05/22/02 01:51:49 AM
What is your name?		kara paraïso
Where are you from? (Optional)		porto-novo bénin
Do you have any comments?		clistofu, kudazo ! dagbé kèdè wè a wa nu mimin bi. tu es un chouette yovo (bien que tu apprécie peu le vocable mais on n'y peut rien, c'est un fait que se bornent à constater les gens sans aucune connotation particulière). Et grâce à toi, j'en apprends sur mon propre pays et sur sa langue principale. merci à toi et merci de nous avoir accordé cette importance. mahou ni kpon wé. kara.
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		05/12/02 11:17:09 AM
What is your name?		Kadavil Varghese
Do you have any comments?		I visited this site on May 12, 2002
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		05/09/02 08:39:31 PM
What is your name?		Brad Kenyon
Where are you from? (Optional)		Westchester, NY
Do you have any comments?		Chris, I read your article "A Stranger In My Old Life" with much interest. We have friends who were both on assignment in London and struggled when they returned to live in Kansas City—and Benin and the US are vastly more different. I had some thoughts. I was reminded of Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” and wondered if you had come across it in your readings. The dilemma of “not being able to come back” is presented more dramatically in Plato, but still there are some parallels with your story. I appreciate and pretty much agree with some of your observations about our culture. (I especially liked your “We are the clay and culture is the sculpture.”) I worry about the loss of connection, and while it’s way too simple, I think the TV has been very detrimental to social connection. On the other hand, I wonder how the “social critics” of the middle ages reacted to the invention of the printing press and consequent availability of print literature to the general population—they probably said that people would stop talking to each other and do nothing but read!

 

		05/07/02 07:08:41 AM
What is your name?		Montchébi C. A. Florent
Where are you from? (Optional)		Bénin
Do you have any comments?		Afon dagbéa, Aklunon gbèdoto nan kon yonnan dagbé do djitowé,fifa dagbé do gbèzantowémin kaka y gbè mavo mavo;do azo daho wè awa.Oun do kou nouwé. May god bless you for what you've down and thanks very much.
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		05/07/02 05:36:44 AM
What is your name?		Donna
Where are you from? (Optional)		Westchester, New York USA
Do you have any comments?		Thanks, Chris! If you are from Connecticut - then we probably live only a stones throw away! How funny that my son came across your website while doing research for a 5th grade report on Benin. (He studies French and the teacher assigned French speaking countries as the project) Thank you for all your wonderful photos and stories!

 

