Good Vibrations.

And so it goes, day twenty-something in Togo. I'm already loosing
track. Things have just been going so well, I'm happy to report, and I
have quite thoroughly enjoyed my time here in AFRICA!! Sometimes, as
I'm sure you all wonder, I forget that I'm actually here and it isn't
until I find myself staring at some giant tree or an amazing sunset
that I remember, "F**k, I'm in Africa." Yeah, I would say that happens
probably once a week, but it's getting better.

I'm currently in week 4 of 9 of my home stay/training. This is the
time in which we are trained on not only how to do our jobs but also
how to communicate. As a culmination of 3 weeks of intensive language
instruction, we gave our first presentations today, in French, in
front of all of our trainers and other supervisors. I was a bit
nervous, never having done a presentation in French let alone in
another country, but I am thrilled at how well it went. I made a point
to mention during my presentation that I have only been studying
French since January, because I am very proud of my progress up to
this point. Other than languages, we have also had some fantastic
sessions about different topics such as weighing babies and
facilitating discussion workshops on a wide range of topics, including
but not limited to: "How to put on a condom," "Working with people
living with AIDS," and my personal favorite "Enriched Porridge, a How
to Guide." Mind you, this is all in French, but as I said before, it's
progressing!! So far everything has felt relatively familiar to me;
it's almost like an extended RA training, which is something that I
grew to really enjoy as many of you might already know. As for the
last 5 weeks of training, one will be spent visiting our posts for the
next two years and the rest will be spent largely in the same manner
as described previously. I'm VERY excited.

Speaking of my post, I should probably mention that I've been given a
FANTASTIC post in the central region of Togo in a large city called
Sokode. My work will be primarily with different NGOs like the World
Health Organization and the Red Cross. It is honestly a better
assignment than I could have ever dreamed for, and also (because I'm
sure you all are dying to know) I will probably have electricity AND –
wait for it – running water. I know, crazy talk. It's like I'm not
even in Africa, but I can assure you, I am. So far no scary encounters
with spiders or other creepy crawlies, however, ask anyone in my stage
and I'm sure they'd be the first to tell you that I have no problem
touching bugs…(I'm always somehow being caught chasing butterflies and
other winged-beasts.)

Another thing that I want to mention before I finish up this blog post
is how much I've been able to read!! In these past few weeks I've read
close to 5 books!! AND, one of my best friends is going to send me an
eReader filled with more intellectual goodies I'm sure!! I'm so
incredibly happy – I had forgotten how much I enjoyed reading for
pleasure. For a running list of books I've read, please click on the
tab on the left labeled "Reading List."

All in all, I'm immensely happy to be here – more than I ever really
imagined honestly. I miss everyone SOOOO much, you have no idea. I
also never imagined how GREAT it would be to talk to a friend on the
phone. It's fantastic, so please please please figure out how to call
me and do it – I'd love to catch up. Even better, write a letter (hey
that rhymes!). It costs about a dollar to send and I promise I will
write back...eventually. As far as things I "need," I can honestly say
that I have everything I need and then some.
(Except maybe some oreos, those would be nice…)

Love love love.

P.S. – In case you were wondering, I don't have access to regular
internet just yet, my apologies. One of our wonderful trainers is
allowing us to use her internet key. I might look into investing in
one as soon as I look into investing in a computer. Baby steps y'all.
As for now, it's safe to assume that I won't have internet access
again until August at the earliest.

Home in Lome.

Greetings tout le monde!

I am posting this blog from the Peace Corps headquarters in Lome, Togo. As you may have already read by now, I am officially in Togo as a PST (Peace Corps Trainee)!! Let me just start by saying that I miss you very much, but also that you shouldn't worry too much because I am in very good hands. We are being treated so well here, I am honestly very impressed. Today was the last day of our "pre-pre-service training," and it has been quite fun. It's basically like an RA training session, just in Africa - so I'm pretty cool with it. We learned a lot about how to shit today (Staying Healthy In Togo), literally and figuratively, and we have also been working on getting to know each other better. The two programs in my "Stage" (pronounced: Stah-juh) are the Community Health and AIDS prevention team and the Small Enterprise Development team. Everyone is really great and I feel really lucky to be working with such great people.

