Back in the resto quick

Back at the same restaurant/hotel and it's night time. It's around 8 here even though my computer still says 4. No lizard yet tonight, but instead there are these small, hard, green, almost coconut like fruits falling from the tree above about every 5 minutes. They make a hard snap as they hit the cement or crash through a plant. Sitting next to me is a man from Amsterdam doing business with local cocoa growers. He calls the fruits les couilles de singe, but I know he has no idea. He says the cocoa he buys here is good but business can be a pain because the locals like their money up front and that is not how he is used to doing business.

I already feel like I've been here for a long time. Hard to imagine that the other Americans I'm here with I've only known for less than a week. I've been in Togo 3 full days now and it feels like much longer (in a good way). I think my body is starting to get on Togo time. 6 a.m. (when I've been waking up), hardly seems as early as it usually does. And fortunately I've been sleeping fine. And ya know I don't think the bathroom's are bad at all by general standards. Each stall has crammed into it a shower, sink, toilet and bucket (can't flush the tp here so guess what it's for!). Plus, the power's only gone out twice!

Whether you believe it or not, we already have cell phones here. Didn't picture myself walking around Africa with a Blackberry in my pocket, but in fact phones are very much the norm.

We've picked up juggling as a free time activity. When we have some time we take to the sandy street and juggle, 4 or 5 of us, in a circle, taking care to keep an eye and an ear out for the next motorcycle or passerby.

Could be a bit before I get another post up, but I have to go. A German student has a test to take on the internet and the fewer the people using the connection the better it will work. He's nervous but polite, so I'm not going to push it!

togo!

Made it!

As it turns out one of the hotels that we're in has a decent internet connection (even though it's not the one I'm staying at). The weather is hot and the humidity high, but it is nothing unbearable at all. As I'm writing I sit in the resataurant portion of the hotel, under an ubrella with three other trainees, keeping an eye out for a very quick lizard which is darting around the table. My connection is vey slow but I have about ten minutes to write a quick note before we have lunch.

It's tough to know what to talk about! A million different things have hit home about all things different here. Thus far it's nothing but good impressions, despite a variety of initial discomforts. I've been loading my journal with numerous things as I take in and adjust to all of the things about where I am.

If the reality of what I'm doing hadn't sunk in before, things are really starting to hit home now: when I stepped off the plance at 6:30 (it was already dark, no daylight savings time) and was blasted immediately by the sticky humidity, as locals loaded our baggage into a canvass covered truck, as I rode in the bucket seat of the back of an SUV and looked at all what was happening around me (motorcycles, venders, plenty of commotion and nothing that I'd ever come close to seeing before), when I heard the African French and local languages swarming around me and then as I let it all sink in, trying to fall asleep on my little mattress inside of a mosquito net.

I have a good feeling about things here. It's going to be wild! There's plenty more to tell, but I can't tell it all now!

A bientot!

Long day today and tomorrow could be even longer! I've got some major traveling coming up in the next 2 days. I get to make a stop in Paris and it's going to kill me to know I can't get out and explore it any! Nonetheless, I'm looking forward to getting back into the realm of the French language. The trip to Phili went just fine, pretty painless besides lugging some large bags around before I found the shuttle vans.

Orientation today went well. I got to meet some of the other people that will be heading out with me. Even though they come from all over everyone is very nice and shares plenty in common.

And Nicole, just because I know you're curious, I will inform you that Donny Twilight is currently packed and will be heading to Africa.

All ready to go

So I can already feel the whirlwind brewing. Tomorrow my travel starts as I fly out of Portland at 9:18 a.m. for Philadelphia where the two-day orientation in the U.S. takes place.

As I say my goodbye's I'm doing my best to keep from looking back, but it's a tough thing to do. It's odd because I never say a goodbye and really feel like I've done it justice. I usually leave feeling like there's more to be said, especially for the people closest to me. I hope everyone understands that I will be thinking of them and will only look forward to the next time paths cross again. I figure any goodbye worth saying is only temporary and that helps. Meanwhile, the excitement of the unknown that is to come pushes me forward.

Set-up

Hey everyone!

If I haven't already told you I am on the verge of joining the Peace Corps. In just over two weeks I will be heading out and will likely not be seeing any of you for 27 months. My date of departure is Sept. 17 and I will be in Togo (a small French-speaking country in West Africa) on Sept. 19.

I have created this blog for a number of reasons. Most of all I don't want to lose touch with all of you that I consider my friends. I want to stay connected as best as I can and I think this is the best way for me to streamline my communication with everyone. Please feel free to leave comments throughout this page and if you do wish to contact me personally, please use email (ChristianLDonaldson@gmail.com).

Another motivation for this blog is my wish that everyone be able to take away from my experience in the Peace Corps. I really believe that time spent abroad can only enrich one's life and I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to undertake such an adventure. I want to share as much of what I experience, witness and learn with everyone back home who is interested.

I will be making a strong effort to maintain this blog. My situation will likely dictate the frequency and quality of my entries, but this is something that I do hope to stick to so long as I am able. If I ever fall behind don't hesitate to give me friendly reminders to stay on the ball! And feel free to pass this blog link on to anyone you think may like to follow!