COS Conference

Last week, We had our COS (close-of-service) Conference at a nice hotel on the beach in Lome. Every volunteer from my original training group attended.  What was once a group of 31 of us had been dwindled down to only 17. Almost half of us did not make it this far.

We spent three days talking about our re-adjustment to life back in the states and how we would talk about our service to friends, family, and potential employers. We also received our dates of departure from Togo. I'm leaving here November 18th.

I am eager to come home.  I have learned a lot through this experience, and in these last few months I hope to write some deep well though-out posts on my Peace Corps service. I am sorry I have not been writing more frequently lately. For now consider the following:

Two years ago I posted a picture of myself on the beach looking pensively out to sea. Here is photo of me take at our conference (sporting my hip Euro Trunks given to me by my girlfriends on my 26th birthday). If you don't know whether I will have changed when I come back, grown, matured, or whatever, do know that my taste in swim trunks has gotten a whole lot awesomer.

Highlights From My Parents Trip

These first two pictures are from the victory celebration in Ghana when they beat the USA in the world cup. I was there with my parents, watching the game on a big theater screen in a bus station parking lot. Thousands paraded up and down the street. It looked like a riot, only everyone was happy instead of angry. My camera couldn't catch the parade of people miles long, it was a pretty special moment for my family and me, and for the country of Ghana, who had never advanced that far in the world cup. Although I was slightly bummed the USA got eliminated from the tournament.

Thes pictures from Elmina castle near Cape Coast in Ghana. This castle is the oldest European building in Sub-saharan africa, built in the 1500's if I remember correctly. It was depressing to see this, but fascinating. We learned a lot about the history of the slave trade and the different countries that have occupied and used the castle in the past.

My parents took many more pictures than I did on the trip. I keep encouraging them to post photos on here and give their outlook on my life here. Hopefully that will come soon.

School Renovation Project

I am sorry I have not posted in a while. My parents keep telling me that people are asking about the school. It is going well. I would say it is about four fifths finished. There are a few steps left for one classroom, mainly reinforcing the roof supports with concrete, rather than wood. Here are a few pictures so you can see the progress. When school starts up again in September we will finish everything. Thank you all again.