Liz Spectacular!

Life’s a stage, or at least it became one when I moved to Togo. Based on the reaction I get from the communities in which I live and work, I may very well be deserving of a primetime slot as their very own one woman sit-com—Though, I may fall more into the category of the slapstick humor of the three stooges more than anything else.

Based on my unique appearance I have long grown used to being stared and shouted at, but it is really only just dawning on me that I may very well be the most talented, funniest, and the clumsiest person in Togo. You may well remember the Liz from the U.S. being very much average, maybe a little clumsy, but not really TV quality material. What, you may ask, have I been smoking? Well if you had just had the morning I did and really the last year I’ve been living you may very well form the same opinion of yourself.

This morning I visited two villages in order to talk about HIV/AIDS.  I said “hello, my name is Yawavi” (my local name). I got hoots and a big round of applause, and then I blew them away with a good old explanation of my job, that one got a song in response. I was speaking the same language a three-year-old speaks here and probably at an even lower level, but with every Ewe word out of my mouth it’s like I have given a rousing speech, or maybe announced I was about to give everyone free candy. I can simply ask someone how things are going and there is a ripple through the crowd exclaiming how incredible it is. The only logical conclusion is that since coming to Togo I have become more eloquent and inspired in my speech.

In order to animate the crowed and lure villagers from their homes we asked a few traditional music groups to play their drums and sing. This of course leads to dancing, and believe you me, when I get up to dance it is a revelation everyone hugs me and shouts for joy. During events I often join in with the women dancing.  I follow along and hope that I break into fast dancing at the right time. Everyone wants to dance with me, and even those just spectating split into grins and give me a few good pats. Conclusion, it may just be that I am an awesome dancer.

Now alongside my previously mentioned talents of oration and dance, is the talent of being able to make everyone say “doucement” nearly every other word. “Doucement” translates into “be careful” and is said whenever anyone has an accident or nearly one or for me anytime I move. If I kick a clod of dirt as I walk, “doucement!” if I take a big step down a hill, “doucement!” if I step to the side to avoid being hit by a moto, “doucement!” if I slightly move a chair so that it scrapes on the floor, “doucement!” if the colleague I’m walking with stumbles slightly...silence, if I stumble slightly, “doucement!” Really I might as well accept that I have the making of the next slapstick humor star.

Everywhere I go I have a spotlight shining on me and I cannot do or say the simplest things without an audience. I am a one woman circus performing amazing feats of language and movement. While I can pretend that I’m under the big top wowing crowds with my tricks, I know that more likely than not I am actually in the sideshow tent.  I am alongside the dog walking on its hind legs and a singing parrot, but at least I’m getting laughs and smiles. For a limited time only it’s a Liz Spectacular!