Bienvenue a Togo!

Well Friends,

I wanted to send you all a quick hello to let you know that I have arrived in Togo safely. We traveled to Lome (Togo's capital) after a few days of training in Philly. The Peace Corps has been taking AMAZING care of us-- even going as far as changing money for us and picking up some items we may need. The food has been great and no one has gotten sick...so far.

On Wednesday we travel to Agou where we will be staying with host families while receiving training on language and culture from the Peace Corps staff. After some information today about how to take bucket showers and pee in a latrine (or worse), we're ready to go! In case you were wondering, the proper way to pee in a latrine is to tap the lid first to scare away any creatures that may be living in there (lizards, roaches, etc.).

I'm really looking forward to meeting my host family and working on my french with them at home. I had a french language placement test the other day and though my french is somewhat rusty, I think I did alright. The instructor began by asking me questions about my family. He didn't believe me when I said I was an only child. He said, "surely many must have died in infancy". Unfortunately my french was not good enough to explain that one but I figure there will be more opportunity in the future.

That's all for now. I'll write when I can!

Emily

Au Revoir, Mes Amis!

Friends and Family,

Welcome to my blog!

As you know, I have been working towards my Peace Corps placement for over a year now. In the past year I have gotten a lot of questions from all of you. A lot of the discussions went like this:

Friend: Peace Corps! That's cool. Will you live in a city?
Me: I won't really know until I get there and get my placement. It's likely that I'll be living in some sort of simple hut.

Friend: ...Will you have electricity or running water?
Me: I won't really know until I get there, but...probably not...

Friend: What will you eat?
Me: Mostly vegetables...
Friend: That's cool.
Me: ...That I grow myself...
Friend: ...Oh...

Friend: So...exactly how crazy are you???

There was a time when I may have defended myself, however, as I start packing my mosquito encased hammock (which I will be sleeping in), my SPF 75 sunblock and my field guides to poisonous snakes, I'm wondering if I didn't give you guys enough credit.

Another popular question (which I am also unable to answer) is how much I will be able to stay in touch with everyone. I should have email access, however, I'm not sure how often that will be. I also have an address that you can send mail to.

Here is the address, should you be in the neighborhood (visitors are encouraged!):

Emily Lagasse, PCV
Corps de la Paix
B.P. 3194
Lomé, Togo
West Africa

I will post to this blog as often as I can (which will probably not be that often) to update you on my life in Togo. I will send everyone an email letting you know when I have posted something new.

I hope we are able to keep in touch over the next two years although I know it will be more difficult than usual. I wish I could be with you for all of the weddings, new jobs and exciting changes everyone is going through. Although I may not be able to call or write often please know that I will be thinking of you. Of course, when I get back, I look forward to catching up with you on all of your adventures (preferably with a glass of ice water in an air conditioned building).

Until my next post... A Bientot!

Emily

PS: If you do decide to visit, let me know far enough in advance so that I can grow enough food for both of us!