Getting to Lome

Flying over Africa from Brussels was quite an experience. I kept thinking “This is my home for the next two years.” I got even more excited when I knew we were flying over Togo. It made me think that this was absolutely the right choice.

It’s been an extremely long journey; from flight to uncomfortable flight and then the confusion of the Togo airport. The airport is small and I was a bit confused as to what I was supposed to do to get through customs. The Peace Corps drove us to one of the two hotels we are staying in for a nice meal. They had the Togo version of pizza, meatballs, and French fries. By the time we finished eating we all were exhausted. I slept well under my mosquito net.

The hotel I’m staying in is quite nice. I am extremely fortunate that I have wireless in the hotel. I plan on using it while I can because at the training site there will only be internet cafes.  

 So, what about the capitol itself? It’s difficult to describe Lome unless you’ve seen a third world country. The capital is fairly small with dirt roads. There are people selling goods on the side of every road and people on scoters pay little mind to pedestrians. So far I love Togo. There are so many things to see and everything is so different. It is a bit overwhelming to try and describe. Also, I haven’t been able to see much of Lome.

Mostly what we’ve done is go back a forth from our hotels to the Peace Corps office, learn about health and safety, met with the director, had our French placement test, and got our bikes.

So far I love my time in Togo. I’ll post more soon.

So Long, Farewell

It’s hard to imagine that I am leaving for Togo in a day and some hours. The Peace Corps has been such a long journey and my service hasn’t even started yet! There was the application, interview, nomination, legal clearance, medical clearance, dental clearance, re-interview, and then the invitation in the mail to Togo. Getting the invitation was not the end of the story. It was simply the next step. I had to re-submit my resume to Togo, get my official passport, settle all my finances, buy what I need for the next two years, and figure out how to fit everything in two bags. Whew!

Now I get to start the next phase of this process, which is life as a trainee. For the next three months I am not an official Peace Corps Volunteer. I will be a trainee. I won’t officially become a full fledged volunteer until I swear in. During this stage volunteers live with a host family and attack lectures on language, health, safety, and technical training.  

Wednesday 14 September, I am flying to Philadelphia for orientation with my fellow volunteers. Orientation will last most of the day. The next day, Thursday, we all load up in a bus for New York. The first stop in New York will be the clinic. Shots! Shots! Shots! After being poked and prodded we head over to the airport to fly to Brussels. A hop skip and a jump later we’ll be in Belgium for a couple of hours before getting on the last flight to Togo. I am arriving in Lome, the Capital, Friday the 16^th.      

I am very grateful to have been able to see all my extended family up in Boston before leaving. It was a short visit, but Dad and I were able to pack a lot in those couple of days and to see a lot of people. Everyone was so wonderful and supportive of my decision to join the Peace Corps. The last couple of days Dad and I spent in one of my favorite places, Chincoteague Island in Virginia. I love it there. Chincoteague is just a quaint little town with beautiful beaches and landscape, and of course the wild ponies. It was nice to just spend some good Father Daughter time together and take a break from the stress of packing and getting ready. I’ve also been able to see my friends. I wish I had had more time, but it was hard with the never ending to-do-list. Still, I cherish the time I did get to say good-bye.  

All in all, I feel ready to leave though I’m a little afraid. I think that’s normal. After all this is a big step. Pray that I am able to make it in Togo and thrive there. I am hopeful that what I’m going to do will make a difference in the lives of the Togolese. Looking at myself now I can only imagine the person I am going to grow to be. Togo, I’m ready.

How to Pack for 825 Days of PC Service (aka My Packing List)

Prior to thinking about what I needed to bring to Togo I did a lot of research into what other volunteers brought with them. I benefited greatly from looking at their packing lists and wanted to pass along what I learned. Its a difficult balance trying to pack for the Peace Corps. My instinct said to bring everything . . . and believe me I tried. I'm not sure if I'll even need most of this stuff. You have to plan for all possibilities. The restrictions on weight and size of my bags forced me to make some tough decisions. If anyone in country reading this has any suggestions please leave a comment. I hope this list will be helpful to others. When I've been in country for a while I will try and update this list and let you know what was great and what could have been left behind. Oh, by the way there is a great website that lists all the companies that provide Peace Corps volunteers discounts: http://peacecorpswiki.org/Volunteer_discounts

