Abstract
This article evokes a summer in the Republic of Benin, a peaceful democratic nation in West Africa. Formerly called Dahomey and known historically for its Amazon women warriors and powerful kingdom, it is also the homeland of many slave descendents in Brazil, Cuba, Haiti, and the United States. In the summer of 2001, the author, her Beninois husband, and their two U.S.-!born children experienced everyday living in this country that is often described as poor, according to its gross national product. Yet as the author learns, Benin is rich in complexity, history, and humanity. Based on memories, journal entries, videotapes, and conversations, the writing of this article leads the author to question her assumptions and how they inform her understanding of an unfamiliar place.
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