The journey is undergo! I'm Heathrow bound and the nerves are in full swing! Day 1 and I already want to kick the best friends ass. I've not even seen her yet, desperately trying to get hold her as my luggage is 2 kg over which equals big money! That's before I've even left the country! 

Will keep you all posted!

Missing you all already! 

-A x

Le Samedi 23 Juin dernier, tous les volontaires et quelques membres du staff étaient à Kpomé, un village situé à 25km à l’Est de la ville de Lomé,  pour une campagne de sensibilisation et d’éducation de la population sur quelques maladies tropicales et le droit des enfants.

Nous nous sommes retrouvés  au bureau de Projects Abroad à 7 heures  du matin et nous sommes partis pour Kpomé à bord d’un bus  mis à la disposition des volontaires.  Arrivé à Kpome, nous avons été  accueillis  par le chef du village et une forte délégation de la population.

Les volontaires  se sont constitués en trois groupes selon leur projet ; groupe médical, groupe de droit de l’homme et le groupe de soin ;  Ils ont tout de suite commencé la  sensibilisation de la population,  après les mots de bienvenue des différentes autorités présentes.

Les volontaires médicaux ont éduqué la population sur l’ulcère de burrili, le Noma et le paludisme ; ceux de droit ont parlé sur le droit des enfants alors que les volontaires de soins se sont donné pour tache d’éduquer les enfants de l’orphelinat Vigneron sur la propreté en générale et en particulier sur l’hygiène bucco-dentaire.

Après le déjeuner, nous avons fait un tour en pirogue sur le lac Togo. Un match de foot opposant les volontaires filles et l’équipe féminine du village soldé par un but à zéro a mis fin au programme de la journée.  Les volontaires sont heureux d’avoir donné le meilleur d’eux même à cette population ; Pour les autorités du village, ils remercient  Projects Abroad pour leur actions et espèrent  une seconde visite dans leur village dans un futur proche.

13 days until the big departure and I'm counting down the hours! My body is tingling with excitement and anticipation, along with forming antibodies after my recent 10 injections! Bruises are still prominent so short sleeves are still folded in the wardrobe from fear of the neighbours calling social services. Not that the lower arm region is missing out the much in this measly weather! I'm getting side-tracked... 

I'd say that anticipation is a little stronger for me than others, due to my recent suffering of Whooping Cough. Nothing 4 sets of antibiotics, 3 different doctors and a nurse couldn't solve! Typical NHS! However, I'm fighting fit again apart from the occasional coughing fit where I have to assure people that I do not, in fact, need the Heimlich Maneuver! 

It is the first time in my life that my floor has been covered in clothes and Mother has not given me a death sentence. Spread out on the floor and I still do not know whether the clothes I have acquired in the summer sales will be sufficient for Togolese culture. I am attempting to fit in and not stick out like a sore thumb, something which I am sure will happen anyway due to skin milk-bottle skin and curly blonde hair! I have noticed that while I adore spending hours scrolling through information about my forthcoming trip, I am still very much in the dark about clothing requirements! If anyone has any advice, I'd appriciate it greatly. 

I have already briefed my parents that my suitcase may be several hundred kilos overweight when I arrive home and we may have roughly 28 new additions to our family! 

Twiddling my thumbs for July 31st...

- A x

The injection was fine and now that's all my immunisations taken care of! Just bought my malaria tablets as well, my friend said they taste horrible but that's got to be better than getting malaria right? The nurse thought my arm looked sore so she asked if I wanted a plaster and the only one she could find had tigers on it. She thought it was rather fitting as I am going to Africa, so I proudly showed of my arm to everyone in town that day Less than two weeks to go now... I’m soooo excited! 

It is a pity that you don't get tigers in Africa.....

Well this blog has been a long time coming, but I have been having the worst technical difficulties, it seems that I repel technology. However, I am buzzing with excitement for my trip to Togo and it has just hit me how soon I will be departing for my flight to Ghana. TWO WEEKS TODAY! I am just off on a trip to the GP to get my final injection; I will soon be immune to Hepatitis B. After that I am going to town to get some appropriate clothing for the togolese climate.