		05/02/02 06:29:04 AM
What is your name?		Jodi Digiulio
Where are you from? (Optional)		Rhode Island
Do you have any comments?		Thank you for your stories and web site. I am leaving for Benin on June 5, 2002, for the Peace Corps. I feel I have a better sense of Benin through your stories, and I am not as nervous about leaving as I was previously. Of course, I still do not know what to expect all together, since the only info I have is from reading and talking to a few people from the Peace Corps. But, I thank you again that your stories were part of my decision to accept the invitation to Benin.
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		04/29/02 07:59:06 AM
What is your name?		Rebecca Augur
Where are you from? (Optional)		New Haven, CT (met you when I was living in Save)
Do you have any comments?		Chris, I don't know if you're still in the CT area, but I thought you would like to know that Angelique Kidjo is coming to New Haven. From the New Haven Register: "West-African-born singing star Angelique Kidjo will open the June 23 show, followed by a reunion of the legendary New York funk/jazz trio of Ronald Shannon Jackson, Vernon Reid (best known as the guitarist of rock band Living Colour) and Melvin Gibbs." The concert is part of the New Haven Arts & Ideas Festival and happens on the Green. I'll definitely be there, so drop me a line if you decide to go. - Rebecca
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		04/09/02 07:41:08 PM
What is your name?		Honou Armand
Where are you from? (Optional)		Benin from Comé near Granp Popo))
Do you have any comments?		Your stories are true and funny.. the way you perceive our realities is objective. I live in switzerland , I have married a white woman and you react exactly as my wife does about the dirt, the attitudes in the market, Dantokpa .. everywhere, everything.. It is strange to say : I now see Benin as a white man does, I sometimes ask myself the same questions about what I see, I make the same analyses. There is just one thing that differs : I'm not surprised as you ! Thanks a million for beeing so objective in yoour descriptions
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		03/25/02 09:20:16 AM
What is your name?		Dorothy
Where are you from? (Optional)		Vermont, USA
Do you have any comments?		Kwabo, Chris. I just read your essay on returning to the US. It was truly delghtful. My daughter, who is ending her PC service in Benin in June, has written expressing similar thoughts about leaving. I was able to print your essay and will send it to her. I think it will blow her away. Thank you for writing with such insight and afection about your experiences in Benin.
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		03/14/02 04:26:40 AM
What is your name?		Edward Mishaud
Where are you from? (Optional)		Atlantic Canada
Do you have any comments?		Ekarro! Hi Chris, My name is Edward Mishaud and I really like your Web site on Benin. I had the opportunity to live in Benin from Dec 6 1999 to March 2000. I miss the place so much. I lived in the village of Sakete, about 20 miles north of Porto Novo. I worked at the local primary school - CESE. Did you ever visit Sakete or Pobe? My favourite city was Porto Novo. I love the market. I want to go back so bad but I'm still in university. Thanks for the great site, Edward Mishaud
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		03/13/02 09:07:23 AM
What is your name?		Batoul
Where are you from? (Optional)		France
Do you have any comments?		I'm just back from my second trip to Benin (first trip : january 2001 - I'm fond of Benin ritual dances and rythms) and I'd like to thank you for your excellent website. I learned what I could before going there (Ouidah, mostly) and it was so great to understand part of the conversations and to be able to say some words in Fon from time to time. Thanks again.
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		03/10/02 02:49:45 PM
What is your name?		Ty Kelley
Where are you from? (Optional)		Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Do you have any comments?		Dear Chris, I am in the process of writing a novel and I needed some very common information about Benin, perhaps from someone who visited. I started searching the web and ran across your wonderful site! I was so impressed and learned so much. I founnd myself listening to the sound files and trying to pronounce the words and phrases. It was so much fun, but my husband thought I was experiencing a mental breakdown! He kept asking me, "Who are you talking to? What did you say?" Your site was the most informative and engaging site I have ever visited! I really appreciate sites like yours! God bless! Ty Kelley

 

		02/22/02 09:20:48 AM
What is your name?		Evelyne
Where are you from? (Optional)		Switzerland
Do you have any comments?		This is a great website - thank you for all the interesting information! Cheers!

 

		02/03/02 08:02:39 PM
What is your name?		chris
Where are you from? (Optional)		california
Do you have any comments?		What an interesting website! thank you and all the best to you.

 

		01/24/02 05:12:51 PM
What is your name?		Candyce Temi Ogunbanwo
Where are you from? (Optional)		Canada
Do you have any comments?		I have spent some time in Nigeria just east of Benin. (just the other side of the border in fact). Your pictures are great and really capture the essence of African life. You have several pictures in your collection that are exactly what i had hoped to take. Unfortunately, I had several roles of film destroyed and lost so many wonderful pictures. I guess there is always next time :D Good job and best wishes. Temi
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		12/21/01 05:24:54 AM
What is your name?		Henri Anciaux
Where are you from? (Optional)		France
Do you have any comments?		Hi ! Congratulations for this very nice web site on the fon. I never expected that it should exist, and it is exactly what I need ! Many thanks to you H.

 

