Training Week 1

"If you're brave enough to say goodbye, life will reward you with a new hello." ~Paulo Coelho 

We're here! We arrived in Lome late last night and are staying at a hotel for the next few days before we move on to our official PST (pre-service training) sites outside of Lome. I am going to be an English and Gender Education volunteer, which is a brand new program in Togo.I will be teaching English in a middle school and also organizing other programs to help promote gender equality and education. That is the gist of my position so far. Over the next 9 weeks I will be living with a host family in a small town near Lome. I had a meeting with my APCD (Assistant Peace Corps Director) today to briefly go over general information about the program. I found out that as an EGE volunteer I will become TEFL certified, which is an excellent bonus to the overall experience. There are about 14 volunteers in the EGE program and I'm really looking forward to training, and getting to know them all better.

I LOVED meeting and talking with my APCD and current volunteers, who are guiding my "stage" through the training process. Everyone here has been very welcoming and friendly, which has put me at ease. Earlier today we had group lunch at the Peace Corps Country Director's house. It was a lovely day, and the food was delicious. The U.S. Ambassador to Togo showed up as well, and gave a brief statement and show of support for all of us incoming PCTs. This is the Peace Corps' 50th year in Togo, which will make our swearing-in ceremony a little extra special.

So far, so good for my health. I only felt a little nauseous this morning and I'm not very jet lagged. The humidity is not at all as bad as I thought it would be. It's WAY more humid than it is back at home, but we are pretty spoiled with our dry, cool air in the Pacific Northwest. Compared to the humidity in Philadelphia, it's not terrible. The food is good too. I have not tried some of the traditional dishes yet, like fufu or pate, but I'm sure I will get the chance while I'm staying with my host family. I'm looking forward to the next several weeks to train and get adjusted to life in Togo. Our hotel has free wifi, but I'm guessing that my host family will not have internet. I'm loving it here and I'm looking forward to the journey ahead!! Until next time, au revoir mes amis!!

Ciao America!

"Being accused of enthusiasm is something I'll never live down." - Sargent Shriver

And the journey has begun! Before going to Togo, my group of incoming Peace Corps Trainees (PCTs) had our staging event in Philadelphia. Staging takes place in the U.S. before traveling abroad, so fellow PCTs can meet each other and gain a greater understanding about the expectations and goals of the agency. It was a long day, but I had a lot of fun meeting everyone who will now make up my new Togo family. For our last hurrah in the states we went to Chipotle and gorged on giant burritos, finishing the night off with a round of beers at T.G.I. Fridays.

Yesterday we drove from Philadelphia to JFK. On the way we passed through New Jersey, Harlem, and I even saw Flushing Meadows where the U.S. Open takes place! That made me more excited than seeing the Empire State Building from afar. Next comes the waiting. Waiting to board the plane, waiting to reach your destination, waiting to board another plane, etc. I can't wait to get to Togo already! The journey has just begun and I'm already LOVING it! All the waiting is giving us a great chance to get to know each other better, brush up on our French skills, and to sit back and relax before our official training schedule really starts.

last breakfast in America

I'm typing this up while sitting on layover in the Brussels airport. We arrive in Togo tonight, July 12, at 9 pm. Tomorrow our training starts and from then on I will be pretty busy for the next couple of months before I actually get to the official site where I will be spending the next two years. I hope to post regular updates during training, but I have no idea what the internet situation will be like.

So long, farewell...

"Home is where one starts from." -T.S. Eliot

Togo is only one week away! Wow! As my Uncle Michael would say, “Ready?” My response: “Well, I’d better be!” The last few months have seemed like a whirlwind. I graduated from college in May, went on vacation to Turkey, shopped, packed, and said lots of goodbyes. Time has been flying, but now I want to drag out this next week for as long as I can. Next Wednesday I will be driving from Philadelphia to New York City, where our group of Togo Peace Corps trainees will be departing the U.S. for Lome. It’s weird to think about not being in the U.S. for two years, and the things I will miss. While at the same time, it’s exciting to think about all the new people I will meet and the experiences we will share together during our time in Togo. My feelings right now are the definition of mixed emotions. 

This past week a friend from the East Coast came for a visit, and I had the chance to explore the beautiful Puget Sound area through the eyes of a tourist. I experienced all my favorite places again with her, and even did some new things, like going to the top of the Space Needle! This was a nice distraction from all the packing and organizing my mom and I have been consumed with for the last few months. Time to sit back, relax, and just enjoy family, friends, and life's simple pleasures. There will undoubtedly be days when I feel discouraged over the next two years. I will tack these pictures from home up on my wall to remind me how lucky I am and what I have to come back to. Hopefully, I will be able to add entries to this blog when I am in Togo, but I cannot guarantee that it will be often. Once a month might be possible, but expect my updates to be sporadic.