Harmaton is ending?

8^thFebruary, 2013

Yes... I am posting 2 posts at the same time.  I had written the previous one 2 weeks ago but never got it online.  So, BONUS!

Latest Reads:

“Away from home: Letters to my family,” by Lillian Carter & Gloria Carter Spann.

This is a collection of letters that Former President Jimmy Carter’s mother sent home, while she was in Peace Corps in India.  Not only was she one of the first years to go, she was also almost 70! This book made me miss my gma more. 

“Saltwater Buddha: A Surfers Quest to Find Zen on the Sea,” by Jaimal Yogis.

This one made me want to convert to Buddhism and take up surfing.  Precisely it’s purpose?

Health update:

I spent the majority of last week taking naps and well, taking it easy.  I came back to Dapaong last Wednesday and went to Winpang Clinic again.  I did a few tests and the doctor (a small-framed, tight-eyed Togolese man of about 70years old) came out with a huge smile and said, “C’estjuste les ameobes, c’est pas le paillou” (it’s only ameoba’s, you don’t have malaria).  I had those wonderful intenstinal parasites so long it made my body weak and succeptable to the common cold.  And man, was that some headcold! I kept getting headaches, bodyaches, sore throat, congestion, couldn’t get enough water, and was taking about 2 naps a day.  I had all symptoms of Malaria besides the fever (and I take preventative meds everyday so there’s no way I could have had it!). 

And now, I’m feeling much better! Thank you meds and rest.

Everyone here has a cough/headcold though due to Harmaton (the season where it's windy and super dry).  People are happy that Harmaton/sick season is ending, but I'm not looking forward to the Dry/Hot Season! I hear it gets up to 130 degrees F in some places... Ahhh!

In other news:

Moba lessons weekend went well, and I feel like I actually retained some key Moba terms! The class was Peace Corps funded and they want to start doing the lessons every month.  It’s nice to learn Moba with other PCVs, because learning on your own in village can be a little daunting sometimes. 

That weekend, I got to watch a Togo football game on tv at a bar with some fellow PCVs, I gave a hair-trim to my friend Sam, and I started my VRF (Volunteer Reporting Form). 

Besides being sick last week…When I was in village mama Rachel brought home a hedgehog and giant lizard for dinner.  I watched and snapped some photos of the process.  Call me morbid, or sadistic, but I thought it was cool.  I mean, I didn’t actually do any harm to the animals myself.  And I left for Dapaong before they were eaten. 

Last weekend, we celebrated Matt Houser’s birthday.  We ate at Campement Friday night, and then they went dancing (I was still sick).  I was able to find “SavonLiquide” to make soap with my science club this coming week… And I exchanged haircuts with Matt H! First I cut off about 10inches of his thick, curly locks, and then he buzzed off my mop-head look. 

When I got back to village, everyone loved my hair! They say I look cooler, prettier and more Togolese.  And my “Rasta” friend, MastaKa, made me custom earrings and a bracelet (that has the Togolese flag colors and my name on it) that he gave to me Saturday.  Alors, I left village sick and tired, and came back all kinds of fancy!

This past week, I had a meeting in Dapaong with Emanuel.  His village had applied and paid for some water pumps for the outer neighborhoods of Naki-Ouest and they had not received them (and it’s been over a year).  So I went with him as his right-hand-man and we were not only able to get in and speak to someone, but we had a meeting with the Director of the program itself.  They will begin putting in the 1^st well in immediately and they also have to projects in both Naki-Ouest and Tami started already.  They are working on RUNNING WATER (“l’eaurobinet”)! How awesome will that be for everyone, and think of all the illnesses we can prevent! We were super excited after that meeting. 

Thursday the regional school board inspectors from Dapaong (including the Chief-head inspector) came to CEG Tami to discuss the incident of 2 weeks ago (the teacher argument and unprofessionalism).  It was a two-hour meeting in French and I had just about had my overload of talking, when they asked me to say a few words.  I tried to be as optimistic and cordial as possible, and pretty much said how I wanted us all to move on and work together like adults.  Well, apparently that went over well, because Director Ayeva, told me this morning that they had another staff meeting this morning (which probably went on while I was still tucked into bed), and he thanked me for my input that I had given at the previous meeting. 

After that lovely meeting, and some lunch (and a brief nap), I had another meeting with my women’s group! It was money-giving day and it seemed to go over really well.  Emanuel gave a long speech in Moba, took roll call and setup the payment collection sheets.  He also had a lengthy question and answer session.  I feel like I am not too much help so far because my Moba is limited, but he assures me that the group and the funded project wouldn’t have been possible without me.  So I feel special and important I guess.  We ended up giving the financing to 8 women, who will give the 10% of their earnings each Market day, to me.  After 4 months, we will use the collected savings of the 8 women, to loan out to another woman in the group (there are 15 of them total now).  After the two years, we plan to have incorporated all women in the group plus a few new! I’m interested to see what type of investment they have made and if it works well or not.  Fingers crossed for them! I want to do “savonliquide” with them as well, and maybe they can sell it to make more profit? 

That brings me to today. 

