April Showers

I’m singing in the rain!

What a glorious feeling ‘cause I’m happy again!

The count for April showers…

Rainy days:  7 (and today is April 27)

So I officially declare it rainy season.  Hot season averted (yes, I predicted it, being the optimist that I am and see?  It worked!)  Ok, maybe not completely averted.  There were some hot days in between there but nothing like veteran volunteers had described.  I did NOT have days where all I could do was sit on my concrete floor and melt.

April Fool’s

Wow, what fun I had with all of you who read my last blog with open mouths.  Although I’m a tad distressed that you must think I am that kooky to have believed it.  What does that mean?

And, after all these years that I continually convince you of the unimaginable, you still let me have my fun!

Pagné-aholic

Hi.  My name is Richella and I buy a lot of pagné.  A lot.  Every two weeks, I have four new outfits.  As I walk in the marche, the pagné calls to me; it beckons me to come over to feel their gloriousness, to accurately identify the best quality to the good to the eh, to see the beautiful colors and designs, and to bargain like a Togolese woman to get the right price. 

And after so much experience, yes, I know what I’m doing.  And I know the vendors, where they are, who bargains fairly, who is naughty, and who is nice.

Bright red, green, orange, brown, blue, purple – every color imaginable.  And the designs!  Big, bold swirls, circles, squares, diamonds, flowers, chickens, roller skates, whistles, fish – you name it, they’ve got it.  The more wild and crazy, the better.  And I want it all.  Truly.  I can’t stop looking; I can’t stop buying.

My tailor, Martine, laughs every two weeks as I wander into her home carrying my newfound treasure along with ideas for dresses.  Her children sing my name as I walk into their compound.  I can’t wait to try on what she has carefully and perfectly created for me.

So, yes I have a problem.  A very serious problem.

But it makes me oh, so, very happy.

Home remodel

Got me some new tile in my bathroom and hallway.  And got me some new concrete in my living room (the new dark gray color doesn’t match the original maroon, but who’s looking?)

I have a question for anyone out there who is a plumber.  When the home-renter tells you that there is a leak “in the wall”, why do you not believe her?  Why do you demolish the floor and after discovering that the water leak IS in the wall, THEN, you believe her?

And when the water pipes explode four times in two days, what makes you think that doing the same thing over and over again, is the right thing to do?

I have a question for anyone out there who is a mason.  When you replace tiles, do you purposely choose not to make them face the same direction?  Why do you place them backwards?  I would think that after all your years as a mason, the first thing to do would be to make sure the tiles are placed in a consistent manner?  Maybe?

Yeah, the home remodeling experience is the same here as it is in Redondo Beach: frustrating but oh, so humorous.

My pride and joy

Yeah, my 16 ladies in my Village Savings and Loan are simply amazing.  We start loans this Sunday and there are three who are interested in taking loans.  I can’t wait.  I am so, so proud of this project.  These women are smart, fun, serious, and just blow me away with their awesomeness.  I wish I could convey to you what it feels like to be with them every Sunday.  It is truly my greatest joy to be with them.

Last notes

I’ll have been here for 11 months come May 4.  Yes.  Me.  Little ol’ me.  I can communicate in French; I am Togolese; I have developed relationships with people in my community; I am a Peace Corps Volunteer.

A fresh start

The Big Announcement

Let’s get to the point: I am quitting the Peace Corps BUT I am not leaving Togo, at least not yet.

Ok, ok, calm down.  Close your mouth.

After much thought and contemplation, yes, I have decided to terminate my service with the Peace Corps.  As many of you know, I have been searching for a place where I “fit in” and where I felt “at home”.  I believe that place is Togo and I want to try to live here as a private citizen, not as a volunteer.

I believe I will know whether or not I belong here by not representing the United States as a volunteer, but by representing, well, just little ol’ me.  How did I get to this decision?

First, I have decided to convert to be a Jehovah’s Witness.  Ok, close the mouth again.  Continue reading.  I have mentioned before my bread vender, Phillipina and how we’ve become friends these past 10 months.  I went to her home a few weekends ago and met her family.  They are all simply lovely and you wouldn’t believe how big their clay oven is.  I could crawl in there and stand up and run around in it; it’s that huge.  It has to be, in order to bake all that bread!  Anyway, they shared with me the word of Jehovah and finally, it all makes sense.  Religion has always been something I have struggled with and at last I have found a religion that has the answers I had been searching for.

Second, I have met someone.  Now, it’s just at the “like” stage at this point, but I’d like to see where it goes.  This past weekend, he visited me at my home and we sat outside just chatting away.  He is so easy to speak with and he tolerates my French.  He is kind and sweet and I must say, he looked mighty handsome in his green and black pagne complet.  I couldn’t keep my eyes off of him.  He is Muslim but he doesn’t believe in having more than one wife.

Third, yes, this place is inhospitable.  But I believe I can make it more comfortable now that I am willing to spend my own money in order to do so.  I can have a refrigerator, an air conditioner, a hot water heater, an oven, and the other necessities I want.  I can also afford to have someone cook for me, which is the most important thing of all.

Again, there are a lot of unknowns.  What I do know, however, is that I want to try.  I can still do work of some sort and maybe even get paid for it.  I hope to work with the very talented artisans here and to establish relationships with retailers in the United States and other countries for exporting their goods.

More to come, but I wanted to share with you all my excitement and joy.  I hope you will support me in my latest venture.  You usually do, so this is one more.  Just think, you’ll all have a place to stay should you decide to travel to West Africa.

Oh, and one last very important thing, (you can open your mouth now): Happy April Fool’s Day!