November 3rd, 2010
Well, before I left, when I set up this blog I knew it would be difficult to maintain; what with the lack of internet and all…however proximity and time have been my primary detractors to keeping in touch and keeping up with bloging. Well anyways since it would be impossible to keep in touch via email/facebook/letters perhaps this is the best conduit. Phew, it seems like time has flown by but it also feels as though I have been in Togo for years. Time is funny like that. Stage [training] is nearly finished, only a week and a half left before swear in!! It has been quite the experience thus far but where to begin?
Every day I wake up somewhere around 5am to a veritable cacaphony of roosters crowing, my host sister sweeping the compound, and occasionally [but more often than not] funeral party music that has lasted all night. In the mornings people burn their trash so it is generally quite hazy and smells of burnt plastic. I take my shower which consists of a bucket full of water, a bar of soap and if I have time and patience a little shampoo. I eat bread and instant coffee for breakfast and then I am off to training which lasts pretty much until dark with repose time from noon to two. It is hot and this is not even the “hot” season!
I am enjoying myself though, it is difficult and challenging which is what I had asked for but there are fun times as well. I just recently returned from my post visit where I spent a week visiting the village I will be living and working in for the next two years. My village is Ataloté in the northern central Kara region, 15k from the city of Kanté which is located on the route national. I am a replacement volunteer which has its blessings and its curses. My post visit was relatively confortable because Betsy is still there and has accquired all the furniture and household items [like buckets, a stove, and a french press!!] that I will need. Some trainees arrived to empty houses and slept on the floor with their mosquito nets propped up by chairs eating plain rice all week etc. I was welcomed warmly with a bowl of chili and a comfy lit picot awaiting!! I feel lucky, the people of Ataloté are amazing and I can’t wait to return, but I could wait on the traveling in country which is a nightmare. I like my regional captial,Kara, a lot [there is a pool] and it has all the things Lomé does with far less stress. The volunteers who will be close to me are great but I am being kicked off of the internet now so I will have to continue this at a later date…