Taking it All in and Letting it Run its Course: 2012

November 2012

Visited a seed bank and bee-keeping site, learned about food transformation. Will cut his foot open in a nasty water balloon war.

Had an awesome talk w/ Sebastian & Matt.

Learned about agroforestry, soil fertility, and mushroom cultivation.

Learned about improved grain storage techniques, various animal husbandry practices, and environmental clubs.

Went to Pagala for training AND got three packages in the mail =] =] Super good to see other volunteers and catch up.

One month till Britt comes!! Climbed ALL the way up my mountain – it’s absolutely gorgeous <3 Ate with the family – we had rice and beans.

Got home from Kara this morning, started boiling water for supper tonight and the gas for my stove ran out… haha soooo I’ll have to make another trip to Kara tomorrow. Until then spoons of peanut butter will have to hold me over =] Talked to Lindsey!!!

Another Thanksgiving in Kara, haha, pretty sure I’ve eaten more Thanksgiving food this year in Togo than any other year of my life =]

The meals just keep getting better – Thanksgiving with Richard, Alicia & Will – we bought a 20 lb. turkey for 4 of us… needless to say, I was full when I left.

In Kara – went to visit a friend & used their wireless, skyped with the family for the first time since I’ve been in Togo & cried haha =] Miss you so much. My friend Matt, and his wife Grace invited me to their Thanksgiving dinner – had sweet potato casserole, fried chicken and green bean casserole – definitely the best meal I’ve had since I’ve been here, hands down.

Had fufu with the family – and peanut sauce. Fufu is definitley one of my favorite Togolese meals, but the peanut sauce…

BRITTANY IS GOING TO VISIT ME FOR CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!! I am so stinkin excited ! =] Made paper snowflakes and hung them from my ceiling. Also talked to whole family in Clarion and Mandy – Mandy, you should lose your phone more often… I like talking to you =] Also tonight, went to scripture reading/workship/prayer time at the church where the YWAM kids worked… super awesome huge answer to prayer.

One of the biggest things I’ve been learning since I’ve come here is what it means to have faith – to pray for something, not only with confidence that God is capable of doing what I ask for, but that He WILL do it. And then to hope for it until it does happen – to eagerly expect it. Some people might think that that would just be asking to be disappointed a lot, but I think that it means living a full life, seizing every opportunity that God sends my way. Definitely not easy, but so incredibly worth it.

This past week I just finished a book and it talked about when David was bringing the Ark back to Israel in 2 Samuel 6, and Michal was watching her husband rejoicing :

16 As the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, and she despised him in her heart…. 20 And David returned to bless his household. But Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, “How the king of Israel honored himself today, uncovering himself today before the eyes of his servants' female servants, as one of the vulgar fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!” 21 And David said to Michal, “It was before the LORD, who chose me above your father and above all his house, to appoint me as prince over Israel, the people of the LORD—and I will celebrate before the LORD. 22 I will make myself yet more contemptible than this, and I will be abased in your eyes.

Basically I am so joyful to be God’s daughter – what a joy and a privilidge. I am so proud of my Father, who He is, what He has done for us. So I am going to believe in Him for the very best, and I am going to dance with joy and freedom.

There are some missionaries here until Saturday from YWAM, so hung out with them this afternoon – they are AWEMSOME and I’m so blessed that they came!!!! =]

Had first club with the kids at CEG today! Went well! They made a mission statement for the club; I’m excited for what’s ahead. Made pizza for supper, yum, and talked to Maggie on the phone.

Got everything finalized for the environmntal club! We’re goning to have our first meeting this week!

Austin made cinnamon rolls for me and Richard… pretty sure this is going to turn into a weekly meeting. Second kid’s club – we played red rover, it was a hit =] even got some adults to join in.

October 2012

Went to Kara for a Halloween party and to stock up on some good food.

Had a meeting with the women’s grouppement and had club with the village kids today! The kids are adorable and so much fun! We talked about what they did with Maggie, what they liked, and what they want to do in the future. Then we played games! Meeting with the women went well – they are all busy right now with harvest, so we are going to wait until January to start having regular meetings. They are an awesome group and a lot of fun to be with.

Worked in the field today for the bean harvest. Seriously I think this may be one of the hardest workouts I have ever had. Sorry Alan. I thought I was going to die. There were 60+ women singing and picking beans, talking and laughing – In my head I kept thinking a pattern of phrases - “shut up”, “it is too hot to be doing this”, “my back is going to break in 5, 4, 3, 2…” meanwhile they are making circles around me – it would be an understantement to say that they harvested double of what I did. After 6 hours I took a break until they all finished an hour later. Then! after they were all done, they took the bags of beans, hefted them up on their heads, and carried them the mile walk back to the village. I couldn’t even lift a bag with my arms – I am honestly incapable of carrying one, even not after working for 7 hours harvesting beans. I did manage, however, to carry my water bottle, my legs shaking the whole way back from all my strenuous labor. They kept telling me that I had worked so hard and that I did such a good job =] Hopefully after 2 years I’ll be able to keep up a little better.

