July 17, 2005: Headlines: COS - Benin: Writing - Benin: Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Monique Maria Schmidt writes "Last Moon Dancing," which chronicles her two years teaching English in the African country of Benin
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July 17, 2005: Headlines: COS - Benin: Writing - Benin: Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Monique Maria Schmidt writes "Last Moon Dancing," which chronicles her two years teaching English in the African country of Benin
Monique Maria Schmidt writes "Last Moon Dancing," which chronicles her two years teaching English in the African country of Benin
"I had a strange relationship with the people in my village. They respected my skin, didn't believe that I could teach them and saw me as a source of money. I resorted to lying in order to establish my credibility. ... (N)ot as a single twenty-two-year-old woman, but as a married thirty-year-old, I settled into Glazoué with my two bags of books and clothing, a mosquito net, mattress, propane bottle and a too large wedding band."
Monique Maria Schmidt writes "Last Moon Dancing," which chronicles her two years teaching English in the African country of Benin
Peace Corps worker writes about village
JILL CALLISON
jcalliso@argusleader.com
Published: 07/17/05
A former Freeman woman has written her story of being a Peace Corps volunteer with narrative, poetry, letters - and honesty.
Monique Maria Schmidt is the author of "Last Moon Dancing," which chronicles her two years teaching English in the African country of Benin.
Schmidt now teaches composition and creative writing at a Colorado college and is writing her second book.
In "Last Moon Dancing" ($24.95, Clover Park Press), Schmidt tells of working in a village that viewed her as too young (at 22) and uninformed to be much good to them.
But like it or not, both sides changed.
In the book, Schmidt writes, "I had a strange relationship with the people in my village. They respected my skin, didn't believe that I could teach them and saw me as a source of money. I resorted to lying in order to establish my credibility. ... (N)ot as a single twenty-two-year-old woman, but as a married thirty-year-old, I settled into Glazoué with my two bags of books and clothing, a mosquito net, mattress, propane bottle and a too large wedding band."
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Story Source: Sioux Falls Argus Leader
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Benin; Writing - Benin
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