Dadavi Adjovi!

So it has been a while since I have had the opportunity to write online. I heard that my family was worried about me because I have not really contacted anyone in a few weeks, but I let mom know that I was fine it is just that there are no close by computers so I can only do so when I visit a bigger town or Lome. Also I live on a modest budget and phone calls across the world get a bit pricey. No worries though, things are going just fine and I am getting more and more used to my post and getting to know the people who are very kind.

I started writing a list of projects I want to do to help my village and started speaking with the community. There was already a womens group started by the previous volunteer and I want to continue that along with some other things.

Right now I am teaching middle high school students during the week about HIV/AIDS, decision making, gender roles, healthy relationships, etc. It is by far the hardest thing I have ever done thus far. Working with adolesence is hard enough, but in a different culture than your own and in a different language is a giant obstacle. To avoid too much stress I make sure my lesson plans are very detailed in both english and french in case I get stuck with the language. The hardest thing about school is when you ask questions to the class and they look at you and the classroom is silent. You really have to push them to contribute ideas to keep the lesson moving.

The hours I am not working I walk around the village and talk to the people or just observe the lives of the Togolese and even if they may speak the local language, which I am getting a bit better at, I can sometimes decipher the general conversation based on facial expressions or the limited vocabulary I now posess. Observation is pretty powerful and it has helped me get by these past few months.

My hope is that I will help at least some in my short time here in Togo and I decided that even if that help was only for a small group or perhaps even one person I will consider my work successful.

Today I got my picture taken at the local Kodak store and thought I would share with you the Jess after 6 months of Togo look with Alphonse...do NOT laugh! :)