Second day of packages – thank you Aunt Anne!! Never have I been so excited about deodarant haha Love you guys & miss you tons!

Had another meeting at the school today. Talked to a group of interested students about the environmental club – I think our first official meeting will hopefully be 2 weeks.

Visited Richard today! His petit village of 6,000? people feels like a booming city to me haha… it was so exciting to see stores & a LIBRARY!! the library has kids books in French, so maybe I’ll go there to build up some vocabulary =]

Made a sack garden with some peppers and other veggies – I hope they grow!!

The surveys are done!!!! So exciting. Also went to a meeting for the community development committee – they had elections & my counterpart got elected vice president, so that was exciting.

Went to Kara, used the free internet and GOT MAIL!!!! Thanks Aunt Kaci and Joyce for the packages… made my day =] Also, today a guy told me that my French was really good for only having studied it for 2 months, which is a total lie, but he couldn’t have told me anything better. I felt like a 5 year old when someone tells you that you’re so grown up… “I would have guessed you were 7!”… you can just imagine the proud grin that spread across my face.

Maggie, I made white bread, used a ranch packet (with mayonnaise and vinegar =] ), some canned tuna and cucumber and made a sandwich!!! Thought you’d be proud. Thanks again for the groceries you left behind J

Had another meeting at the school to decide who is going to be in the environmental club.

Maggie left – everyone is so sad! Me included.

Going-away fete for Maggie – I can’t believe she leaves in a couple days! We went to church, then the community came down the mountain and we ate and danced and sang. We had uniforms made, so there was a group of us wearing Togolese outfits made out of a blue, yellow and red spider web print.

Had a cluster going-away party for Maggie – Austin made enchiladas, sweet potato pie, banana bread – so good =]

Had my first meeting at the school – went well! We are going to work on starting up an environmental club.

Had a community meeting – we mapped out the community in separate groups of men, women, and students. They identified resources and needs within the community and shared them with each other. Also continued working on my surveys.

Host sister, Vivianne, came today from Atakpamé today.

Went shopping – best buys of the day – processed cheese and a trash can. Also got proposed to, got stuck with a crazy person for a half an hour, had him follow me into the post office and then watched him get chased out by an angry postman who had a bat (made me a little unsure who was crazier), mailed Mandy’s bday card, watched a moth fly into a flame and burn up, and ate a salad for supper.

Spent all day decorating – looks a lot homier now =]

September 2012

Today we had a meeting with the water committee so that they can decide who is responsible for maintaining the pumps. Tonight we made binyays and koliko with Mama – basically donut holes and French fries, respectively =]

Busy day! Maggie had a project where she built two wells in the community, so today the team came to install the pumps. It was really exciting to see the project get wrapped up. I also whitewashed my walls in the house, so now I can start hanging up pictures.

Went to the marché today and also printed out my ballot so that I can vote in the election! Also talked to Dad a little J

Started doing surveys of people in my village today – it helps give me project ideas, but most of all, it’s good just to get to know people in my community. I ask them questions about various agricultural practices, health, and education in the community. My counterpart, Simplice, comes with me so that he can translate from French to Kabiye and vice versa.

Thank you for all the phone calls, texts, cards, and Facebook birthday wishes! I am so unbelievably lucky to have such good friends and an amazing family. Thanks for the last 23 years – I wouldn’t be who I am today without all of you. Love you!!!

Today I washed some dishes, started reading Mockingjay, had pancakes for lunch, and spaghetti w/ cheese sauce, yellow cake w/ chocolate frosting & wine, all made by Maggie (not the wine haha) and we watched He’s Just Not That Into You. Such a good day =]

Today was Austin, my neighbor’s, birthday – we had spice cake. It rained the most it’s rained since I’ve been here.

Went to Kara today and got sick =/ But we picked up some essential food items and used the internet.

We went to the Cyber – pronounced “Sea Bear” in French haha (took me a little while to understand that one =] ) – it’s only 2k away, so hopefully I’ll get to use the internet somewhat regularly!

I got to my post late on September 14, so I’ve almost made it through two full days! Yesterday was marche day, so Maggie and I spent the morning doing laundry and relaxing, then we went to town and did some shopping. Mama sells beer at the marche, so we spent some time with her in her stand. Today we made a list of things I need to do before IST (my next training, which will be in November), listened to BBC, had oatmeal and coffee for breakfast, did more laundry (I have a lot…), and I listened to a sermon from home. Later today I am meeting with my counterpart, Simplice, to go over what we will be doing in the next couple weeks.

