Have you ever experienced a rainstorm in Togo?
Let me paint you a picture.
The sun is out, and it is blisteringly (not sure if that's a word, but it is now) hot. Your entire body is glistening with a thin layer of sweat. And that's when you're not doing anything strenuous. As soon as you start to exert yourself, the glistening becomes sticky. Clothes and hair stick to you, and you automatically try to avoid touching anything that could make you hotter. The fans going at full power don't really help bring you cool air, but at least the air is moving.
You look out the window and see a cloud in the distance. After only a couple weeks in Togo, you can guess how long it'll take to reach you. Maybe you have some time to finish your errands or maybe you should hurry home a little early to avoid being caught in the rain.
Soon you will notice a change in the wind. Trash starts to fly down the street. If you happen to be on your bike, you need to take care to make sure your skirt doesn't fly up (definitely not speaking from experience...) If you're sitting inside, papers that have been sitting still all day suddenly flap and then fall to the floor. The temperature drops at least 10 degrees in a matter of minutes.
Even when you're in your house, you are much more exposed to the elements than in the States. The windows are open 99% of the time to keep the air moving. While there are screens on the windows, you still feel the changes outside.
Then the rain comes. Sometimes it starts lightly, but more often it comes pouring down all at once. Many of the roofs are made of tin and the sound of the rain through the open windows and on the roof is incredibly loud. You have to yell in order to be heard across the room. People who are responsible (i.e. not me) unplug their devices to avoid a power surge. If there is thunder, it means business. People don't usually keep dogs as pets here, but these are the kind of storms that would make your Spot or Fido freak out. I had to traverse through a rain storm in order to get dinner one evening (food is a priority people!). I had a rain jacket on, but I still came in soaked through and dripping water off of my nose.
Then it stops. Often as suddenly as it started. The sun comes back, and the air smells fresh. It is cool for a few more blissful hours until the heat creeps back in.
The rains are getting more and more spaced out. They'll stop pretty soon, and it might not rain for another 4-6 months. Everything green is going to turn to brown, and I am told it's only going to get hotter. I'm going to miss the rain.
This is the part where I talk about something I've learned or that is meaningful. I spent a good 10 minutes trying to think of a nice analogy that would tie in experiencing a rainstorm to something profound. I got nothing. The only thing that came to mind was that catchy song called Africa by Toto. Hence the title of this post. There's also a lovely song called Healing Rain by Michael W. Smith, but I have to admit that I don't really know what the lyrics mean....
Anyway. I like rain storms here.
In the next order of business, I am halfway through teaching the oncology course! Here are the halfway takeaways: 1. I am probably learning more than the students are. 2. Teaching is a whole new level of exhausting. 3. Do not say something if you're not prepared to answer the question, 'why?'. 4. I am so blessed to have this opportunity.
I'll update you more on the class soon, but I just spent all of my writing energy talking about rain... Hope you have a good day!
Because they haven't heard,
-C-
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