New Year

A new year and a new country for the Africa Mercy! The ship has a whole refreshed attitude (at least I feel that way!) since we are gearing up for a new field service. It is beginning to get busier as new crew arrives because the first screening is in a little over a week. Everyone is really excited to begin opening the hospital and meeting the patients. The ship was in Togo only 1 year ago, so  a majority of the local dayworkers are the same. It was so fun on their first day back to see everyone be reunited. Anyways… mostly what I am trying to say is that I have a really good vibe about the ship’s time in Togo and it is super encouraging.

Togo is almost indescribably different from Sierra Leone. Last weekend was my first time out and I feel like as we drove/walked around I was just trying to process how to even try to explain it. Let me start by saying it is a French speaking country. Ha- can we PLEASE just think of me in an African country where I can’t even speak a WORD of the language?!? It is pretty funny… today a small group of us went out to dinner and I bravely tried to say my order… and I definitely read the words like you would in Spanish. The waiter laughed at me BUT he did know what I wanted (which could be because I pointed on the menu, but whatever!). I consider it a success anyways. It is totally incredible how many people here know a bit of English (or a lot) and how in one glance they all know that we don’t speak French. The roads here are pretty clean and the traffic moves really quickly. Beach Road is a main highway-ish type road that is 4 lanes with a median and there are even sidewalks on either side for people to walk on. There are traffic lights and street lights and roundabouts which drivers seem to obey the rules of. Beach Road is along the coast and the beach even has garbage cans lining it! Most places have electricity and there are tons of restaurants in town. The market in the city is really busy and resembles Sierra Leone… but it just has a different feel to it and I am not sure why. Oh, I almost forgot… the sewers are covered… and I consider this a MAJOR improvement. 

The port that we now call home is very big. There are many other ships docked with us and when I look out my window in my classroom I can see 35 other ships sitting in the ocean. It is humid, but always super breezy and so the heat doesn’t really seem so bad. It is really smoggy out and the winds are constantly blowing sand from the deserts so it always looks overcast out.It literally is always like this and sometimes you can barely see to the other side of the port because it is so thick. More adventures to come I am sure. I need to learn my way around before my parents get here to visit!!! Which is in only 9 1/2 weeks!!! It. will. be. SO. great.

In Port

Pic of the port from Deck 8, starboard side

Out my classroom window! Look at all the big ships in the distance!

Garbage cans lining the street AND a sidewalk! I thought this needed to be documented.

Please note the traffic lights… and the palm trees. It’s like a bit of West Palm!

Kayleigh and I organized a Friday the 13th party with a 13 theme!! We had thirteen snacks and they were arranged on the table to look like 13. There were 13 teachers invited and to attend you had to be wearing 13 items of clothing or accessories! It was really just an excuse to spend time together and have lots of snacks!

A real ice cream shop in Togo!! We are VERY happy 🙂