They've Seen the Movies

Clearly living here is giving us a taste of new cultures. But as many of you lovers-of-travel know, one usually comes back having learned more about their own culture than anything else.

I was about to take Nala out for a walk the other day. By this time, our guards had gotten used to her. And even begun to like her. One in particular enjoys practicing the "Sit Nala" and then "High Five!" game with her. He does it every time he sees her and then busts out laughing as her little paw smacks his hand.

Generally speaking though, the Togolese are petrified of dogs. They'll see you coming with one and cross the street to get as far away as possible. Or just stop and stare. Sadly, there's an army of stray, violent dogs in this country. And the people who do own dogs generally do so for protection only - not companionship. The dogs often end up malnourished, sick and mean.

So our ever-growing black Labrador, who loves people so much that she freaks out and wants to jump all over them when they come near, can literally make them scream in terror.

I commented on this to our guard before I left and asked if people here thought we Americans were off our rockers for walking around with dogs on leashes and loving all over them.

He got very serious and told me that, no, they don't think we're crazy. "We see the films. We know you love dogs like you love people."

Yes, well, when you put it like that...