Long time no see/hear?
Maybe a couple of weeks?
I have now been at site for a little over a week now and love it. I have my fair share of challenges and triumphs but overall I am pretty happy. :-)
A brief Summary of my activities:
Dec 15th.
Swore in as a peace corps volunteer at the Embassador's residence here. Lots of great pictures that I hope to upload soon. Swear in came with its share of politics and guest appearances by important people, none of whom i can name off of the top of my mind. After the party, we went across the street to the American Rec center. Pool party.
Dec 17th.
Clarissa, my site mate, and I bush taxi'd out to Fada where we spent a night and did some last minute shopping. Fada is a great city and we were able to get some fried chicken. FANTASTIC! Had a little run in with the police because we did not have bike lights, but ey, all good. We spent the night with a PCV in fada who took great care of us.
Dec 18th.
Clarissa and I met up with a peace corps driver and we were taken 6 hours east to our sites. What a nerve wrecking drive but we arrived in one piece and our driver took greatc are of us. He was great gave us food and made sure we were all settled in. We dropped Clarissa off first, moved her in, and then went off to my site. My house, which is huge, was not finished and there were guys still working on it when we arrived. My driver was a bit pissed off and had some choice words with the workers in Gourmanchema. I think he purposely used gourmanchema instead of french so that i could not understand what was going on. Ca va aller. I was thankful.
The workers continued building as I moved in and then my major, nurse, and I went to the CSPS where we started doing physical exams of high school students. All troisieme students must pass a physical exam if they want to play a sport at the lycee, high school.
It was kind of stressful being thrown into my new house and job all on the same day but i was also kind of thankful for the chance to keep my mind occupied enough that I did not focus on how alone i felt at that time.
My first night in my new house was kind of scary. I crashed at around 6:pm and slept through the night....
Until insane drums woke me up around midnight. Drumming, yelling, screaming....exorcism perhaps?
Anyways, i was freaked and tried to sleep through it. THREE HOURS LATA, they still going on so i decided to investigate.
I was not prepared for what i came across. A huge crowd dancing, yelling, and singing around a fire. Apparently, for funerals here, everyone in village drinks dolo, dances, and sings all night until the funeral in the morning. So they literally started at around 7pm and went through the morning until the funeral at around 10am.
INSANITY!!!!!!
I stayed until about 6am, but i was too tired and overwhelmed to dance all night.
Dec 19th.
My Major took me around to various religious/community leaders who were more than happy to greet and meet me. All in all, I got a day of VIP treatment. Pretty cool. I ended everything off by goign back to the funeral in the eveveening, getting free dinner. Pretty nice set up.
Then went to the bar with my CSPS staff where we ate a grileld chicken.
Dec20th.
Tuesdays are Baby weighing day! I spent the mornign weigting and measuring babies as we screen for malnutrition. Great day. only 7 babies out of about 100 identified as malnourished.
What was really exciting was being peed on. This one baby, as i was measuring him just let loose
klike... LET LOOSE LIKE NONE OTHER!
Boy was it impressive. What a well nourished and hydrated baby. I got a squirt in the mouth and it tasted like water and was clear. Clear urine is a good sign on proper hydration and nutrition. Although the pee in my face/mouth caught me by surprise, i was genuinely excited to see such a healthy baby.
The afternoon consisted of Clarissa and her homologue coming to my site so that we coould greet/meet more leaders.
This resulted in free fanta/coke for us, and another grilled chicken
Dec 21st.
Did more physical exams of children, received a delivery of food from the world food program. Beans, flour, oil, and a lot of other godo stuff to help prevent/support malnourished families. It seems like mhy village is really being supported by outside help. This is good but I would love to help my village support themselves. Sustainability will be a big deal here.
Dec 22nd.
Spend the morning passing out food to pregnant women. The aim of this program is to prevent malnourishment by making sure mothers and women are well nourished before they have babies.That way, everyone wins and we are ahead of the game.
Will finish later
Got to ruN!
Check out Clarissa's blog for more about my Christmas!
http://clarissa-burkinafaso.blogspot.com/
Monday, December 26, 2011
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Crash Course in Local Lang
Crash Course Gourmanchema
(I sound like a certain very tall and very hairy star wars character.....)
