Et la Fatigue?

28^th April 2013

  

I’m not sure if it’s because I’m getting “old”er, it’s effing hot, or because school has been MIA, but I’ve been super tired lately.  If I was living in New York still, they’d probably say that I have similar symptoms that of Lime’s disease… But we’re almost through hot season!

There hasn’t been too much going on over the past two weeks, but thought I wouldn’t wait as long as last time to post.

*If you want to keep up with the weather in my village, check out: http://www.accuweather.com/en/tg/tami/320722/weather-forecast/320722

Health:

Med Unit called to check up on me the other day… I told Flore that the usual symptoms are back after having finished that painful medicine… And she told me that they can’t give me any more meds.  I didn’t ask for them, nor did I call! I felt oddly like a drug addict for the first time in my life and I didn’t like it… and it wasn’t even good meds, it was for intestinal parasites and just made me sleepy! And then 3 days later, she called to let me know she’s sending new meds… Oh PC Togo Med Unit, how awesome art thou.

And a chemical burn from soap making…? I’m setting records I swear!

Moba:

Moba lessons this weekend went well.  We talked him into 3 hours a day instead of 4; thank heaven! I mean, I really want to be more fluent in my local language and integrate more, but 4 hours of one subject is torture.  We also got to learn another new song! That’s probably are favorite part of the lessons. 

Moba in village is going all right.  People have been really surprised and encouraging lately.  Well, besides the other day with this incident at the well.  I went to go fetch water with Mama Rachel and some jerk greeted Rachel in Moba then me in French.  I returned his questions in Moba and he said, “ilfautapprendreMoba!” (You must learn Moba).  Jerk.  I literally looked at him, mama Rachel, the 10 or so others, did a sharp 180* turn and went back to the house, without my water.  Mama Rachel and I laughed it off later and she said that he wasn’t listening to me and had no idea I was speaking in Moba.  I’m still waiting on the apology but I’m not holding my breathe. 

But my “pate du riz” (rice pate) lady and her apprentices love me! I am sure to greet, order and thank everyone in Moba every market day that I get food there.  I find that as long as a smile and attempt the language, I’m sure to get more grins from my village folks. 

Women’s Group:  

The meeting on the 17^th went so well! Most of them showed up ON TIME (and some early)! With the funds collected from the women over the first two months, we were able to give funds (10,000 fcfa) to two new women in the group! Emanuel told me that usually that can only be done after the first FOUR months, not TWO! So, he especially, was super proud of us.  We also discussed the plans for the profit of the liquid soap sales.  I was kind of worried to discuss this with them, because Emanuel and I wanted to do some community development donation with it, and we were sure that the women thought they were going to be able to keep it.  Well, they definitely thought they were going to split it amongst themselves, and even mentioned how we could use it to “help” our own group; but after some conversation they were really enthusiastic about the donation.  We might end up buying school supplies for each of the students who are first in his/her class at the middle school.  One women was struggling with her choice of investment with the funds, but we as a group, decided to help her choose a new goal and put her market payments on hold.  I was also proud of them for their input and encouragement during this situation. 

On the 24^th, we all met and made “savonrond” (round/hard soap).  I got a [small] chemical burn from the “saudecaustique” (this powdered chemical that turns hot when you mix it with water) but the soap came out really well! I gave each femme a bar of soap so that they could try it and see if it’s something they want to sell. 

I made soymilk with mama Rachel the other day and we are going to teach the women’s group how to during our next gathering. 

Odyssey Club:

Our last meeting didn’t go too well but at least it happened at all.  All meetings at the school have been canceled during the “greves” (strikes).  Simane asked special permission from the village chief and the director to meet, and finally got a meeting!  We talked more and brainstormed about the “long-term problem,” did some mini-sketches, and did a “play-doh” sculpting exercise.  Their favorite part was the play-doh of course. I’m trying to get them to meet up two times a week until the competition on May 18^th, but it’s hard enough to get just one meeting a week.  Fingers crossed all goes well and they get their heads into the competition!

The Happenings:

The Monday after I wrote my last blog, there was some trouble in paradise.  There were student protests again in Dapaong, and this time two students were shot.  Apparently it was on accident, during some rounds of warning shots.  In retaliation, the parents and students started lighting all the military vehicles and buildings on fire.  The students had been periodically lighting tires on fire in the middle of the “carre-fours” previously throughout the protesting and the military was launching our tear gas to stop them.  I guess they got tired of the tear gas or ran out and then fired the warning shots and that’s when it got real.  Three other Peace Corps Volunteers and myself were ordered to stay in the Dapaong workstation until early Tuesday morning, when we were all escorted back to our villages.  Togo in general is a pretty peaceful place, as compared to the rest of Africa (and the World for that matter), and I feel (and felt) safe… so no worrying! These things happen, cavaaller. 

