nattie c in benin: Lara visited!

Here are some photos from when Lara visited (Feb 22- March 15). Lara is a friend from Bishop California...we began in Cotonou and then went North to start my research project (going to every one of about 25 villages and holding a introductory meeting with the cheifs, the traditional healers and all the old people). Well I mostly did that and Lara went on safaris...but that was cut short because of elections. Elections went fairly well, there were a few instances of votes having to be thrown out - and yayi boni won - ie not the candiate who would have one if it were a corrupt system and the people in power did whatever it took to stay in power. On election day (Sunday March 4 or so) we got a ride south with our dutch friends - and then on the following Tuesday - headed to Togo for a fun filled adventure of markets, rainforests, butterflies, waterfalls, motercycles, uncooked pizza and more! On the 16th, we both came back to America - me to look at grad schools and lara to work.

Lara has shared photos with you.