Wow, so a lot has happened in the last month! A few weeks ago we took a field trip through Togo to see some projects that current volunteers are working on. The first day we went to Amlame where we saw a girls mentoring center. Then we went to Sokode to talk to ADIFF, one of the NGO’s I will be working with to talk to them about some projects that you can do with NGO’s. We stayed the night at Hotel Central in Sokode which was really nice. I got to take my first hot shower since leaving America! I have to say, it was hard to make myself get out. The next day we drove to Kadjaloua to see a village savings and loans project. It’s a group of women who have a lock box where they can keep their savings and give loans out to eachother. We then headed to Tchamba to see a science club that the volunteer there runs. The next day we went to Pessare where two volunteers are working with the students to create a garden so they can sell vegetables. Since this village doesn’t have a lot of vegetables, this group of girls decided to start this garden so they can make money to pay their school fees. We spent the last night in Kara where we got to go swimming, and we went to a restaurant that made pizza! Bit of a fiasco at the restaurant with such a large group of people, but the pizza was well worth the two hour wait. It was really great to be able to see some projects that were actually being worked on, and it made me even more excited to get started with my own work.
After field trip, we only had one week left of training until we swore in. One of the activities of the week was something called “Free University.” Each trainee had to choose something to teach to the rest of the group. It’s an activity created in order to get more practice talking to a group in French. I decided to teach how to be a Texan which was pretty humorous to some of the group.
Later that week was Thanksgiving which all the trainees celebrated together at our training house. The Peace Corps chef came to our training site to cook Thanksgiving dinner for us, and it was fantastic. Apparently he has been cooking this dinner for about twenty years, so he has it down. I have to say it was pretty sad being away from my friends and family for Thanksgiving, but it was really great to be with my friends here who were also going through the same thing. We have kind of become our own little family which is really nice.
So that leads me to last week. We all went down to Lome for a couple of days to SWEAR IN! Yes, people, I am an official volunteer now. The swear in ceremony was at the US Ambassador’s house which was really nice. All trainees had to say a few sentences in their local languages which was pretty cool. Then we took the oath to swear in (same oath as the president!). I admit I got a little teary-eyed when I said it. It was such a great feeling of accomplishment after the long process it has been to get here. So then we had a big party after swear in which was really fun. For those of you who are familiar with my love of dancing, you know I had a great time.
After swear in, we were in Lome for one more day so people could by some things for their houses that can’t be bought in small villages. Then, they dropped us all off at our respective posts and that’s where I am now. I’m trying to settle into my house here so it will feel like my home. I am actually doing way better than I expected. I figured leaving all my trainee friends and starting over again in a new place where I knew very few people would be lonely and hard all over again, but so far I am great!
Oh, I also got a kitten today!! He is a brown and grey tabby cat and he is precious. He is still so tiny he can fit in my hand. I named him Ziggy Stardust. He is asleep on my lap right now, and I think it’s safe to say I’m in love. So that’s all for now. I know it’s Christmas time there now, so I hope everyone is having a lovely holiday season. I am going to try to respond to all your emails soon. As the last month has been super busy, I have kind of fallen behind. I miss you all more than words can express. Your phone calls, letters, and packages are so great. I couldn’t ask for better support from home and for that, I love you all.