They say we have class tomorrow (Monday), but we’ll see.  I was “allowed” to teach last week a few times.  One day I went in, taught the “holkie-polkie” and left.  The kids loved it! I had taught it, practiced at least 5 times, and they still wanted more… So I challenged them to practice on their own and perform it for me our next class.  As I was leaving, I heard one of the students yell out, “ok, stand up” (in English)! Sometimes, when they’re not being obnoxious, I really do love them (most of them). 

I made an American mix CD, with a disc that my director gave to me to burn, and he loves it! He told me that the other day he played it over and over until he went to bed.  =)

I went to the Naki-Ouest Marché, for the first time in awhile, and had a great time! Emanuel took time off from his boutique to give me a tour of his family’s section of the village (he’s related to half of Naki, I swear!), walk the market with me, and have a picnic under the “mango tree forest”.  We got two voltics full of tchapka, some grilled chicken, and sat there for awhile discussing all sorts of news and history.  Some “Gobine” kids came over and scaled the grafted mango trees for us, and we dined on those monstrously huge and delicious mangos… I even stashed some away to give to them fam, who were super appreciative.  Grafted mangoes are so much better than ordinary ones (which are usually all that can be found in village).  They are bigger, sweeter, and not all stringy! After eating ordinary mangoes for a while, I thought I was going to have permanent mango strings in my teeth… thank god for floss!

I also made another trip to Cinkassé with Emanuel, and were met there by one of his brothers and friend.  It was an interesting time… And I was able to get some produce that I can’t get in village! During lunch, I tricked these Ghana men into thinking that we didn’t speak/understand any English, for about 30 minutes.  After telling them “je ne parle pas Anglais”, they tried to write questions for me on a piece of paper in English… Smart guys, eh? So we started speaking through this student (who’s English wasn’t half bad), until finally when asked why I have to stay here for two years, I responded that I am an English teacher… It was a riot.  Later I ran into the husband of the boutique lady by the Dapaong workstation, who know me but I had no idea who he was (like usual here).  We then checked out this new hotel that is 3 stories high! Buildings here aren’t usually more than one story, so 3 is outrageous.  That’s where we ran into this mean gendarme, whom I uh joked around with a bit (hey, he insulted my friends)... and then all of his superiors… No worries, I didn’t get into too much trouble ;)

That night Mama Elise was acting a fool.  She and other mama have been so good lately with the hostility that happens when you live in a polygamist household (mostly jealousy)… But that night she was angry and yelling… to no one! I put on my ipod and tried to ignore it/her, but after an hour and half, I finally got tired of it.  I ran up to her, bear-hugged her until she shut up and started tearing up, and then gave her a talking to (that needed to be translated by one of the kids- because she’s the mama that only speaks Moba).  I was yelling, which is very un-me, and letting her know that by her yelling in this manner, she was not only keeping up everyone in our household, all of our neighbors (and the whole village), and she wasn’t solving anything! I earned some respect and some sleep.

Monday, the 22^nd, my host dad’s new bar (Bar Mondo) had it’s grand opening! Two of my PCV friends came, there was free food, beer and music! And free rain? But that didn’t stop the festivities much, everyone had a great time and papa made some money even with all the free stuff he gave out.  And everyone was super excited to have my [white] friends there, and I got thanked a bunch.  I also got to share a drink at a table with all directors of the schools, the Gendarmes director, and the village chief.  And the Vet was in his glory as he shared chicken and beers with Winter and I later at the other bar.  I was worried about living with a bar in front of my house but it’s been fine thus far. 

Rachel finally got a sonogram of the baby! IT’S A GIRL! And I’m the only one happy haha.  Boys are more valued here in Togo, but Rachel will love the child just the same (Francois, I’m not so sure).  The little one is do within the next month! She might pop out when Alyssa comes to visit, who knows?!

And I had another incident the other night that made me even more thankful that I live with a host family (I do love them, but it does get annoying sometimes to live with two wives, and tons of children).  It was market day, night had already fallen and I was exhausted.  I put on some plain white rice with chopped onions (it’s what I make when I’m hungry but too tired to care) to eat, washed off the day’s dirt and sat down to rest as it cooked.  Well, more tired then usual, I fell asleep.  About 45 minutes to an hour or so later, mama Rachel came to hand me back my radio I loaned her, and found me asleep.  As she turned to head back to her room, she smelled something funky coming from my kitchen and saw the burner on.  She woke me up in a hurry (scared the crap out of me), and I quickly turned off the stove, took the rice out and offered her some.  She loves me AND my humor; and she may have saved all of our lives.  

Happy Belated bday to Bernie and Uncle Ron! And happy birthday in advance to Mare, Teresa, and Alyssa!

It’s only about 3 weeks until Alyssa gets here--- so excited!

Well, that’s all Folks! (-<)