Me: I think it’s a dumb idea.
Lyle: What, destroying all humans?
Ben: Is this conversation really necessary?
Me: Your MOM’s not really necessary! Hahahahahaa.

That’s pretty much how the whole week went.

Lately, I find myself starting a lot of stories with “The thing about having Beninese friends is that . . . And then I continue by describing how my behavior has been modified in unexpected ways by the friends I’m making here in Cotonou.

For example, I might say, “The thing about having Beninese friends is that you’re forced to keep my house motherfucking spotless all the motherfucking time, and Jesus Christ how do they do it? Because I’m literally losing sleep over it.” Or, I might say, “The thing about having Beninese friends is that you can’t just shove them out the door when you’re running late for a meeting, which means that I’m increasingly late to Important Events, and there isn’t a goddamned thing I can do about it.”

Or finally, I might say, “The thing about having Beninese friends is that when you go out clubbing with them, the men know how to motherfucking dance.”

English Day 2006!