Translations are tough, because I'm learning this in French..... and then translating back to English. Weird
Translations are tough, because I'm learning this in French..... and then translating back to English. Weird
Times of the Day
·
Ku Tanuaagu
·
Ku Yensiinu
·
Ku Yenjuagu
·
Ku neeuhagu
Salutations
·
Morning goes well?
o
N Faanda? or u duanu guam?
·
Afternoon goes well?
o
N Toonda? Or liyentuli te?
·
Evening Goes well?
o
N Juaada? Or Ku Juote?
·
And you?
o
Den Pote
Introductions
·
N Yii…
o
My name is…
·
Amote?
o
And you?
·
Biyinga lede?
o
What do they call you? (Formal)
·
A yii lede
o
What do they call you? (Informal)
Good Byes
·
Tin tundi laamani
o
Good day
·
Se da limba
o
Until next time
·
Kaliyogunto
o
Until next time
·
Nwanfuondi denpo
o
Say hi to the family for me
·
Kali lan Pugini
o
For the moment
Professions
·
Lotoli
·
Cogibila Camba
·
Cogibila (Cogibiga)
·
Pkapkaalo
·
Madmaanlo
·
Tanmaalo
·
Ku Diegu n pua
·
Obonkuado
·
Teyila
·
Balpualo
Expressions
·
N tie
o
I am…
·
A tiedi be?
o
What do you do?
·
N tuuni
o
I work at
·
A tuuni le?
o
Where do you work?
·
N tuonli tie
o
My work is
·
N moko
o
Me too
·
A tie le yua?
o
Where do you come from?
·
N tie Americ yua
o
I am from america
·
N nani…
o
I am from America
·
A nani le?
o
Where do you come from?
Situation Matrimonial
·
Jawaalo
o
Young man
·
Jakpagili
o
Single man
·
Jafaano
o
Single Woman
·
Podaano
o
Married Man
·
Jadaano
o
Married Woman
·
Diedaano
o
Chef de Famille
·
Biga
o
Enfant
·
Jakpelo
o
Old Man
·
Pociamo
o
Old woman
·
Pkepuoli
o
Widow
·
N nwa o pua
o
Engaged (I follow a woman)
·
N da nwa o pua
o
I’m okay, Im engaged (I follow a woman)
Pronouns
·
N
o
I
·
A
o
You
·
O
o
He/she
·
Ti
o
We
·
Yi
o
You(Formal)(Plural)
·
Bi
o
They
Verbs
Past Tense
“Den” in front of
verb
Future Tense
“Ba” in front of verb
N Den todi a
N bua ki todi a
N ba ta sencenli Ouaga
N ba soani CSPS (kani)
Ti gandi ki gedi Ouaga
Yi bua gedi Ouaga
o
To be
o
Ki Tie
o
To eat
o
Ki Je (past and present are Ki Di)
o
To play
o
Ki Jeli
o
To do
o
Ki Tieni
o
To Learn
o
Ki Bangi
o
To help
o
Ki Todi
o
To drink
o
Ki No
o
To travel
o
Ki ta sanu
o
Ki ta sencenli
o
To Work
o
Ki Soani
o
To send
o
Ki Soani
o
To go
o
Ki gedi
o
To have
o
Ki Ba
o
To Want
o
Ki Bua
o
To Call
o
Ki pia
o
To Buy
o
Ki da
o
To like
o
Ki bua
o
To wait
o
Ki guudi
o
To leave
o
Ki cha
o
To Win
o
Ki ba
o
To fall
o
Ki nwmadiba
o
To Sing
o
Ki yiini
o
To Choose
o
Ki Gandi
o
To begin
o
Ki cili
o
To know
o
Ki bandi
o
To run
o
Ki sani
o
To close
o
Ki Nwuagini
o
To open
o
Ki luodi
o
To Say
o
Ki yedi
o
To Stop
o
Ki sedi
o
To Give
o
Ki teni
o
To Sleep
o
Ki guani
o
To write
o
Ki diaani
o
To speak
o
Ki Maadi
o
To pay
o
Ki pa
o
To lose
o
Ki bia
o
To take
o
Ki bia
o
To return
o
Ki kua
o
To Know
o
Ki bandi
o
To be able to
o
Ki fidi
o
To listen
o
Ki ghadi
o
To enter
o
Ki kua
o
To finish
o
Ki gbeni
o
To wash
o
Ki nwuudi
o
To stand up
o
Ki fi
o
Sentir
o
Ki nuudi
o
Sortir
o
Ki na
o
Tenir
o
Ki kubi
o
Vendre
o
Ki kuadi
o
Venir
o
Ki cua
o
Voir
o
Ki le
Comparison
o
Bigger
o
Yabi cie
o
Better
o
Danni
o
Worst
o
Wa cie
Bu kpalibu ligi yuabi cie li liadili
The price (of the) pagna is bigger than (the) shirt
Nick fagimu yabi cie Ouali
Nick is bigger than Ouali
Clarissa bina yabi cie Ouali
Clarissa is older than Ouali
Camba piama yabi cie o cogibiga
The professor is richer than the trainee.
