I have been very reliant on my cousin's wife for shopping in Benin considering my cousin is always at work, his wife has been tasked with shopping with me.
I am a very independent individual so during our shopping process I always save the shopping locations via WhatsApp pin drop with the name of the place and what we bought from the location for future reference.
Shopping Alone
I have been going shopping alone and one place I have been to more frequently is the MTN outlet close to the airport.
I have been there on three occasions for help since my phone wouldn't hotspot my laptop, the second time there was to buy a router for my internet connection and the third occasion was yesterday to have my MTN Mobile Money set up.
Fortunately, there is a lady there that understands a bit of English so she is often called to attend to me and I am known there as the English guy by now.
Going to MTN is a 10km distance and I travel with the motorcycle transport system they use here, while in South Africa I was wondering how I adjust to the motorbike mode of transport in Benin compared to the Uber I use in SA but I find myself enjoying the mode of transportation here, it feels a like I am on an adventure.
Doing other shopping isn't as easy as MTN shopping where the setup is similar to that of South Africa.
Navigating The Town With Google Map
Today I was determined to go buy a fan and a chair for my laptop desk alone despite an offer to accompany me by my cousin's wife.
I told myself the earlier I start doing things independently the better so after breakfast and a bit of curation on Hive I took a 15-minute walk to the shops I had saved via pin drop earlier in the week.
I enjoyed the walk, it allows me to familiarize myself with the town and I found some places where I can do grocery shopping.
I arrived at the first shop and bought a chair. Buying the fan I couldn't find the shop and I remembered it is on the same street less the 300 meters apart but I couldn't find it.
I called my cousin's wife for directions, only to discover later after asking someone that doesn't understand me, he went to call a lady that speaks Yoruba language and the lady told me I am right at the shop next to the pharmacy but they are not open yet for business.
I thanked her and told myself I wasn't lost after all, it was a feeling that I am doing great, and I had to commend myself.
Getting back home was easy, I directed the motorcycle driver and I was home in no time.
In a country where the temperature is as high as 34 degrees Celsius and a humidity of 71% compared to Johannesburg's 27 degrees Celsius and 28% humidity today is quite a huge change for me so I had to invest in a fan to keep me going.
We owe it to ourselves to make Hive great
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