U.S. Scholar Final Report

U.S. SCHOLAR FINAL REPORT

As a U.S. Fulbright Scholar, you are required to submit a final report at the end of your grant period. The information you provide in your report will be used for the following purposes:

• To enhance the orientation of future grantees who are placed in the same region and/or host institution(s)
• To offer formative feedback about the Fulbright experience for program staff at the Council of International Exchange of Scholars (CIES) to facilitate program improvement
• To gain information about program results for CIES as well as for external audiences such as the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the United States Department of State, the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, and Congress.

Please provide thoughtful responses and include concrete details where possible. For all open-ended questions, please use as much space as you need.

When you leave for your Fulbright placement, please bring a paper copy of this report form with you so that you may reflect on the questions throughout your experience and make notes as needed. The report may also be provided to you in various electronic formats.

At the end of your grant experience, please email or mail a copy of your final report to the Fulbright Commission/Foundation or the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in your host country before your departure. Please also mail or email your completed report to the appropriate program officer at CIES:

(Name of your CIES Program Officer)

Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program

Council for International Exchange of Scholars

3007 Tilden Street, NW, Suite 5L

Washington, DC 20008-3009

U.S. SCHOLAR FINAL REPORT

Scholar Profile

1. Grantee Information (Name and U.S. Home Address)

CaftoriNetiva

Last NameFirst NameMiddle Name

TelephoneE-mail

2. Grantee’s U.S. Institution

Northeastern IllinoisUniversity

Name of Institution

Computer Science dept and Women Studies program

Department (specify discipline if not clear)

TelephoneE-mail

3. Category of Grant (mark with an “x”):

4. Host Institution(s):Institut de Math et de Sciences Physiques

5. Host Country(ies):Benin

6. Grant Dates:Aug. 2003-July 2004

Grant Services and Experience

7. Please rate the following components of your Fulbright experience (mark with an “x”):

1. CIES staff responsiveness to inquiries

1. Usefulness of CIES web site

1. Timeliness of selection notification

1. Washington orientation (if offered)

1. Usefulness of pre-departure information

1. Adequacy of financial benefits

1. Support from Fulbright staff in country of grant

1. Housing abroad

1. Schooling for children

Comments – Please provide specific suggestions for improvements related to any of the areas above or comment on any other administrative matters:

c. I was notified of my final selection only in April, 2003 although I had some idea of it as early as October 2002, but since it was not final, I couldn’t plan on anything alternative, or a sabbatical leave if that was a possibility.

e. There was a Fulbrighter before me (in 1999) who was at the same institute and at the same house I stayed in. Any information from him would have been more than welcome, but I don’t think he was contacted for such information, so I had to contend with information from people who stayed in Cotonou, and not in Porto-Novo, and at the same institute.

f. Life in Benin was not so cheap after one had to pay for electricity, water and phone, the latter especially was more than costly. Also it was not very clear why other Fulbrighters in Ghana, Chad and Nigeria, for example, didn’t have to pay for water, nor electricity. An increase in support therefore should be considered.

8. What activities were you engaged in during your Fulbright experience? (mark all that apply)

Activity Details – Pleaseelaborate on each of the activities you checked above:

Provide specific details where relevant; for example, include characteristics of students and classes such as level, class sizes, language capability, etc. Also note any significant factors that helped or hindered you in engaging in the activities needed to meet your grant objectives.

1. Taught math to doctoral students, computer-science courses to undergraduates, and technical English to all. Classes were small from 1 to 10 students. No books were available. Students met for many hours a week so homework was done in class with the instructor. Classes were taught in French except for the English class where I tried to keep to English. I met students once a week for each class, which was not very constructive, as students forgot a lot of the material from one week to the next. One course was taught by more than one instructor, which turned out to be fun and helpful as each instructor brought his/her lap-top to class for the usage and demonstration to the students. Basically I was free to conduct my classes as I wished.

1. With local faculty we designed a new curriculum for an engineering program, which started in January 2004.

1. I presented at AITEC conference in Accra, Ghana, and at a conference in Cotonou where I was the sole presenter. I attended other conferences, and presented at a few seminars on diverse topics. I’ve conducted research, mainly to prepare for my presentations, and for the courses I taught.

