Day to day life here has become normal. The other day I was asked about my day and I felt like saying "Oh, just normal. Nothing exciting.." Then I started to think about all that I had done that day. Which included so many things that would not be normal in the states.
In a normal day I wake up to see whether the electricity is on or off, and recently whether the water is on or off. Then I determine what I'll eat for breakfast, either heating up some oatmeal in the microwave or making pancakes on the gas stovetop. After cleaning my dishes and getting dressed I go downstairs to my classroom to teach, which for the most part is rather repetitive each day teaching spelling, math, science... etc. to the kindergartners. Then I go over to teach fourth grade french, then sixth grade french.
After teaching, I usually end up exhausted on the couch watching a movie with Bethany or Jacque or both depending on the day (whether it is an art day or science day or music day). Then there is either an errand to the market with Andrea, or a trip to the tailors to re-explain all of our instructions in french again... and reassure her that yes, those squares cut out of the corners of the pagnes are intentional... and she can still make the items with the remaining fabric :) Or randomly walking to the market, receiving cadeau calabashes, eating "pizza" at a local restaurant and then taking a moto taxi back to our street and racing the neighborhood children to my door. After any assortment of these activities we are whisked off to dine with one of the missionary families most nights, or we fabricate our own fabulous food! Sometimes we even cook in the candlelight due to the lack of electricity.
At the end of the day we now rejoice in relaxing in the refreshing cool air created by the new air conditioner we're blessed to now possess in our bedroom. I sleep on the same wall as the a/c so the old machine with the broken motor would put put put all night and then start booming the wall next to me in the middle of the night, so the new machine is such a great blessing to have, I have been sleeping splendidly and enjoying the cooler temperatures it creates in our abode.
Thinking of going back to the states in 6 weeks seems crazy to me! I can't imagine how much time has gone by, I still am unsure of what to expect when I go back... and after adjusting to the rhythm of life here in Kara, Togo I'm expecting quite a shock when I return to America. There are so many unknowns, where I will work and live, what I will do, and even as the unknowns get answered I feel uncertain as to whether the plans I make are going to work out or whether something unexpected will happen. Perhaps I've been in Africa long enough that I now naturally expect the unexpected.
