Tuesday, August 25, 2009

The Reserve List

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For two years, when spending time with Americans, Peace Corps Volunteers hang out almost exclusively with each other. Sure, there are visitors, passersby, and the occasional run-in with Embassy acquaintances, but these are few and far between. Somewhere during this two-year window—and no one is certain exactly when—something happens. Our isolation breeds a subculture. Our vernacular scrambles French words in English sentences and vise versa. If particular emphasis is desired, we might even sprinkle a few words of local language into the mix. Our jokes become increasingly cryptic; outsiders have not a clue of the punch lines. Non-volunteer Americans could perceive volunteers as clicky, obnoxious, or perhaps just knuckleheaded.


Try as we might to control this unavoidable side effect, it requires constant vigilance, like making sure a harsh word doesn’t slip near your grandparents. I often read the expression of on a newcomer’s face. Their glossed eyes contemplate, “Who are these people?” Occupied as we are with fitting into a foreign culture, we slowly forget accepted norms of our own.


As I celebrated my 25th birthday a few days ago however, a fellow Volunteer gave me a present offering absurdity for both worlds. Following a tradition in his family, he designed a pseudo-wine entitled Chateau Ogaro inspired from our locally made beer, tchakpa . (He spent the bulk of my actual birthday crammed in the mail room, singularly possessed in his work, like Captain Ahab stewing in his chambers en route towards the white whale.) Tickled as I am with this invaluable souvenir of Togo, posting the blurb written on Chateau Ogaro only seems fitting. A few phrases are esoteric, but on the whole, the masses can tap into the hilarity. To be sure, this is a rare event. Any time a Volunteer rises above our specific lingo and reaches a larger audience, he needs a pat on the back. Enjoy Chateau Ogaro: Quarter Century Edition, complements of Andrew Jacobs.


THIS RARE SPARKLING TCHAKPA IS A DELIGHT TO ANY TASTER WHO HAS AN IMPULSE FOR ADVENTURE OF THRILL. PRODUCED EXCLUSIVELY IN A SMALL CORNER OF THE WORLD, THE MILLET GRAINS OF CHATEAU OGARO ARE HAND PICKED ON THE ARID HILLSIDES OF NORTHERN TOGO, ONLY ACCESSIBLE BY BICYCLE OR DONKEY. C.O. IS PROUD TO CLAIM 100% ORGANIC AUTHENTICITY, EACH STALK OF MILLET IS INDIVIDUALLY FERTILIZED BY A LOVELY BLEND OF AWARD WINNING FULANI CATTLE (2005 GOLDERN HORN) AND LOCAL INHABITANTS, WHO ADD A HUMAN RICHNESS TO THE QUALITY OF THE WINE. HARVESTED ONLY ONCE A YEAR, PREPARED BY A SELECTED GROUP OF NON-ENGLISH SPEAKING WOMEN OVER SIXTY YEARS OLD, AND BOTTLED IN THATCH ROOF MUD HUTS, OUR PRODUCT DEFINES RARITY IN THIS EVERYDAY WORLD. EST. SOMETIME BETWEEN, BON, 1800-1900, C.O. HAS OUTLIVED THE GERMANS, THE FRENCH, AND EVEN THE LIONS AND ELEPHANTS WHO ONCE ROAMED ITS VINEYARDS. ITS CIDERESQUE, SMOKEY FLAVOR BRINGS OUT THE TASTE OF ANTIQUITY AND PROVIDES ITS BUVEUR WITH A SENSATION OF EUPHORIC LANGUOR ONLY FOUND IN TOGO. WE HERE AT C.O. HOPE THAT YOU ENJOY DRINKING OUR BEVERAGE AS MUCH AS WE DO MAKING IT. BONNE SANTÉ ET LONGUE VIE!

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