I stayed up last night creating a review game to play in class today.  I introduced them to JEOPARDY! And they loved it! They went wild at the end and I kind of felt bad for the next teacher coming in.  The best part was they probably had no idea they were learning or reviewing! 

After class I sped to Dapaong to re-do and correct my VRF.  I had sent it in last weekend after some careful reviewing and apparently it was in the wrong format (or something?).  My APCD (Program Director) sent me a new form but it still says that I’m CHAP (health PCV) and not EGE (education PCV), so I tried saving the form differently and maybe that helped?  Hope I get it fixed before I have to go back to village for class!

As I write this, I have the 3 stooges playing on the other computer, and I can’t help but observe the striking resemblance that I know have to Curly with my new haircut.  GI Jane; Diams (a French hip-hop artist-- someone here thought I was her and asked for my autograph); Curly... Same difference?

Hope everyone is healthy and safe! And please do enjoy the last bits of snow for me?

Another week in "Paradise"

Friday, 25 January, 2013

Just another day in “Paradise”

Hey friends!

I tried getting photos on here last weekend with that last post, but I only managed to get some up on FB (soo if you’re my friend on there, you’ve probably already seen them).  Sorry! The photo uploading feature and internet here has been more weird than usual. 

I’m back in Dapaong for the 2^nd weekend in a row because we are getting free Moba lessons today and tomorrow! Apparently we have a local language test during our next PC formation.  I know how to say, “stop, I will beat you,” now, so I think I will pass (we say this to my 1yr old sis, Marie A LOT).  In case you are wondering, it’s: “Duh-Ti, Mm-Pwaah” (the spelling may be off). 

This past week has been just another week in Togo.  Sometimes I have to recite to myself (and yes I do indeed talk to myself, thank you), “You chose this, so stick it out and like it!” It’s really not all that bad here, just some days are harder than others.  In general, coming from such a diverse nation, it’s hard to be such a SORE THUMB.  Keeping busy and finding new projects and ideas, usually helps pass time faster.  As they told us upon arriving here, “as long as you DO SOMETHING you will feel better.”  Going for a walk, reading, writing, dancing with only a panye cloth on, painting your toes…  anything! The other day I made a physical list of everything negative and positive in my life, and I felt a little less burdened.  It just gets kind of lonely (even in a room full of Togolese people) and hard sometimes, but no worries Larba is tough guys!

So, Monday was “Greve day”, and we didn’t have classes.  Some teachers at my school went and gave notes but Larba was still sour about Thursdays class (with little boy who told me in “tu” form that I was in his way of taking notes& Ms. Larba had a hoe in his little hands quicker than his fresh mouth uttered the words again) and so she stayed home and was productive there.  Also went for a run and fetched some [home gym] water. 

Tuesday, I had another headache.  I think it’s the changing of the season’s—hot/dry season is approaching (goodbye dear friend, Harmaton!).  So, I pretty much went over homework from the weekend, gave them some notes and new homework and left.  I then biked to Naki-Ouest for a meeting with Emannuel and Neipak.  They are helping guide me through my new women’s group and micro-finance project.  What we are doing is giving a small loan to 4 women, but making a group of 10 women for support.  After the meeting, we did a round of the Naki Marché, had a beer and food, and then I crashed at Emannuel’s (took a nap).  He was so sweet and set up a little “bed” area for Rocko and me to repose.  The bike trip back is always easier.

Wednesday I don’t have any classes and usually have a club (but not this week).  I was doing some house chores when the EPP (elementary) school director showed up at my door and let me know about the soccer (football) match happening at that moment.  I strolled up on my bicycle with Rocko by my side, and there was a chair waiting for me, front and center.  I was concerned that instead of having classes they were playing a sport, but I had a good time.  Well except for the moment when the ball got a little [more than usual] deflated and the director said that the Batooli (Whitey) can find us one (JERK!).  SUPER AWKWARD.  But I knew the kids in my house had one that the old PCV gave them, so I volunteered Pakiyendou to go get it.  So maybe I fit the stereotype of white person= money bags? Dangit!  Tami won the match and will be playing Naki-Ouest next.  And one could here the kids chanting, “Tami a gagné” (Tami has won) throughout the whole village.  This was an especially pleasant victory after Cote D’Ivoire won Togo in the last African Cup match. 

Thursday… Odd-day.  Had class, and then waited an hour for this meeting that started another 45 minutes late because two professors got into this huge argument.  It was embarrassing and annoying.  The director tried to stop it but ended up joining in the yelling match himself and it just elevated until both the teachers left (one came back for the meeting but just sat there glumly).  And not to sound sexest, but it was a total testosterone match.  The meeting went pretty well (for Togolese standards) and it ended with the conclusion that our students’ grades aren’t up to par and we aren’t sure what to do.  After I stuffed my face with some “wache” (rice and beans) I had meeting with my newest project: Tami Women’s Group.  It was in Moba, so I was literally lost in translation, but it seemed to go well.  I found out that the village was a little stand-offish to me because they were a little afraid and curious of me.  The women didn’t really understand my purpose, but now they are happy to be a part of the first ever Women’s Group in Tami and they promise to say hi to me more.