arrived.

greetings from Benin!!! 

it's insane to me still that i'm actually here.

i arrived safely in cotonou at around 8pm (my time) tonight.

((sidenote: if you ever get the opportunity to fly brussels airlines, do. exceptional service!))

the blazing sauna of heat hit me the second i stepped off the plane onto the stairs that lead down to a bus we got on. i was quickly stripping off my jacket in the bus. and it was night. what will tomorrow be like?!!

went through customs without any issue. then went to get my bags. seriously got mobbed by these men who wait at the entrance by baggage claim to get people's luggage and take it out to their car as a way to earn money. but i held my own! got my own cart and waited for my bags. they both arrived safely and off i went.

ashley (the director of the orphanage) and katinka (a sweet girl from germany who is also volunteering with arbre de vie right now) were waiting right for me when i got out of baggage claim and it felt so good to drink their cold water they had and just know that i made it. 

this is it.

i'm here.

ready to embrace this experience.

jon (ashley's husband) came in and wheeled the massively heavy cart to their NEW CAR!!!! they have had motorcycles since they moved here two years ago and finally TODAY got a nice 4x4 safari looking SUV. that thing is intense! so happy for them. and glad i got to experience their first time picking up someone from the airport in their very own car! (they usually have to use a taxi) this will be SO beneficial to their ministry.

cotonou (the town i flew into) just got their first "fast food" restaurant. we went there and then started the journey to sakete (the town the orphanage is in) which is about a 2 hour drive. we stopped along the way for apples and oranges, that are easily accessible by just pulling up to the curb and having the vendor bring their goodies to you. we also got gas. which also involves paying a man, on the curb, and he hand pours it into the gas tank. WHAT?

i ate my first orange the "african" way. and we arrived at the house katinka and i are staying in right down from the orphanage around 11:30pm.

it is currently 1:40am. i had the most amazing shower of MY LIFE and i have taken 3mg of melatonin and 400mg of ibuprofen and i'm hitting the hay! just laying under my mosquito net trying to always remember this moment.

guess what i'm doing tomorrow? meeting ALL the KIDS! they have school in the morning and then i'll get to see them tomorrow afternoon when they get back home. cannot wait!