I still miss home a lot – it’s so weird to listen to Maggie talk about going home in a month, knowing that I have to wait two years before I’ll be talking about the same things. I’m planning on going home in May, and I am so excited, but I think it will be really hard to come back here. We will see.

I leave tomorrow guys! I finished up packing, and the van should come in about an hour to get all my stuff, then tomorrow morning I am headed off to my post. I am mostly excited, but it’s also going to be hard to leave everyone and get used to a new environment again.

SWEAR-IN DAY!!!!!! I officially become a volunteer today!!!

Talked to Lindsey Rose last night <3

I had my second technical presentation today! It went ok… I tried to teach eveyone big booty, but it is hard to explain in French and they had a hard time keeping the beat… haha, so we played a quick practice round and called it good. My presentation was on composting, and I was the last person out of 7 other 20 minute presentations to go… so I think the were all tuned out, but it was still good.

August 2012

The name here for a white person is “Yovo”. I have heard that it is a compliment – yovo means literally means “something good”. I think that Yovo must be the first words children speak here – I swear they come out of the womb chanting “yovo”. There is actually a yovo song- On my way to class, child pops out from behind a tree singing: “Yovo, yovo, ca va?, tres bien, merci”. On my way to lunch, child sprints out of his house and bursts into song: “Yovo, yovo, ca va?, tres bien, merci”. I am living a musical here in Togo. So, even though according to them I only know three phrases in French, at least I’m something good!

As many of you know, I am not a graceful person. I have been known to trip over anything in my path, whether it be a pebble or my own feet. Unfortunately, coming to a new country where everything from the language I speak to the name I’m called has changed, my clumsy habits have remained in tact. Much to my joy and pleasure, there exists a term in Togolese culture in order to keep people like me in line: doucement. Literally the word means, “sweetly”, which sounds nice right? Like a gentle reminder to walk sweetly instead of fumble the stack of plates in your hand and manage to trip down the stairs all at once.

When I first heard this term, I was carrying my dishes from the kitchen to my room, which were full of food that my host mom had cooked for me. “Doucement!”, she warned. At the time I thought she was saying “Deux mains!” or “two hands”, but when people started applying the phrase to every single activity I did, I realized that it must involve more than just my hands.

Going to the well and getting water with Mama, only to have it splash out with each step as we carried it on our heads back to the house – “Doucement Mary!!” At my site visit, slipping down the muddy mountain- “Doucement!” Hitting my head on a beam of wood at the marché- “Doucement!” Knocking over a burning candle- “Doucement!” Chopping vegetables and aiming for my finger- “Doucement!”

Before I came to Togo, I had been under an extremely false and tainted view that my clumsiness was somewhat charming. I had myself convinced that it was an innate part of who I am, but instead of being frustrated with each movement I made, I had come to accept, and even embrace the life of a clutz. However, I am now considering possibilities of learning to become graceful. I find myself whispering “doucement” on the way to French class as I dodge giant mud puddles. When I’m brushing my teeth and I feel some spit/toothpaste trying to leap onto my clean shirt, I think “dulcement!”, and quickly stop it before it has a chance.

So now when I step gracefully off of the plane in two years, elegantly twirling and leaping, you’ll know who I am.

Jordan & Linds got engaged last night!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - today is shan’s bday!! - called & left a message - i really like my post! - week has been really great so far - met the chief of both my village and my canton - visited the hospital and disponsary - worked in the fields -visited the school, church, tree nursery and wells that Maggie built - village is on a mountain - absolutely gorgeous - stayed with another volunteer last night who’s only 7k away from me - it was good to have a break from Kabiye/French - miss friends and family a lot - and chocolate

got to my post tonight! - pulled up to my house late at night and half the village was there singing and dancing - the volunteer I’m replacing, Maggie, was there too, so she talked me through everything J - they helped unload my luggage, then we paused for a little bit and they killed a chicken for me to welcome me and bless my coming, then we proceeded to the family compound where I’ll be living - they dropped my baggage off in front of my door, then we danced and sang for another 15-20 minutes until Maggie excused us haha - definitley an experience I’m never going to forget - Maggie & i talked for a long time - she made me barbeque soja pizza!!! - i got to hear all about our village/the family I’m staying with/etc.

