Pre-pre departure

It's official: I have my tickets for Togo! I'll be here in Wisconsin until September 16th, when I fly to Philadelphia for my pre-departure orientation with the rest of the new Togo PCV's. After a day of immunizations (yiiikes) and seminars, we then leave on the 17th for Lome, Togo's capital, where we have training for about three months before we get our site assignments. As a Girls' Education and Empowerment (GEE) volunteer, I'll most likely be in a larger-ish village that has a middle school, and according to one returned GEE from Togo, I will probably have electricity in my house! But I'm trying not to set my expectations too high... much better to be surprised than disappointed.


Right now I'm spending about a month at home preparing for the trip and otherwise basking in all that is America. Frozen custard? Check. Air conditioning? Brats on the grill? Driving a car? Check check check. One of the "letters to future volunteers" from a current PCV included in the welcome packet said to stop stressing about packing lists and go eat a taco. I hope all peace corps advice is so easy to follow.


I'm not sure what method of communication will be easiest while I'm gone, but I'm hoping I'll have access to the internet every now and then.  Feel free to comment on anything I post here, or facebook/ email me! Otherwise, if you'd like to send me a letter, here's my address in Lome:

PCT/PCV Ellen Van Cleave
Corps de la Paix
B.P. 3194
Lome, Togo
West Africa

For those of you in DC, I already miss you like crazy! I promise I'll do my best to keep this blog updated with stories and pictures, so please call me on it if I'm slacking. Til next time...