Encore!

Hello everyone! Can you believe I have been in Togo for over a month now? I know, me neither. It is really amazing how fast time has gone! First let me apologies for the lack of information. It has been difficult, as I am sure you can imagine, to get to a computer let alone internet in a third world country. But I guess its all part of the experience!

So my first month of Peace Corps Togo has been phenomenal. I surprise myself everyday with my ability to communicate in a new language, try new foods, bike through the mud and of course learn about the work that I will be doing the next two years. One of the highlights has been hiking up Mount Agou. The view west is absolutely gorgeous. I wouldn’t be surprised if I saw Ghana because our training site is really close to the boarder and we were really high. I also have really enjoyed my new form of transportation, my bike. The Togolese children love it and it is so fun to ride by and ring my bell for them. And I can’t complain about the added bonus of a slight breeze on my way to and from school.

A lot has happened the last few weeks. I got my post assignment and I am thrilled. I will be living in a small village called Wassarabo. It is in the Central region and I am only 17 km from the regional capital, which means I am close to the bank, market and maybe the occasional cold drink. It is a new post so I will be the first Girls Ed PCV there. I am really excited to begin working with the villagers and seeing what this Peace Corps thing is all about!

After we all got our post assignments, we got to go on a field trip. It was perfect timing because we got to pass through a lot of the regions and see where we will be living. The trip was only 3 days and the majority of that time was spent in the car but I had a great time. It one thing to sit in a classroom and learn about what we will be doing but it was great to get out there and see the thing PCV’s do and see more of Togo. We got to observe a Life Skills class that a current volunteer was teaching. The students are resilient and so interested in us. It’s flattering and overwhelming at the same time. We also got to visit a NGO for people living with HIV/AIDS. It was so powerful because we were greeted by song and dance and then some of the members shared their life stories. It was moving and I am so thankful to have met them all. The trip was great, not only because of the things we got to do but it was a needed break and I can’t say I didn’t enjoy a real shower!

So now it’s back to work studying French and preparing for work as a PCV. We get to visit our sites in a week. It will be the first time I will be alone and away from English. Yikes. I am really excited to see my village and to meet all my new friends. I will try to write again after my week at site and let you all know how things went.

I hope you all know that I miss you and think about you a lot. I am gradually adapting to this new life in Togo and knowing I have all of your support helps me through. Please keep in touch. I’ll do my best to do the same. And if I haven’t mentioned it before, I love mail! Till next time!
Peace!

So I live in West Africa!

Written Tuesday, October 9th, but internet was down… better late then never!
Bonjour Tous Le Monde! I have been in Africa for 2 and a half weeks now and I love it! I’ll rewind a little for you all and I will try no to ramble!
I flew out of New York City, which was amazing because I had never been on the East coast. Although we didn’t go through Manhattan, I got to see the skyline and the Statue of Liberty. We also drove through Brooklyn and Queens. It was great! The most amazing thing happened on the plane to Paris. I was sitting next to an older woman from the US. We started chatting and she asked why we were all traveling together. “Oh we are going to Togo for the Peace Corps!” And as fate would have it, she was a PC Togo volunteer in the late 60’s! Amazing! I really felt like it was my Grandmother sitting next to me giving me the strength that I have needed and used thus far! She was wonderful and I’m going to try to stay in touch. It was a blessing and a perfect send off!
So we spent a busy 5 days in Lome, the capital city, doing administrative things like getting shots and learning how to treat our water. It was all a bit overwhelming but also really fun and exciting. It is really hot and humid here and I’m always really sweaty but so is everyone else so it’s more socially acceptable. I got to see the ocean and the Togolese beach. Although it was different from any other beach that I have been to, it was beautiful! There are lots of beautiful and kind people all around and the Peace Corps Staff and current volunteers are Amazing! They have been my saving grace on everything Peace Corps Togo!
We left the city on Wednesday the 26th (Happy B-day G) and traveled about an hour and a half to the North to our training village. The countryside is absolutely gorgeous! It is sooo green and so different from my Western stomping grounds. We arrived at our village around noon and were greeted by the most amazing celebration. I was moved to tears! There was traditional African singing, dancing and drumming and the villagers are so excited to have us here! We went to our schoolhouse where we will be training and had lunch and met our host families. I have a great Togolese family. I live with Mama Pauline, her daughter Shantall and her two children Fabrice 5 and Bienvenu 3! Our home is nice. We have electricity and my latrine (toilet) is ‘nice’. I have an outdoor shower as well with the best view of the mountain! Mount Agou, highest mountain in Togo! I really enjoy my bucket showers other than the occasional visiting spider. We live in the most beautiful village. It is right under the mountains and the vegetation is incredible.

French classes are going well. The language barrier is hard but full submersion is the best way to learn. I am really excited about the work that I will be doing. Girls Education and Empowerment is the perfect program for me and although it will be challenging, it will be very rewarding!

The communication thing is a bit harder than I imagined. The best way to stay in contact will have to be snail mail until I become more familiar with everything (Although I do love e-mail as well). It takes about 2 weeks for letters to get to me but it takes a bit longer to get mail from me. I will do my best to write a lot and update this blog when I get the chance. Happy Birthday to all who I have missed, Dad, Tony and Uncle Dave. I hope you all had a great day! I miss you all and hope everything in your lives is going well.

That’s all for now! Love and Peace