La liadili dunga liga wa cie bu kpalibu
The shirt is cheaper than the pagna
Ouali fogimu wa cie Clarissa
Ouali is smaller than Clarissa
Clarissa bina wa cie Nick
Clarissa is younger than Nick
Ki cogibiga piama wa cie o camba
The trainee is less rich than the professor
Lucie nwamu wa cie Jeanette
Lucy is less pretty than Jeanette
Bu kpalibu ligi Danni licabili
The price of the pagna is equal to the price of the tissue
Li nwagni
Cest bien
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Bien Integre
November 27, 2011
The people of Burkina Faso, Burkinabé, are really starting to grow
on me. Well, outside of my immediate host family. There have been fantastic days,
nights, and meals with my family but I would say that it has been more
challenging/frustrating than rewarding. Since my family is rarely home, my mom
vends Dolo and my dad drinks it, I spend a lot of time with the children in my
village who are too young to speak French. We communicate via dance and music.
It is great. Last week I spent a sizable chunk of an evening teaching the kids
the Macarena. I soon had a crowd of around 25 young kids shouting “HEYYYYY
Macarena” and doing the corresponding dance moves. It was truly a heartwarming moment.
Even more heartwarming was how I came home the past two
nights and heard all of the children dancing and singing the Macarena on the
other side of my village. And then I came home this evening to children
confidently stating “je demand musica”(I ask for music). This was especially
heartwarming because children in the city and Burkina usually ask for money or
gifts, “Je demand Cadeau”. My children on the other hand confidently demand
music. How cool and completely endearing.
My eldest host brother, Naz for short, and I also
communicate through dance. There have been several occasions now where we go to
a bar/maquis and just dance. No drinks necessary. Just dancing. There has also been the occasional tea time
with Naz and his friends. The guys here will literally sit around for 4 hours
brewing a batch of Chinese green tea. We sat around and just talked (causé).
They literally layed a rug down on the ground and plopped down (Might I add
that they put the rug right over cow crap. People here are not dirty but there
is simply crap everywhere). Although I was only listening to a blur of French
and Mooré,
it felt like I was back at home chillin with the guys. It was nice, and they
tried to include me as much as possible. Naz speaks near perfect French and is the top
of his class, senior year of high school. As I’ve mentioned before, he is the
only French speaker in the family but is usually so busy with school that he is
never around. He even lives in a
separate courtyard from my own. The
term, family, is loosely applied here and pretty much everyone is family. There
are kids running around all over the place. It truly takes a village to raise a
child.
I’ve also gotten the chance to get to know the local
markets. I’ve had shirts and hats made here at a local tailor (Pretty swank if
I do say so myself), I have a peanut butter girl, banana lady, barber, and know
local bar owners. The more I get to know people here, the more I feel
connected. I hope that things run similar to this at my site. The big
difference between home and Burkina is that everyone knows everyone. You greet,
talk with, and relax with everybody. At
home, if I don’t know you then I do not usually want to greet or talk to
you. Here, it is the complete opposite
because people want to greet you and talk with you simply because they do not
already know you. Plus, there is an added bit of curiosity around the
Nasara(foreigner/white person). Yes I am often mistaken as a local, Mossi, but
that quickly changes as soon as I open my mouth. Shucks. Nasara for Life.