I have amoebas! I start my medicine tonight - amoebas suck. don’t ever drink amoeba-infected water.

had our second language test today - they will rearrange our language classes after they have evaluated all of our tests - Friday our counterparts (the person we will be working with over the next two years on our projects) are coming to Tsevie for training, and we will meet them for the first time - my main counterpart is very busy and has already been trained before, so my host-mom at my site, who is also another potential counterpart, is going to come down for the training. I am excited to meet her! - Saturday I will go to my site and spend a week there

studied and slept in until 7:00 - good day - had church with Sebastian and Matt – we listen to a podcast together every Sunday - someone that my host mom knows passed away, so we visited the family. Funerals here are really different from back home. They are more of a celebration here. There is a huge ceremony

Went to Tsevie for a little bit today - talked to Dad on the phone to wish him happy birthday - my good friends shan and alex got married today back in Iowa - all the EAFS trainees made dinner together at the tech house

with a lot of drinking and singing and eating.

today i found out my post - will be in northern Togo - it is a replacement post, so the village has already had one volunteer there for two years - there is a wide range of possible projects that I will be able to work on: building wells/water sanitation, environmental, girls & English clubs, health education, nutrition, tree nurseries, etc. - i am really looking forward to getting to know the people in my village - the third week of August I will have a site visit, so that will be a good chance to get a feel for what it will be like - got my pagne back today!!! I had a dress made. It has pockets.

July 2012

Training is still going well - feel like my French is getting better, so that is good! host mom gets so excited when I say something new in French haha. - breakfasts are my favorite meal here – my mom makes me fried eggs w/ tomato and onion, french bread, and fresh pinapple - i really like bucket showers. especially at night b/c the water is cold, so I get back from training & I’m so dirty and hot, then I can clean up and cool down - every morning I wake up to a chorus of chickens, goats, people, and who knows what else. I think everything that lives gets up at 5:00, so it isn’t too easy to sleep in - so far in training we have learned about: basic gardening techniques, composting, natural pesticides, trees in Togo, environmental education, and income generating activities. All of it is pretty general, then we will have more specific training in November.

went to a resturant in Tsevie to have dinner for someone’s birthday - it was good, but the service was suuper slow.

met my whole family - overwhelming - local language is Ewe, so I was meeting all these people and they were telling me things in Ewe, then my mom would say the response in Ewe and I had to repeat her. Haha… i don’t remember any of it. I’m just doing good to pick up on French - met at least 30 people today – my mom’s uncles & aunts, mother & father, brothers & sisters, children & then all of their children - mom is an oil maker! she makes oil from palm.

witnessed a chicken being killed for the first time - gross. wouldn’t be disappointed if I never saw it happen again.

went to the market in Tsevie - got my first pagne, which is the fabric they use to make clothing

17-19

training all day long Monday through Friday, and then half the day on Saturday; long days, but good - most goes toward learning French, then some time for technical training (learning about agricultrue in Togo).

13 EAFS volunteers in Gbatope - host families were there waiting for us when we got there - dancing and singing and playing instruments, giving us hugs – haha it was amazing, but really surreal J - mom’s name is Catherine, and she is amazing. she has 5 kids – at least 2 of them are grown and have families of their own. her youngest is around 10 years old… i think. i don’t speak the best French, and her family is so big that it is hard to keep up with everything

12-15

landed in Lomé late on the 12^th – Peace Corps staff was there to greet us - short Q&A time at the airport, then we were all taken to the hotel where homemade pizza and malaria medicine were waiting for us - lots of time we to hang out - sessions on health, safety and security, how to take a bucket shower, etc.

9-11

38 Peace Corps trainees met at a hotel in Philedephia - sessions about what we expect our service to be like, what measures we should take to stay safe, etc. - three programs among the 38 volunteers: Eglish and Gender Education, Environmental Action and Food Securty, and Community Health and AIDS Prevention - final fill of American food and hot showers, then boarded our plane for Togo

One Month "To Go" :)

On July 10 I leave for Togo, Africa! When I tell this to most people, they immediately ask where it is, so I included a map :) It is a sliver of a country in northwest Africa, bordered by Ghana and Benin.
I will be an Environmental and Food Safety Extension Agent, with most of my duties relating to the education of sustainable agricultural practices and animal husbandry. I can't believe I am leaving so soon - I am so excited! In the meantime I am getting in all the hamburgers, hot showers, and time with family and friends I can manage before I am gone for 27 months.
I will train in a larger city for the first two months, then I will find out where my official placement will be for the next two years. Chances are that I will not have running water or electricity. People in Togo speak French as their business language, but there are close to 60 different indigenous languages, so when I come home I will be able to speak two new languages.
Since I won't have electricity, I do not know how often I will be able to post, but I will do my best to keep you all updated! Thanks for all of your prayers, support, love, letters, and packages ;)

~Maria