The Beaches

The beaches here are absolutely beautiful. It is very hard to describe with words other than breathtaking. However, there is a big difference between the public and private beaches. This is a picture is of Coco Beach, a private beach, near sunset. The public beaches are not as clean as the private beaches. Every Sunday the public beaches are filled with people and music from around noon until well past dark (by the way it gets dark at 6:30PM). The private beaches tend to have alot of litter, homeless people, and vrime (theft). It is a rule of thumb not to travel to the public beaches at night. I live about 10 minutes from the beach. I can see and hear it from the roof of my school.

Shelly at the Market

Grande Marche' (Big Market)

There is only one word to describe it...AMAZING!!! There is about a two mile radius with nothing but small shacks, stands, and people walking around selling items. The people are selling everything from fresh produce to undershirts to hair weave. It reminds me of a outdoors Farmer's Market on steroids. SOOOO many vendors and even more product.

Lome, Togo has the best selection of fresh produce I have ever seen (and those who know me know that food is my hobby). There is a endless supply of fresh pineapples, plantains, bananas, papayas, mangos, oranges, tomatoes, lettuce, carrots, apples, and any other fruit or vegetable you could imagine. As I said AMAZING!!! You can purchase two grocery bags of oranges for about $3.00. It is crazy how it is "organic" in the US and "normal" and AFFORDABLE in here in Togo.

The tropical flowers are to die for and just like the fruit AFFORDABLE. Now I just need a vase, so that I can adorn my room with such beauty.

There are two rules when at the market.
1. Only look at items if you want to purchase them. NO browsing here. People get very aggressive with trying to make a sale and it is hard to get them to back off. Your best bet os to know what you want in advance!!!

2. Never take the first price the vendor gives. Always take the price they give at cut it half. There always seems to be an extensive, aggressive conversation at this part of the sell. This can be very intimidating, so I just steer clear and give them the first price. Just call me a peace maker (or weak).

Ar-cen-ciel International School

The school has three campuses: Maternelle (3-5 year olds), Primarie (1st - 5th grades), and Secondarie (6th-12th grades). The residential section is housed at the Primarie school. It is set up like a collage dorm: two bedrooms, one bathroom, a living area, and a kitchen. My roommate is another American teacher from Arkansas. We spend a lot of time together planning and learning the culture and city.

Every morning I walk to the maternelle school (about 7-10 minutes). I really enjoy this time in the morning because it gives me the chance to reflect on my day to come. I work from about 7:30 AM -11:30 AM teaching seven 3-4 year old students. Three of my students speak English and the rest speak French. It is a busy day because we have Circle Time, Language, Math, Center Time, Snacks, Play Time, Story Time, and Crafts (all of this has to be completed in 4 hours!!). Most days I am running around like a chicken with my head cut off, but it is so much fun. They love to sing and dance:-)

At noon, I walk back home and there is a hot meal waiting for me (made by one of the women here). It is usually a salad, stewed chicken or beef, and pasta/ rice/potatoes, and bread. After lunch I nap for 2 hours or so. On Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursday I head back to work at three. For two hours I teach English to 3-5 year olds. It is pretty fun. This part of the day flies by. At around 5:00PM I am walking back home. I am not ready to venture off into the city without someone who speaks fluent French and some English, so mostly I just hang around the school in the evenings.

At around 6:30 PM it gets dark and dinner is served. I will not be loosing any weight (the food is great and I do not have to cook or clean). This is the best. Mosylt in the evenings I read or talk to Clara...byt the way I have read 4 books in two weeks:-) I am starting number five tonight.

My First Two Weeks

I miss you America!!!! I am sorry I have not graced this blog with my experiences in almost two weeks. This has been a jam packed 2 weeks (it feels like two months). I have seen so much in such a little time. I am sorry about the pics. It has been a pain to get a strong enough internet signal to get them uploaded. I will keep trying.

I love Africa!!! It is amazing!!! There lives a constant sense of hope and life, despite the disparity and poverty that lurks throughout the streets. I am constantly reminded that most of my life I have focused on my WANTS in life, not realizing that to live only my NEEDS are to be met. The people here live on a NEEDS basis and it tends to simplify life in a manner that was surprising to me.

Where Do I Begin???

Where do I begin??? So much has happened since my arrival in Africa yesterday. There is so much I want to share.

The Journey from Accra, Ghana to Lome, Togo

Well, my plane landed in Accra, Ghana at 8:00Am Sunday morning (11 hour plane ride). after retrieving my bags from baggage claim I waited in the airport for a couple of hours for someone from the school to pick me up. I could not fathom why it took him so long to come and get me, Lome is ONLY two hours away (or so I thought). Since he was late, he sent two friends who live in Ghana to greet me and wait with me until he arrived. These men were very nice and hospitable. They offered me purified water in a 4 by 4 plastic bag (less pollution).