		12/16/01 08:55:54 PM
What is your name?		aparna
Do you have any comments?		Dear Chris, Your detailed articulation is certainly warming my expectations up, for now I have a better idea of how day-to-day living is led. Your intelligence, dedication, and humility twinkle through endlessly... Thank you for sharing. You should totally write more! *shanti* aparna
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		11/01/01 10:54:30 AM
What is your name?		Chris Starace
Where are you from? (Optional)		Ossining, NY
Do you have any comments?		Wow- I'm flattered! Quelles commentaires si sympatiques! Because these comments are so nice, I translated them into English for non-French speaking guests. Dear Friend, Thank you very much for this great work that you have done. In visiting the site, I could understand how serious you were during your stay in Benin for if in two years you could work like that, we Beninese should give you a prize. Learning Fon and exposing it in this manner isn’t easy. You are talented and thanks to your services, many can discover something new about culture. Luckily there are still people like you that exist in this egotistical world that is filled with problems. Seeing what you did in so little time in Benin, we can attest that for “spirits well born, value does not wait a number of years” Really, many thanks. Contact me because I have many things to share with you. I live in Italy where I work as computer programmer. I will tel all my Beninese friends in Italy abou your site. Thank You and talk to you soon. GODONOU Georges
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		11/01/01 05:50:09 AM
What is your name?		GODONOU Georges
Where are you from? (Optional)		Rep. du Bénin
Do you have any comments?		Cher Ami Merçi beaucoup pour ce beau travail que tu as fais. En visitant le site, j`ai pu comprendre combien tu as été serieux lors de ton séjour au Bénin car si en deux ans tu as pu travailler comme celà nous béninois devons te décerner un prix; apprendre le fon et l`exposer de cette manière n`est pas aussi chose facile tu es très fort et grâce à tes services beaucoup peuvent découvrir quelque chose de plus en matière de culture. Heuresement qu`il y a encore des gens comme toi qui existe encore dans ce monde égoiste et plein de problèmes. A voir tout ce que tu as fais en si peu de temps au Bénin, nous pouvons bien affirmer qu`"aux âmes bien nées, l valeur n`attend point le nombre d`années". Vraiment, grand merçi. Contactes-moi car j`ai beaucoup de choses à partager avec toi. Je vis en Italie ou je travaille comme Progammeur en Control Numeric; Je te laisse mes coordonnées pour un éventuel contact. Tel: 39-0365 371219 domicile cel: 39- 3396994264 Je ferai connaitre ton site à tous mes compatriotes qui vivent içi en Italie. Merçi et à bientôt
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		10/15/01 06:52:58 PM
What is your name?		Xum
Where are you from? (Optional)		Belgique
Do you have any comments?		Vraiment tres bien ton site Je me demandais si je trouverais jamais un endroit pour apprendre un peu le fon ! Ca m'a fait tres plaisir de trouver ton site. J'ai pas mal voyagé en afrique mais j'aime beaucoup le benin. (je me demande comment tu a su retourner apres 2 ans, moi quant je reste plus qu'un mois en afrique, j'ai besoin de 2 mois minumum pour réapprendre a vivre ici. ) Merci a toi pour ce site. xum un yovo de belgium
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		09/26/01 07:49:33 AM
What is your name?		Chris Starace
Do you have any comments?		I'm glad you like my website. Sorry- I don't know how to get a dictionary without going to Benin. They sell them in Cotonou. Perhaps you can contact the Brazilian embassy and ask someone there to help you or maybe somone you know is going to Benin? If anyone else reading this knows how to get a dictionary, please let us know. Sincerely, Chris
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		09/26/01 07:47:11 AM
What is your name?		Ramon
Do you have any comments?		My name is Ramon and I find your website to be well-organized and fun. I've been trying to get a hold of a French-Fon dictionary. Can you tell me how I can get one or a copy of one. Its on behalf of a friend in Brazil who is writing a book on comparative religions between Brazil and Benin. I would really appreciate your help. Thanks, Ramon
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		08/23/01 06:18:47 AM
What is your name?		Pierre Houlès
Where are you from? (Optional)		France
Do you have any comments?		Bonjour Christophe, J'ai adoré ton site avec les expressions en fon. Si tu as le bonheur de repartir au benin, j'ai trouvé une phrase qui pourrait t'interreser. Lorsque les enfants te chantent yovo yovo ca va bien merci tu peux repondre : "fite kaki towe de?" Ce qui signifie, "ou est ton kaki?" (sous entendu, tu devrais etre à l'ecole)generalement cela les surprends et il te regarde fixement. A bientot Pierre PS: Tu peux visiter notre site qui parle du Benin Sur http://www.multimania.com/houles
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		08/01/01 06:00:47 AM
What is your name?		Chris Starace
Where are you from? (Optional)		Ossining, NY
Do you have any comments?		Hi Claire, I have a page on my site dedicated to books and Benin related music available through Amazon.com. I'm pretty that they will ship internationally or you can search for a European based Amazon.com. See the link below. http://www.geocities.com/fon_is_fun/music.htm Edabo, Chris
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		08/01/01 05:37:19 AM
What is your name?		Claire Thiry
Where are you from? (Optional)		Belgium
Do you have any comments?		A fon dagbe a, Chris. I just want to tell you that one month ago I found the latest title of Angelique Kidjo : "The best of Angelique Kidjo".And I also would like to find "logozo" on CD. I've tried to find it in Belgium since more than one year but apparently it's not possible, but it's my favorite CD. So could someone help me. I don't want to buy it through the net, I would like to find it via a music shop ... if it's possible. A houanu kaka. Claire