Packing List

 Eagle Creek Hybrid Hauler Medium (PC Discount) (2.6 lbs)

            http://www.eaglecreek.com/bags_luggage/duffels/Hybrid-Hauler-Medium-20294/

I know this bag is expensive, however, its one fantastic bag. If you want a sturdy bag that’s well built and can take a beating this bag is great. It’s also extremely versatile.  What attracted me to this bag was the thick straps to make it into a back pack. Also as a note there is a huge logo in the bottom of the bag. Below is a link to show you what the logo looks like.

http://www.rei.com/product/810507/eagle-creek-hybrid-hauler-travel-pack-medium

LL Bean  Rolling Adventure Duffel Extra Large (9.2 lbs)

             http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/63917?feat=63916-ppxs&dds=y

This bag by itself with nothing in it weighs 9.2 lbs, which is a big deal when you only have PC requirements 40lbs (50 lbs total per bag according to most airlines). Despite this I think this bag was an excellent choice when combined with the Eagle Creek. As an additional note this bag if stuffed full will exceed the allowed height+width+length of 60’’required by the Peace Corps (62’’ by most airlines)

Shoulder Bag (Carry-on)

Emergency Carry-on clothes (In case my luggage gets lost)

2 Prescription Glasses (Required by Peace Corps), Prescription sunglasses

Ear plugs

Chaco Sandals (PC Discount)/All terrain sneakers/hiking boots, Dress Shoes 

6 Exofficio Bras, 14 Underwear (PC Discount)

Socks

12 Tee-shirts

Capri Sweats

Champion 9’’ Double Dry Power Shorts (To wear under skirts)

The North Face Venture Raincoat (Breathable)

                http://www.rei.com/product/810304/the-north-face-venture-jacket-womens

Hat

3 Bandannas (For those dusty bush taxi rides)

Work Gloves

Laptop and leash

Favorite DVDs, MP3 Player and speaker, Kindle and accessories/USB,

Plug Adaptors, ear buds

Alarm clock

Digital Camera, HD Video Camera

Grundig Short wave radio (4 AA)/Antennae

             http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3909882

Headlamp (2 AA)

http://www.amazon.com/Energizer-LED-Headlamp-Batteries-included/dp/B002MFRP7M/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1315232378&sr=8-9

Black Diamond® Orbit Lantern (4AAA)

                http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/68764?feat=2-SR0

1 Garrity  3 LED Crank Lite (Crank flashlight)

http://www.amazon.com/Dynamo-Illuminator-Wind-up-LED-

Flashlight/dp/B0009H50OA/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1315232502&sr=8-3

External Hard Drive Transcend 750 GB (USB), thumb drive

Voltaic Fuse Solar Charger (PC Discount)

                http://www.voltaicsystems.com/fuse.shtml

This solar charger will not charge a laptop. However, I’ve been able to charge my Kindle, mp3 player, and a few other smaller electronics.

Harbor Freight 3,6,9, and 12 volt solar panel w/AA and 9 volt battery charger

This small little solar panel is great. It’s pretty basic and not as straight forward as the Voltaic. However, my Dad did some adaptations on it for me and now it has a USB jack. It can also charge 2 AA batteries. Is about $7 at Harbor Freight. Don't know if it will hold up, but the price was good.

http://www.harborfreight.com/solar-panel-recharger-41427.html

4 Eneloop AAA, 16  AA  Rechargeable Batteries, battery holders

2 Nalgene Water Bottles

2 Money pouches

Bug Hut 2

                http://www.rei.com/product/777772/rei-bug-hut-pro-2-tent

                This thing is great. Fits two people. 

