6-8-08
Day #2 in Africa! Its currently 12:30 and I'm sitting out on the ledge of the hostel with a group of volunteers. I tried to get onto a few open wireless connections but I think I may have broken a few in the process. As of now, theres no internet and its kind of a weird feeling. The power works in the hostel though, so I can at least charge my laptop and the like.

Yesterday was the arrival into country. We took a flight from philadelphia to paris, and then paris to Lome, the capital of Togo. We made it without any sort of hitch, the Air France was actually pretty fun. Getting into Togo was fun, we got to wait in the airport in a small room and sweat for a bit before getting all our luggage into the vehicles and driving to our hostel/hotels. We were greeted by current volunteers and there was a ton of food and drinks waiting for us, which was awesome. The food is incredible, there are some amazing sauces that make anything edible. After eating and greeting, a few of us went out with some of the current volunteers to learn about what goes on here. It was an enlightening experience to say the least...I need to work on my French, thats for sure.

Today has been a day of wandering around as well as getting shots and more malaria medication. We get to eat lunch soon, and then get to get our bikes!

6-9-08

It is now almost 9pm here in Lome and I'm trying to stay awake to write this real quick and post it online via the wifi signal I've managed to hijack while in the hostel. Last night the current volunteers threw us a huge fete (party) at a local bar, whereat the most amazing band I have ever seen live played. We danced and had an awesome time, and I got to meet more of the current in country group as well as learn even more about the wonderful country that I get to live in for the next 2 years.

Going along with said fete, I got about an hour of sleep last night and about 40 minutes of nap at lunch after getting tons of shots at the med center as well as learning about malaria and other fun things here. In the afternoon, we had orientation for “stage” (say stage with a french accent, stahge). It was quite informative about the fun stuff we will get to encounter while having to poop into a hole in the ground. I'll finish relating the rest of today tomorrow, for I'm feeling pretty tired and am gonna head to bed. Bon nuit!

6-10-08
Getting a full nights sleep is probably the best feeling in the entire world. For breakfast we got to eat something that was kind of like a mix of oatmeal and grits...after adding sugar and strawberry jelly it was outstanding. The food here so far has been amazing, there are so many different sauces that anything can taste good if you just add enough.

Last night was pretty sweet. We got to go to the Country Director's house and have dinner there with most of the in-country staff as well as with the Ambassador to the country from the US. I totally seized the moment and used the opportunity to snag a photo with him (as my current facebook pic will show). He was a really down to earth and nice guy too.

Today is our last full day here at the staging house in Lome. Another 4 hours of clinic await, as well as more shots! My arms are still sore from yesterday, so this should be quite fun. Hope all is going well back in the US, I don't know when I'll be able to update again after tomorrow morning but I'll try as soon as I can!

Abiento!