Not too much meaning to this entry. Just a quick bit about things that have been happening recently.
- I did a secret Santa present exchange thing with a few other volunteers and got a machete. I’ll be bringing that out to the champ with me soon!
- It is ridiculously dusty because of harmatan. And I’m only in the Centrale region. I feel bad for those who live up north where it is suppose to be really bad. Even now, in my house, there is a coat of brown dust over everything. How does it get there, because I’ve been keeping the windows and door shut?! It does get cold in the morning though, which is nice. I sometimes where a long sleeve in the mornings just because I can now. My through feels terrible each morning, I think it’s because of all the dust I breathe in each night.
- I found this adorable little kid who is always hanging out by the main route. I think she is about 2 or 3. She has short hair that sticks straight up and makes her look like a mini Don King. Every time I walk by she starts jumping up and down just really happy like and starts making a half yelling/half giggling noise. Unfortunately she has recently picked up on the word anisara, so it has brought down her adorable factor a little. Anisara is the Kabiye word for ‘le blanc’ or ‘white person’. I also believe it might be the first word most kids learn around here, because they all yell it whenever I’m around. So even though it might be considered racist (or at least not politically correct) back in the US to have kids yelling ‘Whitey! Whitey!’ at you, it is just a normal part of life here.
- I went to another volunteer’s village the other day when the people there were having some fete for their chief. There were people dancing, playing music, and drinking tchouk(a local brew). I asked if I could jump on one of the drums. I was a bit surprised by how easily they let me jump in. I could tell at first some people weren’t too sure about me playing, but after they saw I actually knew what I was doing everyone loved it. Everyone continued dancing and celebrating, and I stuck with playing. I eventually gave it back to the professionals, but for the rest of the night I had people continually handing me random percussion instruments to play on. Then, when it was time to leave, the guys with the drums asked for me to come back and fete ensemble on new years too. I had to decline, because I’ll be back in Sotouboua for that, but I without doubt want to head back out there at some point.
- I started doing work related stuff with an interesting plant called morringa. You should look it up.
- I’ve started doing radio shows completely in French. Like me talking completely in French. And what is great is having people tell me they heard me on the radio, and what’s even greater is that they understood me!
- I’ve been reading, reading a lot. I tried to read ‘The Motorcycle Diaries’ but just couldn’t. I guess I am just not a fan of adventure. Maybe I’ll try it again in the future.
- I really like Togolese food now. Having a bowl of foufou and another with sauce d’arrachide, plus some wagashi, that is total bliss for me. But I’d probably still choose a cheeseburger if given the chance.
Oh awesome, I watched the Motorcycle Diaries with Alejandra and Lauren a couple weeks ago. I loved it. How can you say you’re not a fan of adventure when you’re in Africa for two years?! Haha.. I wrote it on your fb but I’ma write it hear too, I got my first pair of climbing shoes finally =) And I think it’s awesome that you’re becoming fluent in French. Makes me want to seriously learn Spanish.
Happy holidays and have an awesome new years!
-MikeM-
PS:I’m going down south again to spend New Years with Frankie’s huge Philippino family again, still can’t believe we drove all that way randomly. It was awesome!