so it is

hello world. today i am in lome to do the welcome week orientation stuff for the new group of GEE and NRM volunteers coming in. THAT means i've been in togo for just about a year. right now a few days short of that. how does that feel? it's kind of mixed emotions. on the one hand i think "a year already? that was quick." but then in the same breath (as much breath as there is in a thought), i think "woah. i've been out of america for a long time." as i reflect on my experiences the past twelve months, i become more confident that this is really where i am meant to be at this point in my life, despite the doubts that tend to creep in every now and then. i've met such incredible and diverse people. i've become more in touch with my own strengths and shortcomings as a person. i've been forced to do a lot of self reflection and widen my world view. all sorts of philisophical mumbo jumbo. but the thing is that all those things people say about crazy opportunities like this are so true. but it's not until you experience it for yourself do you ever really internalize what all those words mean. the imagination does great and unique things for us, but there's nothing like real life, first hand experience. so what do i suggest? move to togo and live here for two years. OR just go somewhere different and spend a significant amount of time there. whether that's a few miles away or a few countries away. just go somewhere where you don't feel comfortable. where you have to ask questions so you don't look and feel like an idiot. where you have to push the limits of your patience. get to know people that don't think like you and learn from them. there is ALWAYS something to learn. don't miss the opportunity. and always thank God at the end of the day for it.

i wish i was better at writing and could better describe my life right now. but because i've never been a particularly articulate person (believe it or not...), i would never be able to give it justice. i try though. and right now i'm going to just keep in simple and just share some of the highlights from the past monthish. voila.

Me and alicia did two day camps in both her and my villages with primary school students. lesson learned: i love kids. i don't want to work with them in big numbers, for long periods of time, or in too-organized situations. but i love 'em just the same.

I helped out with a "take our daughters to work week" in which 30 girls from middle and high school came together to learn about work opportunities in togo and different important things like making goals, being nice, staying healthy, making good decisions, all that. i had a great time seeing the girls interact and the visible changes many of them went through. next year my friend danielle and i will be organizing the event, stay tuned, you will be hearing more about this in the upcoming months.

Like i said, i am helping out with this group of newbies, so i spent a few days back in agou to prepare for it. i LOVED getting to see my host family again. it's crazy how quickly those young'uns grow up. the little girl that i remember hanging out on my maman's back was not walking around and smiling at me and everything. next thing i know she's going to be applying for the university. being back in agou for more than a day and with people that i came in with also gave me a nostalgic feeling from the old days when we were just getting used to life here. and it's only been a year, oy.

after my time in agou i spent some time back in mpoti. it was a breakthrough time because i realized how at-home i feel there and how much my relationships have evolved. the things that used to bother me about people around me have almost become endearing. probably because i can more easily make my own frustrations known and draw my boundaries. it's sad how long it has taken me to get to this point. i still have a lot left to work on, but then again, i do still have another year here. the other day tanti was telling me how much she's going to cry when i leave next year. she's been telling me this for the past, maybe six months. i've tried to get it through her head that she's stuck with me for a while longer and the only tears she should be shedding are due to the fact that i need her help around the house so much. particularly now that i have to gas to cook with ... or food. i'm at the mercy of my neighbors for food for a while. i think it'll be a good experience. i like them and they like me. it'll work out.

that's me in a wordy nutshell right now. thanks for your continued thoughts and prayers.

peace and blessings to y'all!