WTA.

Welcome to Africa. This is a abbreviation that we frequently say when the ways of the Western world are different from what is experienced on a day to day basis. For example, "I'll see you there at 5." Really means "we'll probably be meeting close to 6." This little phrase is frequently a part of our verbage on a day to day basis... just a little explanation in case it slips out from time to time in my blogs.

Well... with that said, man I am not good at blogging, but I have been thinking and intending to blog a lot lately and want to work on it...

I am going to start with yesterday. Yesterday I went to the World Cup Qualifying game between Mali and Benin, which needless to say, was quite the experience. We paid 5,000 CFA's (that is about $10 USD) for VIP seats which meant we had plastic white lawn chairs that were under an overhang providing shade instead of being on cement benches without shade. It was quite nice. I was almost mid-field in the front row. I was thankful for that front row because as 4pm (the start time for the game) drew closer people sat on the stairs up the aisles meaning that you can't get down from the upper seating, but by the end of the game there were even people sitting in front of us on the ground, I don't think the fire marshall would have approved, but thankfully Benin scored in the last 3 minutes of the game making it a tie game at 1-1.... we were a little concerned when the time was running out and Mali was ahead as the crowd was growing more agitated. It was at this point that my friend Megan turns to me and says: "you know, we are in the one place all of the guidebooks tell you not to go." But come now, who could pass up a world cup qualifying game?? It really was a unique and fun experience... especially when the Beninoise man (man from Benin) behind me starting slapping my back when we scored a goal. Funny to think that just a few months ago I didn't even know where Benin was in the world and yesterday I got chills as I heard a stadium filled with complete strangers sing a national anthem in a foreign language and I welled with pride and screamed with joy when we scored the tying goal. I think I may even buy a jersey. ;)