August 2012

30

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!

26

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.

23

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

18

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.

17

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

13

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

5

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

4

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.

1

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.