communication problems

One thing which is very different about life here compared to Europe is communication. On the surface, things look similar – we have post, internet and mobile phones. But letters can take between a week and a month to arrive, parcels take longer and sometimes don't arrive (so far 6 of the 8 parcels we know have been sent have got here safely), internet is unreliable and – when it does work – extremely slow, and calling with a mobile phone is expensive. (Though strangely, it doesn't seem to cost any more to phone Europe than it does to phone someone with a mobile phone on another network within Benin!)

This can get frustrating. You think you're getting used to it, and then you realise another parcel has gone astray, or a letter has taken 3 months to arrive, or you can't access your emails for a few days … and suddenly you feel cut off from those you love. And afraid that they won't realise it isn't your fault you're out of touch, and will think you just can't be bothered to reply.

So if you've written to me, or left comments on facebook (ah yes, I do vaguely remember my facebooking days), or are wondering why I'm posting less frequently on my blog … bear with me!