Let me get to the actual journey... We took a taxi to the bus station (not your average American bus station), which in a outdoor market place with any people. The bus was actually a mini van, which would take us to the Ghana/ Togo border. There were 11 people and my luggage cramped in this van for about 2 hours or so. At times we were on dirt roads, which had huge rocks and pot holes. I slept for a portion of the drive and attempted to have a conversation with the man from the school, who only spoke French. Needless to say, we had to use a translation dictionary, but it worked out well.

After we got to the order, I had to fill out a lot of paper work to leave Ghana. This took about 20 minutes. Once I got the okay to leave Ghana, I had to then go to the Togo border check and obtain a Visa, which cost about 45 US dollars. this was very interesting because I had my bags inspected and I had to go through Customs. The people were generally nice:-) They seemed to argue a lot, but I soon found out what they were really doing...

After crossing the Togo border after another 20 minutes, we caught a taxi to the school (where I am living). While waiting for the taxi to drive to the school, I encountered a huge argument amongst some cab drivers. They were out of their cars and yelling and waving their hands at each other...I later realized this started as a negotiation for money and patrons, which is a BIG deal here, and turned in to much more. When all was said and done, the trip from Accra, Ghana to Lome, Togo took about 4 1/2 hours. Now I know why he was late:-)

So I am here and all is well. Some of the people here speak French, but mostly the local dialect. some of the French I learned in high school is coming back, but I have a long way to go.

The School

The school has three campuses and was founded 25 years ago on the patio of the owners house. I got to share a wonderful meal with them last night. They are a wonderful Iranian family with a great desire to share knowledge with the local people of Togo.

I will post pictures soon!!!

Africa Here I Come, Again

On my tenth call to the Ghana Consulate in New York, someone finally picked up the extension that connected to the ONLY person in the entire building who handled VISAS. Unlike my pass experiences with the Ghanaians at the Consulate, this woman was very informative and polite. My visa will be processed today and will be sent back to Atlanta this evening. Hopefully it will be here at some point tomorrow, since I used Express mail. Depending on when it arrives tomorrow, I can possibly get on the last flight at 12:25 PM. I it does not get here in time I will try to catch the first flight out on Saturday. Keep me in your prayers.

The Incredible, Edible, Ghana Visa

So here it is 6:20 PM on Wednesday, August 27, 2008 and where in the world is Shelley???? Well Shelley is sitting on the couch at Courtney's town home in Atlanta, GA... OMG... What happened??? Long story short I was...correction...Courtney and I were at the largest airport in the world yesterday from 10AM to 4:30 PM trying to organize my next move, since Delta Airlines would not let me on the plane without a Ghana Visa. I am sure there are folks out there saying "Shelley, duh. I knew you needed a visa." To you I say, "Why did you not tell me????" This just goes to show that not matter how prepared one THINKS they are for life there will undoubtedly be a curve balls thrown...the only solution is to roll with the pitches.

If you now me you know that yesterday was full of tears, walking, talking, and just mere FRUSTRATION!!! But God sent me a support system yesterday (sometimes I forget how blessed I am) . Courtney dropped me off at the airport and was due to work at 1PM, when she got a whiff of the drama that was about to go down, she immediately called the Braves and told them she would need the day off. I would have crumbled for sure if she was not there.

I am currently waiting on the visa. I sent my passport and paperwork to the Ghana Consulate in New York and now I wait!!! I am booked for a flight out on Friday, but it all depends on the incredible, edible, Ghana Visa:-)

SURPRISE!!! i am NOT my hair

AFTER

BEFORE

So here is the surprise. I did it!!!!

Afterwards, I looked in the mirror and did not recognize the person staring back at me. I have spent most of my life using my hair as a protective shield. This shield covered up my insecurities, self doubt, and at times my lack of self confidence (some will call it faking it until you make it). No longer can I hide!!! I am a child of God and this is how he made me. I am 100% exposed to the world with no where to run. THIS IS ME and I LOVE IT.

I now introduce to you... Shelley and all of her beauty, insecurities, self doubt, intelligence, kinky hair, and confidence (just to name a few). I love her and I hope you do to:-)

8 Days and Counting!

Tick, Tick, Tick, Tick!!!! The time is quickly ticking by until I depart on the adventure of my life. I am still in the process of getting things packed to go into storage. I have had to purge so much clothing from my wardrobe. It is amazing how many clothes I had that I did not wear and had not worn for years. This is awful...someone could have been getting good use out of those clothes. I am now about to purge my suitcases (which are almost packed) because I think I packed too much. I am limited to 2- 50 pounds suitcases on the plane. I mailed three boxes of items today to Togo. Hopefully they will get arrive the same week I arrive (cross your fingers and pray to God). This is a short posting, but stay soon because I will have a HUGE surprise in a few days;-0 What ever could it be??????

