How do you pick a lock?

 This is my attempt at a quizzical look during a very odd situation. As a 1st year officer I am part of a group called "FAST"(First And Second Tour officers).  Every month or so, one of us plans a field trip/outing for the group.  For June, the trip was to a "Peace Corps volunteer village."  It was kind of ironic and surreal.  I was probably the only former PC volunteer on the trip. On the beginning of the trip, one of my colleagues ran to go to the bathroom in the city hall before we went to visit the volunteer's school and home.

A quick trip turned into a 30 minute rescue mission.  Somehow she locked herself in and couldn't get the door back open with the same key.  We had her pass the key to us through the window and tried from the other side to get in he door. In the end, our best collective lock-picking skills didn't suffice.  We ended up using a machete and mallot to open the door. . .I say "we", I mean whoever was the skilled machete/mallot wielder.  
Here's my lovely colleague, in front, happy to be free. and incredulous that I'm taking a picture of this moment.   
The volunteer was very gracious and the visit continued onto the school where the volunteer teaches English.

This is the volunteer and a glimpse of a classroom.

View of the school corridor.

On the volunteer's porch.

Overall, the site visit was a delight.  What was most interesting was seeing the ease and comfort with which the volunteer interacted with her counterparts at school, in the mayor's office an throughout the community.  Even thought I experienced it myself it was still remarkable to see how this American girl, so far way from her home and culture, adjusted so well, learned to use and maximize the bit of resources available to her, picked up French and a local language and was living on her own in a remote African village.  Amazing.  She told us about her work collaborating with other teachers and establishing a girl's group to discuss issue of importance to girls in her community such as male/female relationships. peer pressure, options in life, etc.

 On the way home, along a busy street we saw three men pushing this cart.  It was a bit of an odd sight.  Upon further inspection we realized the reason behind the urgency.  In the cart was. . .vegetarian and friends sensitive to animal slaughter, you may want to skip this part.  Fortunately for some, my zoom isn't very strong so the pic isn't very clear.  It was a freshly killed cow that was fully intact but in a contorted position. That was definitely a first during my time in Benin and in general. So it was quite an unusual day, definitely not the average day at the office.