Happy 2026 from Togo

Hello, everyone and happy 2026! It's been a while since my last post, so I thought I'd share a quick update on what I've been up to over the past few months.

"Farmer Jane"

I enjoyed a month home in the states in September, spending time with family and friends. I enjoyed some familiar activities that I don't often get to do in Togo like canoeing, fishing, hiking, eating ice cream, wearing sweaters, using a microwave, driving a car, and watching good old American football. I returned to Togo in October to begin my third year as a Peace Corps volunteer.

However, this year of service looks a little different for me. After spending two years in my previous community in the Centrale Region of the country, I have relocated to the Plateau Region to work in partnership with Kailend Farm, a local non-profit that focuses on training youth and women in organic and sustainable gardening, agroforestry, and other agricultural techniques. I am currently living and working on the farm, and my tasks and responsibilities range from training women, children, and university students in sustainable agriculture techniques; leading community outreach in the surrounding area; helping manage fieldwork and field operations; and searching for potential partnerships and collaboration with other organizations in the area.

Trainees with the greenhouse they built

While I'm still in Togo, my day-to-day looks quite different than my previous two years, and sometimes the Plateau Region feels like an entirely different country with a different climate, environment, languages, cultures, crops, and ways of living. Adjusting to a new job schedule and pace of life has been challenging in ways I didn't anticipate, but I have enjoyed the challenges of adjusting to a new environment and stepping into new roles on the farm. I have spent time with fellow volunteers in the region, exploring cities in the area I didn't have much time to visit in my first two years. I have also gone back to visit Aouda, my previous community, twice since returning to say hello to friends and check in on some of my projects. The grand "homecoming" did not disappoint, as people excitedly welcomed me back, many of them shocked I had taken it upon myself to actually return. I could see how much it meant to people that I had come back, and I think my visits demonstrate my love and appreciation for the community in a way my words never could communicate.

Playing a match with my team in Aouda

Now that I have settled into my new role and new location (though every day I am experiencing new challenges and situations that push me to keep adapting and learning), I have started to reflect on the challenges and the value of doing an additional year of service in the same country, but in a different location. Togo is still Togo. There are many traits that are universal across the country: the way systems work, infrastructure, transportation, certain cultural values, and rural lifestyles. In this way, I felt myself quickly slip back into the daily life and movements of Togo. When I stepped off the plane in Lome upon my return and confidently moved through customs and ordered a taxi to the hotel where I already knew the staff, I appreciated how much I had learned and grown throughout my first two years in Togo. At this moment, I remembered the first time I arrived in the Lome airport. I was nervous, uncertain, a little scared, didn't understand a word of French, and sweating A LOT. The last time around, I was still sweating, but I had a new set of skills, knowledge, and experiences that made me feel more confident, more adaptable, and ready to face any unexpected challenges--which I knew at this point were inevitable.

A little carpentry work with my fellow volunteer, Oli

While the familiarity has been comforting, or at least predictable (of course the taxi will break down for an hour during a 30-minute trip), the regional differences and the nuances of being in a new community with a new role has kept me on my toes, constantly pushing me to adapt and evolve. While the Centrale region was dominated by the Kabiye and Koto Koli peoples, the Plateau region is home to the Ewe, Mina, and Ikposso--entirely different groups of people with different languages, traditions, and cultures. It is a great example of just how diverse Togo is, despite being a small country. I live 5 hours away from my old community, yet the languages, natural environment, and climate are entirely different. Just as I start to get a grasp on one language, I encounter someone speaking an entirely new language. It's quite humbling when you're constantly encountering new experiences, and it is quite interesting to see how different groups of people interact and communicate across different cultures and ethnic backgrounds.

Thanksgiving at Kailend Farm

My work has been keeping me busy, but I have found time to make new friends, spend time with old friends, explore local markets, and play a bit of soccer. I look forward to the next few months and all of the new experiences and challenges I will encounter that will push me to continue to learn and adapt. I will do my best to continue updating my blog, and I would appreciate any feedback regarding topics my readers are interested in learning more about regarding Togo. As I enter my fourth calendar year in Togo, many things have become normalized and background noise to me. As a result, I have forgotten how certain aspects of life here are totally foreign and new to people back home. Your questions can help inspire my next few blog posts, as my goal of writing is to focus on different topics important and unique about Togo rather than simply providing life updates.

I hope everyone is enjoying their start to 2026 and staying safe and healthy at home.