Zippered Vinyl Mattress Protector, Cotton Pillow Protector, sheets, pillow case 

Pillow

4 Washcloths

Sewing Kit

Eyeglass repair kit

2 Combination Locks, 2 small key locks

Small Umbrella

Solar Shower

http://www.amazon.com/Coghlans-9965-Camp-Shower/dp/B000VNITQS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1315233275&sr=8-1

Garber Multi-tool, Hobo Tool, Pocket Knife, Tweezers

Bungee Cords, Zip Ties, carabiners

Waterproof Matches/Matches Container

Duck, Scotch, and electrical Tape

Zip-lock bags multiple sizes

Nylon Rope, Clothespins

2 Plastic Containers

Scissors

Compact Mirror/Brush

Tiger Balm

After Bite, Sting Ease, Deet Bug Repellent

Super glue

Jump ropes, Bouncy Balls (Deflated), inflator needle, Frisbee

2 Crayons,Water color paint, Chalk,Construction Paper

Ativa Currency & Metric Conversion Calculator (plus it doubles as a regular calculator)

Playing Cards (Bicycled deck, Uno, Phase 10)

Crochet String for bracelets

Mini Stapler/Staples, Rubber bands, Pens (I have read that the pens in Togo are not that great),

Paper, Highlighters,Ruler, Hole Punch, All Purpose Labels, Note Cards,Envelopes, Sharpies

Laminated US/World Map

8’' Chef’s Knife, 6’'Paring Knife, 10’' Frying Pan, Plastic Spatula, Pot Holders

DivaCup (For women, also there is a PC discount)

Cliff Bars, Sauce Packets, Crystal Lite

2 Deodorant

4 Small Bottles of Antibacterial Soap

Lonely Planet West Africa, Oxford English Picture Dictionary, Where there are no Doctors (Book), Pocket French Dictionary

REI Sleeping Bag

                http://www.rei.com/product/731835/rei-travel-sack-55-sleeping-bag

Soap, shampoo/conditioner (to get through training), Travel sized shampoo and conditioner

Host Family Gifts

Seeds

Cough Medicine (Haul’s Fruit Breezes)

spices

Baby Wipes

Bathing suit

Battery powered fan

http://www.amazon.com/RoadPro-1041CTR-Mini-Camping-Battery/dp/B003MNF5XE/ref=cm_srch_res_rtr_1

Takes 2-D batteries but using AA-D converter.

 
3 months supply of meds

Information to Family and Friends

One of the many documents the Peace Corps sent me was this letter to family. I thought that it was full of useful information and decided to pass it along. It includes information on contacting Peace Corps volunteers and includes my Lomé address:

Dear Families,

Greetings from the Togo Desk in Washington, D.C. It is with great pleasure that we welcome your family member to the Togo training program. Over the years we have received many questions from Volunteers and family members alike regarding travel plans, sending money, relaying messages and mail, etc. As we are unable to involve ourselves in the personal arrangements of Volunteers, we would like to offer you advice and assistance in advance by providing specific examples of situations and how we suggest they be handled.

1. Irregular Communication. (Please see #3 for the mailing address to Peace Corps' office in Lomé the capital of Togo). The mail service in Togo is not as efficient as the U.S. Postal Service. Thus, it is important to be patient. It can take from three to four weeks for mail coming from Togo to arrive in the United States via the Togolese mail system. From a Volunteer’s post, mail might take up to one to two months to reach the United States depending upon how far the Volunteer is from the capital city, Lomé. Sometimes mail is hand carried to the States by a traveler and mailed through the U.S. postal system. This leg of the trip can take another several weeks as it is also dependent on the frequency of travelers to the U.S.

We suggest that in your first letters, you ask your Volunteer family member to give an estimate of how long it takes for him or her to receive your letters and then try to establish a predictable pattern of how often you will write to each other. Also try numbering your letters so that the Volunteer knows if he or she missed one. Postcards should be sent in envelopes--otherwise they may be found on the wall of the local post office.

Volunteers often enjoy telling their “war” stories when they write home. Letters might describe recent illnesses, lack of good food, isolation, etc. While the subject matter is often good reading material, it is often misinterpreted on the home front. Please do not assume that if your family member gets sick that he or she has not been attended to. The city of Lomé has medical and dental facilities, and there are Peace Corps Medical Officers there as well. Most Volunteers can reach Lomé in less than one day’s time. Many Volunteers also have access to a telephone so that they can call our Medical Office. In the event of a serious illness the Volunteer is sent to Lomé and is cared for by our Medical Unit. If the Volunteer requires medical care that is not available in Togo, he/she will be medically evacuated to South Africa or to the United States. Fortunately, such circumstances are very rare.

