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Ramblings on Democracy
What’s the difference between a dictator that does no harm and a democratically elected leader that does no good? I am very happy for countries to be moving towards democracy if that is the will of the people, but I…
Tags: Africa, Democracy, Dictators, Middle East, Musings
March 8, 2011
Change is Constant
As I was packing the last of my things Sunday, in preparation for our move to Cotonou on Monday, I received a call from Italy from the president of the NGO I’m working for. She asked me to stay in…
March 4, 2011
It’s Rainy Season 🙁
So the awesome thing about Benin is that when it is the dry season, it will never rain, unlike Detroit and NYC where you never know if it will be a rainy week or a dry week. The not so…
Tags: Africa, Benin, Musings, Rain
February 27, 2011
Sorry for the silence
I haven’t blogged in a while because we had a visitor. A friend of ours from LSE who is currently working in Senegal came to visit so we were moving all over the country, showing her the best that Benin…
“Vous avez aloko?”
Six days a week the Italian and I eat lunch at Maquis La Marmite Africaine. You can find maquis all over Benin. They are restaurants with pre-made food and simple dining accommodations. One of our co-workers introduced us to this…
Tags: Africa, Benin, Food, Like, Musings
February 20, 2011
There is Enough Money in the World
Today while searching for Benin’s position on the global list of countries by GDP (PPP), it is #133 according to the IMF, I came across a January 28th Vanity Fair article that made me throw up in my mouth just…
Tags: Africa, GDP, Inequality, Musings, Poverty, Vanity Fair
February 19, 2011
What I Learned From a Beninese Nun
So here in Dassa-Zoume, Benin there at not many vegetables, which explains the high level of malnutrition among the population. When we do actually add vegetables to the pasta that we eat everyday, we add onions or tomatoes, or both.…
Tags: Africa, Benin, Musings, Try it at home
February 18, 2011
Flat Tire
On Wednesday afternoon, Saturnin (one of our local employees) and I headed to one of the primary schools covered by our program. It is about 30 minute ride and the 90 degree heat coupled with the beaming sun made it…
Correction
I would like to amend an earlier post when I referred to our ride to Cotonou as hell. Sadly I was mistaken about what hell is but i think I’m a little closer to finding out. Two incidences helped me…
Tags: Africa, Benin, Musings, taxi
February 14, 2011
Don’t Forget to Check Out!!
So when we left for Cotonou on Wednesday, apparently we didn’t mention it to anyone at the convent. On Sunday when we returned, before we even stepped foot on the porch, I heard one of the nuns (I refer to…
Page 27 of 37
Eating Detroit: Rodin. A Taste of France?
Thursday night my childhood friend and I made plans to go to dinner. Oddly enough we both suggested Rodin, a new French inspired restaurant next to the DIA. I spoke about the restaurant earlier in the day with Suai, who
Spa Mariana – Birmingham, Michigan
It is that time of year again, Spa Week (April 15th – 21st). I am not sure how often Spa Week actually occurs, but this is my second time taking advantage of it. Spa Week is when spas across the
Eating NYC: Wafels and Dinges
Following several hours at Agave on a Saturday afternoon in NYC we were hungry again. A mission for ice cream ended at the Wafels and Dinges food truck. I proclaimed that I didn’t want a waffle, but my friends forced
Eating NYC: Agave
Late on a Saturday afternoon, my friend Lana and I were searching for brunch which we found out doesn’t really exist in Chelsea after 3:30ish. In search of an afternoon drink and food, I consulted my Happy Hour app since
Eating NYC: S’mac
During my ten days in NYC I tried many new restaurants and another one I fell in love with is S’mac. I am a macaroni and cheese connoisseur and as such, I am very particular about whose I eat and
Eating NYC: Nook
I spent the last nine days in NYC, a place that feels like home. I spent my undergraduate years there and visit every single time that I am in the US. Surprisingly I have been in and out of the