Typical Day in Stage (Sept 30)

September 30

So what’s a typical day like for me?

Well I wake up at six every morning and then take a bucket bath. What’s a bucket bath? Well you have a bucket, fill it with water (cold) and take a sort of sponge bath. For a “sponge” the Togolese use long color fabric in a fishnet design. It works as a great scrubber and this is what I use. Then I dress and eat. Breakfast is either eggs with diced tomatoes and onion on top or oatmeal.

Language is typically first thing in the morning and starts at 7:30 and lasts until 9:30. I get an half-hour break followed by another class starting at 10:00. This class is typically technical (i.e. doing my job like learning about teaching life skills etc) or bike. Lunch is from 12:00-2:30 and we always eat at our host house. Then we have the last session which might be more technical training or a TDA. What’s a TDA? It’s a teacher directed activity such as going to the market and buying something. This lasts from 2:30-5:30.

After we’re finished with our formal training those of us who need it get extra one-on-one tutoring. If we don’t have that then most of us go to the local bar, “Albetros” or “Merciful God Bar Dancing”, for a coke or sportactif (a lemony drink with electrolytes which is great when you’re dehydrated). Dinner is typically six or sevenish. Once I finish eating I typically watch TV with my host momma (usually French soap-operas, but I was able to convince her once to watch the show Castle with me). She loves to watch the obituary channel a lot. By eight I’m in my room studying French under my mosquito net (or watching a movie . . . okay usually watching a movie).

I go to sleep at 10:00 or 9:30. Its difficult falling asleep because there is no sound barrier and its so noisy. I always put in ear plugs or it’s impossible. Plus, it’s really hot at first. It takes a while to cool down to where it’s comfortable.

So that’s the basics on a typical day for me!

Talk to you later!