A lot of the older PCVs are SUPER cool as well. I totally feel like I've found my "people," which is honestly something I was worried about before coming here. The kinds of people that join the Peace Corps are obviously very diverse, but the common threads are almost always there. Progressive-minded, accepting, and FUN! At our welcome party, someone was playing the new GAGA CD (Shibe, Government Hooker, and Heavy Metal Lover are my favorite) and someone even busted out glow bands at some point - it was awesome.

Tomorrow we are moving in with our host families and I'm very excited to meet them!! I probably won't be able to update my blog for a while while I'm gone, but you can definitely send me packages!! I'll also be getting a phone so that you can call me. I was supposed to get it today, but the guy who was going to sell them to us never showed up (pretty normal practice I assume.) It'll be okay though, I'll get one soon enough and as soon as I figure out a way to send the number out, I will have my PR rep post it. :) *wink*

Love you all beaucoup!! Wish me luck!!

AF 8538 to Togo now boarding...

"Dance the night away, Live your life and stay out on the floor..." as J.Lo would say it. I'm about to leave Philadelphia and for the next 24 hours I will be travelling to Africa (Togo, specifically) to live this crazy adventure known as the Peace Corps. The last few hours in the states have been interesting. Saying goodbye to my loved ones at the airports has been one of the hardest things I think I've ever done, but I'm still alive so I'll take that as a sign that everything is going to be okay. All day yesterday I saw little signs/reminders of home and my loved ones; it was as if someone had lit a pathway for me and I was just along for the ride. (HP reference: It's like a had a bit of Felix Felicius and I was following an illuminated pathway, it was cool.) I just keep hearing this little voice in my head that says "Just put one foot in front of another, it'll be okay." Hopefully that same voice doesn't start telling me to kill myself once I'm on the malaria prophylaxis medication...

Everyone here is AWESOME!! Our group is small, 23 people or so, and so far we've just been getting to know each other. This is the first time EVER where I've been the only person from Texas. It's kidna weird and refreshing and I'm strangely proud of being from such a cool state. The rest of the people in my group going to Togo, also known as Peace Corps Trainees (PCTs), are from all over and everyone has a different/interesting background and story. I'm very much looking forward to this exprience with all of them. Yesterday was a very trying day because on top of being an emotional rollercoaster, I was exhausted. I would feel random waves of sadness throughout the day, and by the end of it all I just wanted to sleep. I'm feeling a lot better today and I'm very much looking forward to the flight to Africa!! Anyone who knows me knows how much I like being in airports, and I'm about to visit two really cool ones (CDG/JFK). I'll try and post something soon after I reach post, but I probably won't be within calling range for a week or so.

Anyways, I feel like I'm blabbing on a bit, so I'll end it here. I love you all very much and I feel safe carrying so many stories, relationships, and love with me to Togo. It's the lighest thing I'm packing, but I also feel like it's going to be the most important. (Except my roommate in Philly had this really cool UV water filter, I'm not gonna lie I was kinda jealous...)

Wish me luck with trying to get all my carry-on luggage on to the plane! I've been practing how to say "Please sir, I really need both of these bags because I'm going to Africa!!" in french. :-)

In-and-Out

Contrary to the title of this post, I am not going to write about the delicious burgers and In-and-Out. (Okay, but just for the record, I had a double-double animal style with fries and a napoleon milkshake. It was so good!) I am currently sitting at my dining room table surrounded by friends and family, which was the theme for the past week of my life. It is great, I am going to miss everyone so much, I just know it. I also feel very/extremely/"enough to the circle the galaxy twice" loved...I am a very lucky boy.

This process has been long, and stressful, and I've had more than a few meltdowns. I don't think that it all would have been possible without my friends and family. I won't name any names, but you all know who you are. Anyone who knows me will say that I love with all my heart, and it's true, I love to love. As cliché as it sounds, I feel like exist to spread love in the world. That is my goal and mantra for this adventure in Africa. To quote one of my biggest heros, "“Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, when one only remembers to turn on the light.” I am the light, I am love. I will never be without it and I will carry it with me wherever I go.

In-and-out we go, through the different chapters of life, sometimes flipping back to re-read the very best parts, but always looking forward to what comes next. I love you all. Wish me luck!!