Extension Vacillation
All I have been thinking about lately is extending my service for another year. I literally change my mind every hour. Weighing the options, the benefits, the pros the cons. All this weighing is weighing on me. Hmm.
Well, there are palpable benefits. This school project coupled with the new USAID funding that we are set to receive next month. The question is: is this the thread I want to follow? Is this something I want to jump into head first? On the other hand: what is there to lose? Experience is transferable for sure. This definitely cannot hurt me and it might be nice to have a little something concrete to fall back on other than being a waitress.
Lots to think about. Everything, except for that creeping doubt in my gut, mixing with the amoebas no doubt, is pointing me in this way. This opportunity has presented itself. Take it. Stop worrying whether or not you are qualified blah blah blah blah blah. Excuses. Excuses. Just do it. There is nothing to lose, everything to gain. I never really expected this. Togo has a beautiful way of surprising you like that every now and then.
Just came back from a long two days trying to punch out this proposal. Exhausting work but I have never felt so accomplished here as of yet. Loads of great potential. Changed plans on the fly, naturally. Going to commit to this project and go down to Lome next week, get it all on the table. Came home late this evening. My family and Dieu Donne both greeted me with open arms and a bit of surprise. I came back two days earlier than planned. Leaving again in another two however; just long enough to hand off a potential proposal form for my woman’s group for food transformation, finish the budget for a rabbit raising project for a group of local handicapped community members and spend a full day with my English club and student gardening apprentices. Whew.
Imagine my relief when my family came to the door and asked if I was hungry; of course I was. Never before has the small clap at my door with a dish of steaming pâte been more welcome. Something I have yearned for and asked about multiple times since arriving. We are finally coming to a middle ground. Lovely how things work out.
Nice day in Kanté. Lazy morning, grant writing in a hot dusty room. Yummy fufu before another meeting with invested community organization. Fanmilk (frozen milk powder and sugar…delicious and perfect during hot season) and instant coffee with a shot of Kahlua. Leisurely moto ride with my favorite zed-man who is finally back to work after a brief break due to a new baby. Yeah.
If I do decide to do a third year, this project is the perfect introduction to the inter-workings of Kanté. In the last two weeks we have met and solicited community contributions from: The Prefet, prefet’s advisor, the mayor, B?rnefonden, all local neighborhood chiefs, the affaires sociales (equivalent to local social worker), and planning on hitting up the inspector of education for the entire prefecture as well. Not to mention going to all the schools to inform them. I will be well known to every facet of the community just from this one project. Perfect set-up.
Tonight is nice. Chillin’ by the candlelight, listening to some Citizen Cope and drinking a bit of fine box wine in the African bush. This isn’t such a bad gig. I can dig it.