Our training was complete, and it was time to begin our new lives!
Now, I live in a rural village in the Kara region of Togo. It takes at least nine hours to travel from my home to the capital city, Lomé. There are fewer than 3,000 people in my village, but nearly everyone is a farmer. Each morning, I wake up, greet my host family, make breakfast, fetch water, take care of my garden and then take a walk with my dog through the fields and homesteads in my neighborhood. Depending on the season, I do all kinds of different activities for the rest of the day. Twice a week, I spend the afternoon at the middle school teaching agriculture and English.
Moving to a new place can be challenging. When I first moved to my host village, I did not know the best times to fetch water from the well, how much carrots should cost in the market, which shops sold toilet paper, and so much more! Although I have had to learn a lot, my host community has been so welcoming and helpful. In Togolese culture, it’s important to say hello to everyone you see. You usually also ask after their health, their work and their family. These little conversations have helped me make friends and feel comfortable in the village very quickly.
There’s so much more to tell you about life in Togo! I look forward to introducing you to my friends, the food I eat, the animals I see and the work I do. Thanks for following along!
