The views, opinions, and ideas expressed in this blog are solely those of the author. This account does not reflect the views of the government of Togo, Peace Corps Togo, other PC Volunteers, the United States Peace Corps, the US Government, your dog, Kara’s dog, or really anyone but me, because that would be ridiculous.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

The Desires of a PCV

Hey all! I have noticed that my birthday is a-coming. I know that for my entire life I’ve been hard to shop for but I think this year we can make it a bit easier. Here’s a list of stuff that would drive any PCV (especially this one) crazy. Of course, I don’t actually ‘need’ any of these things, so don’t stress over anything and, of course, anything will be greatly appreciated.

Joseph Mahach, PCV
Peace Corps
B.P. 3194
Lomé, Togo, West Africa

Books: any travel books (I’ve got access to Africa and West Africa travel guides, but would love stuff like the “Best American Travel Writing of 2010”), books on/about West and North Africa, especially Nigeria, Mali and Algeria, stuff by Keith Gessen (I read “All the Young Literary Men” and really liked it), stuff by Mark Jenkins (travel writing), I saw a travel guide called “The World’s Most Dangerous Places” it was really, really cool, but from 1996, if they still make it that would be cool to have, and anything else (I read a lot).

Magazines: National Geographic, Travel, Outside, Travel Africa, Men’s Health/Journal, Saveur.

Maps: Of anything - Africa, the US, California, Santa Cruz, and anything kinda weird and interesting. I really like maps.

Pictures: I can see pictures of all of your smiling faces on Facebook and what not, but it is a pain to download them or print them out. I’m currently making a push to decorate my house and I’d love to have pictures of family and friends to hang.

Wall calendars: people here leave calendars up for years (seriously, my chief has one from 2003) and they make great gifts. Anything with scenes of America or crazy stuff (like snow) that will blow Togolese minds.

Music: Little flash drives with new music, movies or TV shows would be a hit in the PCV community.

Sustenance: Don’t get me wrong, I love my daily regimen of oatmeal, rice and beans, rice and beans, rice and beans, and fried tofu, but good old Stateside food is awesome. Dried fruit, all candy, powdered sauces, and cheap, fake Cheese (Velveta) are just the tip of the iceberg of possibilities. Propel Fitness Water mix is great. Hot sauce. As always, Cheez-Its will drive PCVs crazy.

Money: While I am hesitant to start any project that requires me to hit up family and friends for money (seriously, that is probably the biggest problem that I have with Peace Corps and development organizations in Africa, but that’s another blog) I will be traveling to Burkina Faso, Ghana, Benin, Nigeria and maybe other places soon and visas, travel and bribes for border guards can eat up a Peace Corps living allowance pretty quick. And goals 2 and 3 of the Peace Corps are to expose other cultures to Americans and to expose Americans to other cultures, so any donations to “Joe’s Goal 2 and 3 Fund” do support the mission of the Peace Corps (I’ll check on their tax deductable status).

A phone call to say hey: +228 745 9207