Merry Holidays!

December 22

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!! Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanzaa, Ramadan, and New Years!

THANK YOU to everyone who’s sent letters and packages! Grams, Aunt Lynita, Gretchen, Neighbors Bob & Paige, Grandma Adams, and my Cacciato cousins… It’s so nice to receive photos, letters, pictures and goodies that I can share with my fellow PCV friends/family.  I love and miss all of you awesome American people =)

Since my last entry…

Still teaching.  And we are on “winter” break, or “Congé,” right now, yay mini-vacation! This past week I’ve been sitting in on finals, or “Compos”.  Pretty much just like finals in the States but they have to supply their own paper and put certain titles on it, and I just sit there making sure they don’t “tricher” (cheat).  On Wednesday they made me do “dicté,” dictation, and had to read a passage and all the questions out loud to the students (I felt bad for them).  And Friday I did “redaction,” where I write the subject of their letter or composition on the board, they copy and then compose their response.  Pretty legit.  My class’s English test, or compo, was Tuesday and I had all 125 of the tests graded by Thursday morning. 

On Wednesday the 5^th, I had my 2^nd English Teachers meeting, located in the nearby village of Tonte.  I was lead reporter, so took notes the whole time and had to read the minutes to everyone at the end of the meeting.  While taking those notes, they also requested my opinion on virtually every topic, which is flattering but exhausting! After the meeting, we all went and got chicken and drinks at a local bar, and then my homologue and I cut it back to Tami for my Theatre Club meeting.  That meeting went well as well.  The Togolese teacher that I conducted it with is quite different from me, so it was a nice balance: Him serious and me a goofball.  I got to play charades with them and they loved it! They weren’t very good at it, but with practice they will be champs =)

Saturday, the 8^th, I was in Kara for the Odyssey of the Mind Training.  The turnout was good and I felt pretty informed afterwards; so: success.  We did a morning session about general info and activities.  Then breaked for lunch and repose time.  Some local Kara folk brought me to this fabulous place called “Marocs” and I had pizza in a scenic and cozy atmosphere.  After we reconvened apres lunch they brought in some local students and we did some practice activities on them.  Afterwards my fellow PCVs and I went and hung out at a few local places and ended up at a fancy club type place.  Then I had yet another interesting bush-taxi experience…

Monday, the 10^th, Sam, a fellow PCV, came to visit my class and photograph for some publication of hers.  People are always amazed at how many Togolese students are able to fit into my classroom.  It really is a sight! I’m interested to see her photos when she comes back to Togo from holiday vacation.She seemed to enjoy the kids like everyone else and people are usually amazed at how well-behaved they can be.  I find it nice to make visitors do a “bonc”, song or game to break the ice before they sit down and watch or take pictures.  It warms everyone up and makes people more comfortable.  It’s kind of rumored that I “make” people do something, but I only encourage ;) After class there was a surprise assembly.  A bunch of “big-wigs” from all over came and spoke to the entire school and they gave out free books to the school/students/staff.  It was also marché day that day, so there was much more going on in village than the average day in Tami.  Poor Sam biked to my place from Dapaong (she’s a CHAP- health- volunteer in Dapaong), so we tried to keep low key and chill out… that didn’t work too well until the evening, because a simple trip to the Marché turned into salué-ing everyone and grabbing a drink with the étranger’s from the assembly.  Sometimes I compare being here to being a celebrity in the States… Being watched even when you don’t know it, and being judged just the same.  It has it’s perks and downfalls; and for the most part it’s fine.  Don’t get me wrong, I don’t plan to become famous ever… I don’t feel a need for unflattering pictures and senseless gossip to appear on the cover of publications for all to read... Having a blog, I’m the one dictating what unflattery and gossip I feel is necessary for the world to see; much different, I assure you.

Last weekend was interesting and exhausting.  I was empowered to bike to Dapaong after my visit from Sam, and so left Friday right after my am class.  I forgot that the way there is virtually all up hill and against the Harmaton winds… It was rough, but I’m a stubborn one.  I stopped in Naki-Ouest on the way to grab a "sucrerie" with Emmanuel, and to regain some strength mid-way.  I got to Dapaong and got a flat tire.  The air-valve was detached from the inner tire tube, so I had to get a bike man to fix it.  And I happened to choose a bike man that was Muslim, so I had to wait for the prayer breaks in between working.  I ended up getting both tires fixed, just to be on the safe side.  The next day, I bought a basket for the front and went back for him to attach that as well.  New friend! I also made a “Rasta” friend (they call anyone with dreads “rasta”, because most Togolese shave their hair- male and female) in the marché, named Masta Ka, whom I purchased a hand-crafted creation from and later ran into.  My friend and I were having some issues with the basket man and the guys at next boutique over, and Master Ka came up and simply said, “Larba” (my village name) and they left us alone.  I love new and intimidating friends.  My friends and I made pan-pizza Saturday night and French toast Sunday morning.  Successful weekend.  The bike back to Tami was mostly downhill, with the wind blowing in my favor.  

And besides compos and reading (got through 3 books), I haven’t done too much this past week.  I did manage to make snowflakes out of old magazine pages with my host siblings and a few neighborhood kids.  They are always so attentive and participatory whenever I teach them something.  I wish American kids were as easily entertained and not so spoiled by ipads and cellphones. 

The latest reads:

“The Secret Life of Bees,” by Sue Monk Kidd

“Water for Elephants,” by Sara Gruen

“The Alchemist,” by Paulo Coelho

Oh and planted a new Mango tree (which Dou-Dou#2 is modeling for you)!

Well, last night I was able to enjoy a nice meal with fellow “Savamily” members at Campement, for Matt C’s birthday.  Tonight I’m heading over to PCV Katy’s house for dinner with a few other friends (she’s making us Spinach pasta and salad).  Then I believe we’re doing Christmas eve dinner somewhere with a bunch of volunteers who are coming up from all over Togo for Christmas.  Winter is making her famous pancakes for Xmas breakfast and then EAFS APCD, Paul, is hosting a Christmas party at his place for everyone.  Lots of holiday love! No worries to everyone back home who thought I’d be alone, hungry and without power on Christmas… I will be just fine =)

I hope all you folks back home and those of you that I won't see here in Togo, all the best for the holidays! Be Good or Be Good At It... ;)