1. The director of the institute and I worked on a new student exchange program between our two institutes. The document is still to be approved by both our presidents.

1. I got involved in the artist community of Porto-Novo and Cotonou, and in honor of black history month the American Cultural center has held an exhibit of my art as well as four other prominent Beninese and Togolese artists. The event was well covered by the media and we were portrayed several times on national TV and several newspapers.

1. Besides for the art exhibit I was interviewed by journalists during my participation at conferences and upon my final leaving.

1. Upon my suggestion and at the encouragement of the Institute’s director, I have organized an international colloquium on the general topic of Science, Mathematics, and Society. I announced it during the orientation conference in Washington, DC, before my departure, and a few Fulbrighters were interested and consequently participated in it. All sessions, a week long, were interpreted back and forth from English to French by me and others.

9. Reflect on the institution(s) where you were engaged in teaching and/or conducting research while on your grant and rate the following components (mark with an “x”):

1. Availability of texts and reference works for teaching

1. Availability of other educational materials, computers, audiovisual aids, and laboratory equipment

1. The host institution’s facilities in general

1. Overall relations with colleagues

1. Other (specify):

Comments – Please provide specific details about the institution(s) that would be relevant for future scholars, including the organization of the department in which you were affiliated and any comments related to the ratings above. If possible, identify key people and their contact information who facilitated your assignment or who are interested in working with American scholars:

Very few textbooks were available in the library of the IMSP (Institut de Math et Sciences Physiques) and certainly not for a whole class. Some computers were available but there were long lines and slow connectivity, which we lost often. There was only one classroom available with a ceiling fan that broke after a couple months. The number of students was small, not more than 10 for a regular course. When seminars were given, we could gather 30-40 students and colleagues. Colleagues were nice and helpful. Outside activities were rare, and usually initiated by me.

It was thanks to Bienvenu Olory, , that I contacted the IMSP (whose director is Jean-Pierre EZIN ) and obtained the position with them. Surprisingly school started Sept. 1st, a whole month earlier than foreseen. This turned out to be a good thing as it got me involved and busy. I taught a few introductory topics and then a math topic for which I had to prepare. Luckily I was able to bring the appropriate textbooks from the US. So the students learned much from me and I learned much from them. Another professor who may be interested in contracting with American scholars is Norbert Hounkonnou, , .

Advice for Future Grantees

10. Provide any information that could help future Fulbright grantees who will work in your host institution or country. Address the following topics where relevant:

• Aspects of local culture

Beninese and other Africans are very friendly and will drop at your house, often at dinner time. Meals are to be shared. If you offer to eat or drink out, be prepared to pay. People are intrigued by a different culture and want to learn from you, and also to help you out learning about their culture and costumes. Time is not of essence in Benin. Be aware that people may be late or not come at all to rendezvous. However you can tell them your expectations and your tolerance. Cell phone calls are very expensive, about $1 a minute and that is the reason people do not call much. You may beep (one ring) each other to signal you are home or about to arrive. Messages are cheap but possible only on the same network. There are 3 cell phone networks. Telecel is the one which allows you to receive calls from overseas. Benecel will not. Land phones are cheaper, about $.15 a minute, but not all apartments have them. Public phones abound.

There are many non-Africans in Cotonou, but very few in Porto-Novo. I have made friends with my French gendarmes (national police) neighbors who mostly kept to themselves and rarely mingled with the locals. Through them I met other French and had a variety of activities to attend to as a consequence. It was very hard to meet Americans. They are a rarity. If you want them, press hard with the embassy. The German ambassador and his wife became fast friends.

• Specific recommendations related to logistics (e.g., travel, visa, baggage, money, housing, etc.)

Do not stop in Europe for a visit on your way to Benin as your luggage weight will be limited to 23 kg instead of 2 bags of 32 kg each. You do not have to buy an open 1-year ticket as the price is prohibitive. It will be cheaper to buy a couple 3-month tickets and be able to visit the States or Europe in the interim. If you combine an American airline with Air France, do it via London instead of Paris. You will stop by Paris for an hour but will pay less than half the price.

Another way is to go via Accra, if you do not mind the land travel. Be prepared to be asked for bribes at the frontiers. You do not have to pay if your papers and immunization card are in order.

Ask for your visa a year before your return date. Mine expired 2 weeks before, and had to pay $25 for one month extension.