16 Days and Counting!!!

Well guys there are only 16 days left until I depart for Lome. I am very excited and anxious to step my feet on African soil. I got my last vaccine (Yellow Fever) yesterday. Turns out I only needed 6 shots--Whoa! Hoo! God is good all of the time. My dear friend, Courtney, took me to the World Travel Clinic and took fantastic care of me. She is the best:-)

My Roots!!
I just had my African ancestry traced through mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequence testing. This DNA test traced my maternal lineage (in other words, my mother's mother's mother's mother). Enough of that info let's reveal my African Ancestry...1...2...3... the Masa people, who settled in present day Cameroon. Of course, I plan on visiting this country whilel in Africa. I have started doing research on the tribe, but have come up empty handed. The Masa people make up a very small percentage of the population in Cameroon. I will keep you all updated on this new revelation.


Following God's Path
As I prepare to embark on this life journey, I am reminded every minute of every day that this is God's plan for my life. There were days when I did not know if this life journey would be possible, financially and mentally. But every time I carried doubt and worry in my heart, God revealed himself to me in the people he put in my life. I have had some amazing, generous, and dedicated people who have made it a priority to get me safe and sound to Africa and I know with every breath in my body that these people were (and continue to be) a gift from God. I say all of this to say THANK YOU to these people (they all know who they are). I thank God for you all every day. I love you all!!!

28 Days and Counting

Take Off

I will be departing for Lome' on Tuesday, August 26, 2008. The flight leaves Atlanta, layovers in New York, and then heads straight for Accra, Ghana. I should arrive in Ghana on Wednesday, August 27, 2008 at 8:20AM. After my arrival in Ghana, I will board a plane and fly from Acrra, Ghana and Lome', Togo. My total flight time will be approximately 19-20 hours (Thank God for ipods, books, and granola bars!). Lome' is four hours ahead of US Eastern time. I step my feet on Togo soil at 11:40 AM, Wednesday, August 27, 2008 (that would be 7:40 AM Atlanta).

Vaccines, Medicine, and More

Who knew that traveling to Africa would require such extensive vaccines and medication. Up to date, I have had a total of five vaccines: Polio, Meningitis, Rabies, Typhoid, and Hepatitis A. All of these injections were received in a 5 minute time frame. Needless to say, my body had a difficult time acclimating. I had a 102 degree fever the following day:-(

Some would say, "Good job, Shelley. You made it through five shots and now it is time to go to Africa." My response would have to be, " WRONG!" I still have two more vaccines (Yellow Fever and MMR). I am putting these off as long as I possibly can. There is no time to be confined to the bed with a fever from those vaccines. I have people and see and things to do before I leave.

Not only do I have vaccines, I have to take Malaria medication every day starting two days before my departure and one month after my arrival back to the United States. The Malaria medication (the prescription in my price range, which is 60 cents per pill) is an antibiotic. Ladies you know what that means:-( Now I have to take medication to fight the itching and irritability that can be caused by antibiotics. When will this end!

My Lome' Connection

Thanks to my dear Friend Amber F. (you know who you are), who is always looking out for me despite the distance between us. Amber put me in contact with a US family, who was moving to Lome for 18 months. I have been e-mailing back and forth with this family and it is so heart warming to know I have a familiar faces (even though I have never seen them). This family has offered me the use of their washer and dryer and just good ol' fellowship if I need it. This is truly a blessing from God.

My Journey to Lome, Togo

Preparation! Preparation! Preparation!

The time has come for me to start seriously preparing for my ten month journey to Lome, Togo in Africa. While I am in Africa I will be teaching PreK-Kindergarten at ArcenCiel International School of Lome. Visit the school's website at http://www.arc-en-ciel.org/Eng/home.htm. I am tentatively scheduled to leave the United States on August 27, 2008. The exact date and time will be determined very soon.

Passport
I am going to the post office tomorrow to apply for my passport. Who knew passport photos could look so awful:-) I am comforted by the fact that passport photos are an inaccurate depiction of true beauty.

Vaccines
I made an appointment for June 9, 2008 at 8:30 AM to get international travel consultation and many vaccines. So far I am aware of three needed vaccines: Typhoid, Yellow Fever, and Hepatitis A. My arms are going to deflate from the inside out ( I am petrified of NEEDLES!). I am going to need a lot of ice cream after this arm numbing experience.