If for some reason your communication pattern is broken and you do not hear from your family member for at least one month, you should contact the Counseling and Outreach Unit (COU) at Peace Corps in Washington at 1-800-424-8580, extension 1470 (or direct: 202-692-1470). The COU will then call the Peace Corps Director in Lomé, and ask her to check up on the Volunteer. Also, in the case of an emergency at home (death in the family, sudden illness, etc.), please do not hesitate to call COU immediately, so that the Volunteer can be informed by a member of Peace Corps/Togo staff.

2. Telephone Calls. The telephone system in Togo has fairly reliable service to the United States. In the interior of the country, where most of our Volunteers are located, the system is less reliable. Most Volunteers have access to a telephone in or nearby their site.

When dialing direct to Togo from the U.S., dial 011 (the international access code) + 228 (the country code) + the number. Volunteers generally set up phone calls with people in the U.S. in advance, and have the distant party call them, which is much less expensive than calling the U.S. from Togo. All volunteers purchase cell phones once they arrive in Togo, but they may not always have regular reception at their site.

The Togo Desk in Washington, D.C. usually calls the Peace Corps office in Lomé at least once every two weeks. However, these calls are reserved for business only and we cannot relay personal messages over the phone. If you have an urgent message, however, and have exhausted your other means (regarding travel plans, etc.), you can call the Desk, and the message will be relayed.

3. Sending Packages. Parents and Volunteers like to send and receive care packages through the mail. Unfortunately, sending packages can be a frustrating experience for all involved due the high incidence of theft and heavy customs taxes. You may want to send inexpensive items through the mail, but there is no guarantee that these items will arrive. We do not recommend, however, that costly items be sent through the mail. Even though many Volunteers sometimes choose to get local post office boxes, you may always use the following address to send letters and/or packages to your family member:

Jennifer Bent, PCV

Corps de la Paix

B.P. 3194

Lomé, Togo

West Africa

It is recommended that packages be sent in padded envelopes if possible, as boxes tend to be taxed more frequently. Packages can be sent via surface mail (2-3 weeks arrival time) or by ship (4-6 months). The difference in cost can be a factor in deciding which method to utilize. For lightweight but important items (e.g. airline tickets), DHL (an express mail service) does operate in Lomé, but costs are very expensive. If you choose to send items through DHL, you must address the package to the Country Director, s/c Corps de la Paix, 48 Rue de Rossignols, Quartier Kodjoviakopé, Lomé, Togo. The telephone number for the Peace Corps office in Togo is (228) 221-0614, should DHL need this information. If you send the item to the Country Director, no liability can be assumed. For more information about DHL, please call their toll free number, 1-800-CALL-DHL, or visit their web site at www.dhl.com. Please be aware that there is a customs fee for all DHL packages sent to Volunteers. For each DHL package, the Volunteer will be taxed 10,000 CFA (roughly US$20).

Sending airplane tickets and/or cash is not recommended. Certain airlines will allow you to buy a prepaid ticket in the States; they will telex their Lomé office to have the ticket ready. Unfortunately, this system is not always reliable. Many airlines (e.g., KLM, Air France, Ghana Airways, Air Togo) fly into Lomé or Accra, but each has its own policy on pre-paid tickets.

Please call the airline of your choice for more information. You could also send tickets via DHL as mentioned previously. However, Peace Corps will assume no liability in the event of a lost/stolen airline ticket.

Trying to send cash or airline tickets is very risky and is discouraged. If your Volunteer family member requests money from you, it is his/her responsibility to arrange receipt of it. Some Volunteers use Western Union, which has an office in Lomé. Volunteers will also be aware of people visiting the States and can request that they call his/her family when they arrive in the States should airline tickets need to be sent back to Togo.

4. E-mail. There is fairly reliable e-mail service in Togo with cyber cafes in most large towns. Connections can be very slow and time consuming as well as costly. E-mail, however, may become the preferred method of communication between you and your family member in Togo. Not all Volunteers have access to e-mail on a daily basis, but they should be able to read and send messages at least once a month. As with other means of communication, do not be alarmed if you do not receive daily or weekly messages. Unless in Lomé at the office, Volunteers have to pay for internet time at cyber cafes and this can be a slow or expensive process depending on the connection at the café.