Do not bring many clothes if you enjoy wearing local clothing, which is appreciated by Beninese. Tailors abound and are more than reasonable.

You can cash up to $500 checks at the embassy MWF mornings. I would ask your future colleagues if they would like a computer, a digital camera, or flash disks to be purchased for them. They would appreciate it and that will give you lots of local currency. Flash disks of 256M for example, can be found in the US for $50. They are very expensive in Europe and not found in Benin. You may bring easily 2 lap-tops with you with no customs. Be aware of black market. They are easily found at Dantokpa market and In Porto-Novo. However they are good at cheating. If you must convert money, be sure to count carefully. Dollars are not always available, so bring a little cash for you or your traveling colleagues. Travel checks need receipt to be changed only in a bank. Keep your money in a bank, Ecobank for example.

Housing for Fulbrighters is comfortable. I employed a cook ($30 a month), a cleaning lady twice a week (for $25 a month) who washed my laundry, and a gardener (for $30 a month) who came almost every day. My electric bill was about $60 a month (I never used the AC, nor the iron), and the water about $13. I also needed to buy a gas bottle for the kitchen and replenish it every couple of months.

Meals can be expensive in European-style restaurants. However local macquis charge only $2-3 for a grilled fish with rice.

• Tips on family arrangements—including specific information on schools children attended with addresses, telephone numbers, and fax numbers

There is an English school in Cotonou and a French one too. I am not familiar with others. For activities the FrenchCulturalCenter in Cotonouis as its name indicates the center of cultural activity. Swimming pools can be found in the big hotels. I like Hotel du Port, which also provides other physical activities, I hear. Swimming in the ocean can be done only at the Route de Peche, where huts can be rented for $30 a month, and may provide nice weekends escapes from the polluted city, just a few miles away. For those liking horse riding, I understand this is a reasonable activity which may provide a rich community life. Salsa dancing may be learned at the Titanic on Wednesday evenings.

• Useful websites or printed information

My website at will give you lots of links about Benin, Cotonou and Porto-Novo in addition to all other places I visited, plus my personal journal with photos.

Outcomes

11.To what extent do you expect to do the following as a result of your Fulbright experience? (mark with an “x”)

1. Publish your research findings

1. Seek another award or fellowship

1. Return to host country for professional activities

1. Host a colleague from the region you visited

1. Continue research collaboration with individual(s) in your host country(ies)

1. Establish collaboration between your host institution and home institution

1. Develop new courses / curriculum

1. Encourage a student or faculty exchange program

1. Share knowledge related to host country with colleagues

1. Other tangible results (specify):exhibit African art
2. Present in different forums about my experience

12. To what extent do you think your experience helped to…

Greatly

1. Promote international cooperation for educational and cultural advancement

1. Strengthen ties between people of the United States and people of other countries

13. Overall, how would you rate your experience as a Fulbright Scholar?

14. Reflect on your Fulbright experience and whether you feel it has played or will play a transformative role in your life, either professionally or personally. Describe a specific event during your grant period that illustrates the grant’s impact.

For a very long timeI have wanted to live in Africa. Despite all my preparation, it was very different than anything expected. The whole stay was one big adventure. I don’t regret a thing even though the beginning was very hard.

I have started by making friends with artists and musicians in Porto-Novo, and like artists all over the world, these were easy-going welcoming people. The AmericanCulturalCenter was more than helpful in organizing an art exhibit for my work and four other artists of my choice, in honor of February, Black-history month. The press was at opening night and we became instant celebrities. It was a first-time exhibit for three of the artists, and they were more than grateful. This was one gratifying event.

Another event that professionally made a difference to me was the colloquium that I organized. Despite the lack of money and weak local organization, I considered it very successful and felt gratified in accomplishing this hard task.

I was told several times that my presence alone has impacted on the institute by assisting them in establishing a new computer engineering program. Personally I enjoyed giving talks and bringing awareness on topics not well known by Beninese in computer ethics, computer security and gender issues in computing.

All in all I believe my experience in Benin will play a transformative role in my life, more personally than professionally.

I found a second home in Benin, and felt its people were my brothers and sisters. I believe Benin has much to offer the Western world and have urged its people to be proud of their heritage and share of their wisdom and culture more readily.

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