Yovo, Yovo, Bonsoir, ca va bien - merciiiie.
I once both laptop, time and content anyway to write another email.
for all mail that I received, I would like to thank first of all, news is to read at home and the rest of the world is always beautiful - all the answer always is, but not quite so easily.
Lines anticipated fall time somewhat scarce in, but is all the more in the report.
has done really not a lot lately, it always come back on new volunteers, of which even what diseases such as malaria have been captured, but for now it's all good and I'm also still at full health.
time a small introduction: I am trying
in my reports to remain as objective as possible, I will mainly watch everything and wants to keep me away from scores first. Of course, I is not always succeed and sometimes I'll also take a clear position on some issues. On issues relating
to Togo, the people, politics and culture, as I will only reflect, what are the Togolese themselves.
as white in Africa
from my organization in Germany, ICJA, we are here for two. However CdH works, the organization in Togo, or with another German, work together - experiment. There are also ICYE Suisse, in principle, the Swiss version of ICJA which also sends volunteers to CDH.
We are currently six German and two Swiss women. As I understand it, there are also another 6 more volunteers in the coming months, but remain, like the other experiment, people usually only 4-5 months.
Those who think that, however, are quite a lot of German in a medium City, not quite as large Togo, who has not the rest of the beautiful city, Kpalimé looked. There are so many ONGs (Non-Governmental Organization, Eng. NGOs), many of which are also based on voluntary exchange. On my arrival were above all the French very well represented, by and by they will be less and there are more German to - inter alia, from Aachen. In addition, there are just some that come a year after their exchange here again after a short visit / holiday. Estimated soon could perhaps 25-30 in the German-speaking Kpalimé be distributed.
A Yovo, the EWE-word for white is not something that is completely unusual in the streets. Nevertheless, I will be paid each time a special attention in various ways. First, run the often children after me, sometimes they want to hug me, call it "Yovo, Yovo" or sing even a saying: "Yovo, Yovo, Bonsoir, ca va bien merciiie,". Reportedly has "before", when exactly I do not know the "Yovowo" (plural) where the children then candy. However, I would
addressed not only by the children, even teenagers and adults constantly call me "Yovo" behind and do that I stop short, let me talk to them or show their wares in her shop. The words "Yovo" and "Ameibo" (= black, actually slightly different spelling, but I have no EWE keyboard) are entirely value-neutral, so I have it integrated into my German vocabulary.
Yovo As I wrote here is a special role. Means to be white, wealth and power, on the market, there is the extra Yovo prices, that is, it is often initially requires double the price and even after much action, I do not know if I finally pay the normal price and still about lie. This is worth it if I know the normal price to insist on it and so can avoid time-consuming action kann.Auch beggars and blind people like to come to Yovowo to ask for money. Difficult it is with false friends, who assumed that, for example, the beverage in the evening they will be issued.
a Yovo to have as a friend, is something special and everyone wants the industry with one, so also is the first question about the Begrüszung often: "we want to be friends?" Although I do not know the person.
The constant appeal to greet and is partly due also to the African mentality, but most touched by the interest in the other skin color. I encounter here in any way hostilities, on the contrary, all are always super friendly, However, I would sometimes like to just go in peace can return home without cause at any corner of a two-minute conversation.
The families and other CDH staff, however, always call us by name and speak well, other than white people do not "Yovo" at.
crime to me in Kpalimé not yet met and I always feel safe. Nevertheless, caution is always required as whites are naturally suited for raids and other wonderful places in the country, I'll show up if possible, not alone.
are there to report on this subject a lot and in a few months I will certainly not dwell on that.
My work, my daily routine (the first) will
Actually, I write this, as yet, but there was now even a lot of requests in email and I will now give some insight. The problem with the work and the project is that until 21:09 and school holidays are really all projects with the school are directly or indirectly. So I know, for a still not where I'm going to work exactly - what is but also that we divide ourselves and this division can not simply place - nor do I have currently a solid project.
This does not mean I hang out and just do nothing, although I can not complain on review. It are several smaller tasks and projects, among which I change again and again.
First, I have worked a little on the field - bananas, cassava and rice. We can fall back here only the simplest tools, such as shovel, machete, hoe, ... say it is muscle strength and stamina required. Especially if it is not covered, the work is pretty sweaty. be edited for banana and cassava must come before all the soil, rice is scattered in small holes.
The current largest project is ongoing and putting up bins in the city. Waste is also an issue in itself, so please contact us, there are a lot of garbage on the streets and the erection of public garbage cans is a very useful purpose. The bins are large plastic bucket attached to a metal rod and be planted in the ground. With 2-3
such trash, we go by car to busy intersections and places to dig a hole about 30cm deep, will use the trash can and fill it with cement and gravel again. In total we have over 50 pieces and half was in place. Be emptied the trash from the city, which leaves out the content from the town where he, as I understand it burned.
The last project began this week: la Crèche. A kindergarten / nursery, which in the past year with the Help of volunteers was set up and can help out now and find volunteers. But there are holidays so can the whole student, not just going to school, take care good to the little (2-5 years), so currently the Crèche is more employment work, as the nursery school teachers could get on well alone, rightly.
The daily routine:
The only time when I can really do something physical in the morning until the afternoon heat begins. Therefore, all accessible on quite early, the sun does finally have to clock at 5:30.
three hours a day I work in the Crèche, where are we volunteers divided into blocks.
same plant the other, if the conditions are good, trash. At 12:30 clock and 18:30 clock there in my warm home meals. From 17:00 clock reads Spraying clothes and wear long, malaria can greet and against 18:30 clock it is dark. In the evening I go off and in a bar, of which there are both the deafening dance bars, and are quieter. By 22:00 in the week clock bed time, weekends can also be ever later, when it is dark again, time makes no difference here. However, I am Saturdays, and tomorrow, already had a trip or sport, which in turn should be started in the morning. Say, tomorrow I'm at 5:00 Clock on because we have an appointment for a small hike.
must I also wash my laundry at least once a week, of course, with cold hands and soap, which also takes proper time. Is not always advisable to wash everything at once, because in the rainy season, heavy rain I could usually bring my shirt.
Finally, a few answers to questions. Although it sounds funny, the showers and the toilet does not use a bucket with me I think in general with the fewest problems. It's amazingly well and is not at all unhygienic, and all other volunteers think the same way.
