First week at post
So I survived my first week at post. I must say that I am living in one of the prettiest areas of Togo. On Tuesday I biked 14KM out to a volunteers village and the views on the way were beautiful. There are mountains an both sides of the plateau that I live on. All the farms now are ready for harvest but once they get cut down I will be able to see for miles. The view made the fact that I was totally exausted and that my chain fell off for less annoying. It is interesting going 20 minutes and not passing a single person. It made me feel like I was really in Africa. I live in a cluster of 4 volunteers one of which is my good friend Alex, as well as Todd, a Small Business Management volunteer and Juliette, a Natural Resource Management volunteer. They are all really cool. Juliette is my closest neighbor, only about a 10 minute bike ride away.
My host family is really cool. I live within a compound with an older woman and her two sons who are in thier thirties. ALso in the compound is the woman's niece and 4 students that rent out rooms. There are always a lot of people over and they are all very excited for me to be there. They really want me to learn Naudoum.
There is a woman living in my town that is from France but lives in my town for 5 months every year and studies the local language. I was told she is almost fluent. I guess she is working with a local person to translate the Bible into Naudoum. I am going to try to work with her, see if she can tutor me in French and Naudoum.
My counterpart is cool. He had Polio as a child so he uses a wheel chain. He is really motivated to get started. The Red Cross group I will be working with is also very motivited.
The agency that my counterpart works for is one of the most forward thinking agencies I have seen in Togo. The agency makes batik fabric and designs to sell. They only employ people with a disability and they are given medical insurance, a pension and a salery. Jobs like that don't really exist for people in Togo unless they have gone to university. It is not very common because of the cost. I am so happy I am goingto be working so close to this agency and I am sure by the end of my two years I will have spent a fortune there. I will get pictures up soon so keep checking my photo page. Love and miss everyone at home!!! If you are planning on sending things for christmas send them now, it takes a while.
My host family is really cool. I live within a compound with an older woman and her two sons who are in thier thirties. ALso in the compound is the woman's niece and 4 students that rent out rooms. There are always a lot of people over and they are all very excited for me to be there. They really want me to learn Naudoum.
There is a woman living in my town that is from France but lives in my town for 5 months every year and studies the local language. I was told she is almost fluent. I guess she is working with a local person to translate the Bible into Naudoum. I am going to try to work with her, see if she can tutor me in French and Naudoum.
My counterpart is cool. He had Polio as a child so he uses a wheel chain. He is really motivated to get started. The Red Cross group I will be working with is also very motivited.
The agency that my counterpart works for is one of the most forward thinking agencies I have seen in Togo. The agency makes batik fabric and designs to sell. They only employ people with a disability and they are given medical insurance, a pension and a salery. Jobs like that don't really exist for people in Togo unless they have gone to university. It is not very common because of the cost. I am so happy I am goingto be working so close to this agency and I am sure by the end of my two years I will have spent a fortune there. I will get pictures up soon so keep checking my photo page. Love and miss everyone at home!!! If you are planning on sending things for christmas send them now, it takes a while.
posted by Alia at 7:53 AM
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