A little about the country Togo

Togo is a country in West Africa on the coast. Its bordered by Ghana, Burkina Faso, and Benin. The official name is Togolese Republic or République togolaise. Although the official language is French the Togolese speak several Gbe languages such as Ewe, Mina, Aja, and Kabiye. The Capital is Lomé nad sits on the coast. Togo is a tropical, sub-Saharan, dependent on argiculture. Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé has been the President of Togo since May 4, 2005. The currency is the West African CFA franc. In the north the land is characterized by a gently rolling savanna in contrast to the center of the country, which is characterized by hills. The south of Togo is characterized by a savanna and woodland plateau which reaches to a coastal plain with extensive lagoons and marshes.

The climate is generally tropical with average temperatures ranging from 27.5 °C (81.5 °F) on the coast to about 30 °C (86 °F) in the northernmost regions, with a dry climate and characteristics of a tropical savanna. To the south there are two seasons of rain (the first between April and July and the second between (September and November), even though the average rainfall is not very high. Approximately 51% of the population has indigenous beliefs (Animalism), 29% is Christian, and 20% Muslim.

Bibliography:

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Togo)

The Peace Corps? What are you thinking?

My name is Jennifer and I am a current Peace Corps volunteer leaving for Togo, West Africa, in September. It has been a long journey from the first moment contemplating service in the Peace Corps to now waiting anxiously for that departure date to arrive. Togo will be my new home from September 2011 until December 2013. Setting up this blog will allow friends and loved ones to follow me and be updated on what I’m doing.

One of the biggest questions I’ve been asked is “Why join the Peace Corps?” or in other words “What are you crazy?” Many people just don’t understand my desire to give up all the comforts of American life to live in a poor African country. In all, it has been difficult to explain the reasons behind my decision to take on this adventure, but I’ll give it a try.

Explaining what I am going to do in Togo might help people to understand why I’m doing it. From the Peace Corps Website: The Peace Corps has its volunteers work in various programs (Community Development, Agriculture, Health, and Education to name a few). I am going to be part of the Girl’s Empowerment and Education (GEE) Program under Community Development. As GEE Volunteers, our principal goal is to promote the education of girls and the idea that the education of girls is a worthwhile investment for a community. Furthermore, we work to provide girls with the capacity to actively participate in the development of their communities, which only becomes possible once a girl herself is educated. GEE Volunteers engage in a wide range of activities. Many volunteers work with schools teaching Life Skills classes or teaching English. Many others work with clubs of girl students and girl apprentices. Volunteers create Gender Equity Committees in their communities to take charge of the challenges of girls’ education after the departure of the volunteer.

Although I have a description about my job in Togo from the Peace Corps, it’s hard to picture sometimes. I often try to imagine myself living and working in my village. The only concrete thing I know for certain is that I will with working with young girls, which as a former Girl Scout leader is right up my alley. Overall, I’m pretty realistic. It’s unlikely that I will be able to alter a whole cultural belief system overnight, or even over my entire time in service. Despite this, I intend to persevere and stay true to my aspirations. I might not change the way women are viewed and treated in Togo immediately, but I can hope to sow the seeds of the future into the next generation. With all my heart I believe that I can make a difference. During my time in Togo, I aspire to encourage as many girls that I can to enrich their lives through education and empowerment.

When I think about living in Togo (which is often), I don’t think about it in terms of what I am giving up. Instead, I think about all that I am gaining. I don’t believe that you can be truly happy unless you live your life helping others. Of course not everyone needs to move to Africa to do that, but the Peace Corps is a calling for me. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. I get to help people in real need and hopefully change myself for the better in the process. I want to do sometime worthwhile in my life.

So, how did this all get started? Growing up, I was always shown the value of helping and serving others from my family and my Catholic upbringing. Throughout my life I’ve learned that offering my time, energy, and love to others that makes all of my own life problems seem far away and unimportant. Service is a part of who I am and is a core part of my being.  I knew that I wanted to become a Peace Corps volunteer following my mission trip to Banica in the Dominican Republic. I have always been involved in service and helping others, but my work in this poor community changed how I saw the world and my place in it. My eyes were opened to a whole new world where helping others gave me a sense of well being I had never experienced before. I traveled to help the people in Banica, and they in turn gave me the inspiration to want to do more. Banica has given me a glimpse of what it would be like to be a contributing member of the Peace Corps.