Don’t Run Over a Snake’s Tail, Slowly: A Peace Corps Journal

My name is Dennis Perry. During my first year of Peace Corps service in Benin. I survived a revolution, participated in a land-grab, and ethnic cleansing. In my second year of service, I accepted an invitation to experience life as the old, old Africans lived it. Besides my duties, as an Animal Traction Volunteer, to train and provide health care for thirty-five pairs of bulls I helped the villagers of Kolokonde, Benin obtain a grant of ＄5000.00 to rebuild their market place. Finally, in 1973, I sat in on a meeting between Benin agricultural officials and the Red Chinese.