“Cleanliness is next to godliness”

I love to clean. Heck, apart from wanting to be a marine biologist, my other dream job would be to work in a huge mansion as a very well-paid maid, about 100K a year. If I could only deal with all the silverware (see “Etiquette 101” entry). J
No, really, I love cleaning. I do it almost every single day here in Togo. Well, I cleaned almost everyday in the US too, but I do it excessively here. During the harmattan season (November to March) I cleaned twice a day. I know, it’s ridiculous, but I couldn’t stand the look of unpolished wood. Most volunteers clean their homes once a month or once in their service. Some pride themselves on the latter, but I see nothing to be had. Cleaning is essential. Maybe not everyday, but at least once a week. Those same volunteers who clean once a year also have the worst hygiene. I still don’t understand why they make it a competition to have gone the longest without bathing or washing their clothes. Most Americans don’t like the way Togolese smell, but that’s because they don’t have deodorant, it’s not because they haven’t showered. But we as Americans should know the importance of good hygiene and have the means of purchasing a stick of deodorant, so there’s no excuse. Good hygiene prevents sickness and disease. It allows one to see potential areas of infection or growth, like skin cancer. Sure, some go overboard in the fragrance department, but a nice bar of soap can go a long way, no perfume needed. It’s difficult to teach on a subject matter so important to the well-being of others when the presenter doesn’t apply the information on him/herself.
Hygiene is a huge problem here in Togo in part because of lack of sewage infrastructure. Latrine projects are huge around here, but what happens when they fill up? Well, you make another one nearby, right? How often is this happening? From what I can see, not very often at all. In Lome people use the restroom on the ocean shore (that’s numbers 1 and2). So, if you see my pics of the ocean, you won’t see many people around. In Kpalime, people use the restroom just about anywhere. If you need to go, no need to hold it. Older women hike up their skirts and go. Who am I to tell them otherwise? Where can I tell them to go? There are no public restrooms and latrines are hard to find (or I’m just not looking hard enough.) I always see someone “using the restroom” on roadsides or against buildings. But, what gets me the most is when people relieve themselves in fields. This is never acceptable. How can it be? Some volunteers don’t buy fruits, veggies, or rice unless it comes from the grocery store, which is extremely expensive. But, I don’t blame them. I don’t buy certain local products, but I generally bleach all my fruits/veggies whether I peel them or not. I do my best to stay clean both inside and out. Now, if we could only have a competition to see who’s the cleanest. I already know my competition. Again, this is cleanest not best dressed. For that, there are a hundreds of Togolese who’ve got me beat.