thought of food, the taste of food, my toenails.
 
My sleep pattern has changed:
 
Kate - I sleep about two times as much and have bajillions more dreams thanks to mefoquin.
 
I will always remember _______ with particular joy:
 
Tina - Playing 'be afraid of the waves'.
 
Kate - Three girls in a row on Erika's porch, enjoying post dinner coffee/tea, writing of the days events, and relishing the Beninese breeze. Ahhh?
 
Erika - The preparation for my birthday dinner. So much good food, good music, and the best companionship. And beating Imelda two-zero after she had told me her birthday gift to me was a solid whopping in UNO. Ha ha to her!