It's Togo Time: July 2013

05 July 2013

Yendou, TuoGoutah (Dieu, On attends la pluie)

And then the rains finally came…

Life is back to [well, village life] normal. It feels like I never left the country, to be honest. It feels like ages ago that Alyssa was here with me, and yet only just a month in actuality.

While I was gone in South Africa, two things happened: one of the dogs was put down (no worries, not Rocko); and Rachel had her baby (finally)! The new little girl’s name is Larba Jeanne (aka petite Larba), and she was born at 23:18 on the 29^th of May 2013.

Books:

“Stubborn Twig” by Lauren Kessler. Sent to me via snail mail by Bev. It is a great chronicle of the struggle of Japanese immigrants and people of Japanese decent before, during, and after WWII, when they were forced into internment camps on the West Coast. I honestly had no idea the intense amount of racism that people faced, especially Japanese-Americans who were born in the USA and couldn’t even speak Japanese!

“The Brief Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao” by Junot Diaz. This book was more contemporary than I’m used to reading, but I thought it was a pretty touching piece. The language was a bit rough and he used a lot of Spanish words (I have no way of translating in village)… It felt like I could hear the author speaking aloud as I read. Someone actually gave to me another novel by this author, “This is how you lose her,” which I just started and also like thus far.

“Little Bee” by Chris Cleave. I was in tears by page 43, enough said.

The happenings:

I’ve been running more! I even ran once with my school director, Mr Ayeva. I haven’t run with him since because during the vacation he spends most of his time in Dapaong, and I’m virtually always in village. Rocko has been my loyal running buddy every single time I quit the house at 5am. One day he proved his worth when there was this man on a bicycle that slowed down next to me, as I ran, to bother me. Rocko barked harder than normal and nipped at his feet and the man pedaled much faster away from me than he had approached.

I cut my own hair =) After seeing pictures of myself in South Africa, I decided that I had too much shag in the back. So, I set up a little parlor for myself outside and cut until it felt even through my fingertips. I can’t see it ever so didn’t care really, but everyone says it looks really good.

The week I got back, I was handed my stack of exams to grade. It took me one afternoon, with the help of my little brother Mamba, and then the next day I had the report cards filled out by lunchtime. The following Saturday, I came back from Dapaong for an early morning 3^rd quarter “consul” meeting. After the meeting, all the teachers came to my host dad’s bar for a drink and I made a ton of popcorn (so they were all thrilled). After that I was free for the summer break, kinda.

There’s this rooster (as in male chicken) in my compound that is the “mother” of a flock of baby “pentades” (guinea fowl). It’s adorable! They put the eggs under him one night and he’s been caretaker since. The pentades are getting big now and still following the “cock” around like mama bird. I’m surprised they haven’t learned how to “crow” like mama rooster yet.

I’ve gotten to know “chateau” water man more and I’ve come to appreciate his friendship. That one angry run-in wasn’t the best of impressions, but we are both over it. He comes by when he gets a chance to grab a drink and we usually argue about who gets to pay, like Americans… I’ve found out that he likes to draw portraits and play guiter; but he’s ALWAYS working so doesn’t get much time to do either. Before PCV Sam left back to the States (she finished her 2 years here), she left me some drawing charcoal, and so I gifted that to him. Hopefully he can get some use of them.

I have a new “friend” Emanuel in my life… That makes 2Eman’s, lucky me =) He’s super sweet and I found out that his mom is the owner of all the PCV’s favorite place to eat in Dapaong! He’s come to visit me a few times now in village too (the host fam loves him) and toughs it out quite well. I met him at Sam and Maggie’s going away party a few weeks ago. I also met this wonderful woman named Sandra (who’s Togolese but lives in France), and her French friend Angelique (who loves to dance- more than me).

I’ve been busy off and on with random organizing and paperwork of various events that I’ve sent/am sending people to. I had a follow-up questionnaire from the Women’s Conference for Rachel to fill out. I had a meeting with all the “apprentices” that went to Camp Unite (and they are doing sensibilizations now!). And I’m in the midst of not only being a counselor at 2 camps, but sending 7 more students to various Peace Corps Togo sponsored camps (I have to give reminders, find transport to dapaong and meet with each upon returning).

I am the proud “Big Sister” of a new Peace Corps Trainee!Her name is Alison, she’s from FL, and she’s a “CHAP” (health) Volunteer. The new trainees arrived in Togo in early June and are getting ready to do their “post visits” soon! Sadly I will be at Camp Unite Girls the entire week that the new guys are visiting their posts but I’m hoping to make it to the joint Kara-Savannes Post Visit Party July 27^th. My Little Sis is posted pretty far South (and as you all know, I’m one of the furthest North PCVs), so we are no where near each other, but I hope to still be great support for her. So far, I sent her a welcome card and book to read if she gets bored in “stage”.

There have been two functions recently… I thought both were going to be small meetings but they both turned into huge events. The first was a visit from the Minister of Agriculture. He came as a “cutting of the ribbon” ceremony for the new water tower that’s almost done. There were SO many people present, many of whom came from as far as Lomé! There was even a hired DJ and teams of traditional Moba dancers. The other event was political… I had no idea until I showed up and was slightly uncomfortable when I found out, but I toughed it out. The minister of something showed up from Lomé and there were a dozen candidates running for various offices giving presentations. Whenever there are “étrangers” around I’m always so much more popular than usual (it’s usually when I feel most like I belong here).

Women’s Group:

We had a meeting my 2^nd week back and it was quite long but productive. At one point there was some miscommunication between my work partner and me but it was ironed out by the end. 2 new women were able to receive the 10,000 Franc sum, using the money that the other 10 women having been giving each market day. It’s been rough for all the ladies lately because of all the rain- rain means every one is in the fields, and the market days are more “dead” than usual. But they are hard working ladies! I had to fill out new paperwork for the original 8 (the sheets only hold 4 months on them), and did calculations to figure out how much more each owes. Emmanuel was impressed with my record-keeping skills. Oh, and the other day he came by so that we could fill out the 4 month report to give to our two “sponsors”. We wrote the one if French together and then I translated that into English (because 1 of the 2 is American and doesn’t speak French). We plan on continuing the liquid soap and doing other health/ income-generating activities this summer (when I’m actually in village- I will be traveling quite a bit).

New Project!

I was invited to do a sensibilization on liquid soap at the Spanish Missionaries place. They had a group of about 18 people and were all super cool and interested in what was going on. I’ve been invited back to do other AGR/health projects. The missionaries live not too far (about 5km maybe) and they do great work for the community. They have many acres of land, 2 water towers, and electricity… And they teach local people improved farming techniques! Their land is absolutely beautiful and well kept. And I love the one missionary with white hair, not just because he gave me free homemade jam, but also because he’s super sweet (he reminds me of my Uncle Bob in NY).

Random Thoughts: Life au Village:

Flip-flops are the ultimate bug-killing weapons(I had a fly killing competition one day with the kids).

For some reason kids like my sweaty gross baseball cap (emphasis on the sweaty).

I used to run to make up for social insecurities/pressures, and now when I run I’m more social?

The main road in Tami looks a war zone because of the water lines being run.

3-week-old chickens look like baby dinosaurs.

Heating water in a kettle and adding it to your bucket-bath-water makes you feel like a princess… Or at least more clean.

There’s a running “joke” of how long I will stay here… The range is 3 to 10 years. When my two years is up and I head back to the States, there are going to be some pretty disappointed Togolese people…