I always mailed my film home and had my parents get them developed at home. I was lucky that none of them ever got lost. I had my mom get double sets. She kept one set at home for me and mailed the other set back for me to see and give away as gifts. If you go the digital route I guess you could mail your memory chip home if you have extras, have someone at home get some prints and then mail them back with the chip.

I didn't have a lap top when I was in Benin and it would be a very expensive item to have to worry about. I have a feeling that they won't like the dirt and humidity much either.

I don't know if it exists in Benin but if you could find a place that would allow you to install your digital camera software on their computer, and if they have a CD burner, you could burn your pictures on two CD's. You could keep one with you and mail the other home for everyone to see and to make prints for you. Then you could erase your pictures freeing up your memory chip.

I hope that helps.

Chris

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There is one good place in Cotonou for developing photos - it's the Fuji place - near Codiprix - Huge sign out front, lotsa guys selling cd's and dvd's out front (don’’t worry, you'll figure out Cotonou when you get there). They do a fantastic job, but it is SPENDY! Very difficult to afford on your living allowance, but every so often you need pictures - not many people will have access to looking at digital pictures and believe me they LOVE pictures - so for things you want to share with friends and family back here - definitely use the digital, but for the friends you make in Benin, they'll want the actual photo. Also, the great thing about the Fuji place is the owner is very nice and he gives Peace Corps volunteers a 10% discount - not much, but it helps! As for the solar charger - I didnt know anyone in our group (2001-03) that had one - those who brought their laptops brought adapters and were able to figure out ways to charge it. Good luck!

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I would bring a solar charger if I could. You may want to to charge your laptop, depending upon it's capacity, it may be useful for a lamp at night or other things you are not thinking of. You can always sell it to a PCV who doesn't have electricity if you don't need it.

Also, speaking of solar things, everyone said "don't bring a solar shower", so I didn't. I had my parents bring one to me when they visited and it was fantastic. It's not expensive and very light and let me tell you, it's just brilliant to be able to take a warm shower late in the evening. It's definitely NOT a necessity, but it sure was a nice thing to have.

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You can develop pictures in Benin - any city will have lots of photo developing places to go to - but the quality of the developing wasn't very good. The film I mailed to my parents turned out better than the ones I developed myself, but then you run the risk of the film getting lost in the mail. I never lost anything in the mail to or from Benin but I hear it does happen.

I think a digital camera is a good idea. It would be fun to be able to email pictures to your friends - there were lots of internet cafes popping up when I left in 1997 - there are probably tons of them now. Laptop isn't a bad idea either. You might have electricity - a lot of villages do have electricity, at least for a few hours a day, and of course all the cities do. You'll need an adapter to plug your computer in. I don't know if I would waste money on a solar charger until you know if you'll need it. During stage there's a good chance you'll have access
to electricity at least some of the time (every time you go to Cotonou, for example), and then you might get a post with electricity. Even if you don't have a post with electricity, you could just bring an extra battery, and then recharge your batteries every so often when you go to a city. I lived 60 km from a city with electricity and went there at least once or twice a month on average, sometimes more. Another option is buying a car battery when you get there – my landlady ran her TV off of a car battery, and took it to the city every so often to recharge it. Or there might be some Europeans in your village that you could befriend to get access to their generator once in a while. There was a priest in my village that had electricity that I could have befriended if I wanted to. And the local credit union had electricity (they even got a computer while I was there), and so did the agricultural extension office, and others along those lines. Going around begging for electricity might be a good way to make some good contacts - the exchange of favors is a key way to build up a good network. Being independent is less of an advantage there than it is here. If you end up deciding you need a solar thing you can always get someone to send you one. I'm assuming solar chargers are expensive - maybe they're not and it would be no hassle to bring it, in which case ignore the above. There is certainly plenty of sun in Benin.

With the digital camera and the computer, be extraparanoid about theft. Most people wouldn't steal them of course but it's hard to know who the exceptions are until it's too late.

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Hi everybody!
I'm preparing to leave in Benin (only two months
until I leave!!!)and I was wondering what the best way to develop photographs is. I also have a digital camera and I was thinking about bringing a laptop to keep my photos stored and organized -- I know I won't have electricity and I was considering buying a solar charger. Is that a stupid idea? Any suggestions will be much appreciated!

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