This is all to say that I am starting to really enjoy being
around the people and in the culture. This is likely to change for a while when
I get to my site and learn a whole new language, but this works for right now.
I’ve even started to take long hikes into the bush and have really gotten to
know it pretty well. On my last hike I came across a shrine of sorts but I was
too chicken to do very much exploring (yeaaaa I don’t eff with that voodoo or
pagan stuff. Not for me). Speaking of voodoo and such, there is a sizable group
of guys and gals who are all planning on a vacation January 2013, to Benin, Togo,
and Ghana. Why January? Only because the world’s largest voodoo
festival/carnival takes place in Benin. Yea I’m planning on avoiding the
festival buhhh the trip would be nice.
*Long conversation with host brother*
I love my boy Naz because he’s smart. Sure he’s tried to
swindle my friends and I out of our money, but he does it because he’s smart.
This kid has like 3 jobs, is the top of his class, is one of the 1% going to
University next year, and is an exemplary positive deviant. And to top it all
off, he hates TO. I think I’ve mentioned TO before but it is the Burkinabé
go to food. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It has no flavor, the consistency of
thick grits, usually eaten with a sauce on the side, and one eats it with their
hands. Most volunteers hate it but Burkinabé love it. This kid DETESTS TO. Naz
calls his classmates stupid for having premarital sex, values &
understands family planning, dresses pretty fly, and saves his money (All
pretty rare here). Did I mention this
kid can dance too? No really, I wish I could bring this kid to site with me. We
could be best friends!
…Especially if we started understanding more than 50% of the
things we say to each other.
The End…
for now
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Business
Most of the posts up to this point have focused on getting
adjusted and me expressing whatever it is I am feeling at any point. But there
is actually a serious business side to my peace corps experience and living here in
Burkina. (Its not all waterfalls safaris and elephants)
As a Health Volunteer in Burkina I will be working on a
number of health issues here in Burkina. These include hygiene, malnutrition,
malaria, family planning, maternal health, and diarrhea. Real interesting stuff. Most of my time will
be spent at local medical center (CSPS) where I will work with a nurse and
mid-wife. Doctors are rare in Burkina and usually hold a more administrative
position and rarely see patients. The
nurses are government employees and are assigned to work at a CSPS. More often
than not, the nurse does not speak the local language and only speaks French.
French is the language of the educated and is not widely spoken by the majority
of the population. (Primary and secondary schools are taught entirely in French,
but only 2% of students finish school while 1% go on to university). One of my jobs as a health agent will be to
learn the local language and culture and to then effectively reach out to the
local population on issues surrounding health education and empowerment.
The CSPS is pretty basic with what they can and/or cannot
do. They can serve as a basic pharmacy, they can treat simple malaria, they can
treat diarrhea, they can give vaccinations, and they do support the needs of
pregnant women. If one needs any
invasive surgery or has a severe medical condition, they must provide their own
transportation to the district or regional hospital which can be pretty far
away. As long as nothing serious
happens, the CSPS can take care of the local village(s). One CSPS can serve
anywhere from 1 to 15 different villages. As one can imagine, it gets busy!
Especially when there is only one or two nurses. A CSPS is supposed to have 3 staff members.
One of which is a midwife.
Drugs here are vastly subsidized and the government picks up
the majority of the tab. Methods of birth control cost at most $3.00 USD for a
6 month supply. INSANITY! It cost about
the same to deliver a baby at the CSPS. $3.00 USD translates to about 1500 cfa.
To put that in perspective; a bowl of beans (“benga“ DELICIOUS) cost 50- 100
cfa, and a text message cost 10cfa (international is 50cfa). Life here is pretty cheap. It’s a good thing I
make $3.00 a day right now while in training (a beer is 700cfa). On the same note, life and drugs here are
cheap for a reason. The people are poor.
Mostly farmers, rarely anyone makes a
profit off of their crops and even fewer people save their money. $3.00 USD is a lot of money here.
Weak rains during the rainy season decimated the agriculture
here and there is widespread fear of a famine or food shortage within the coming
year when food runs out in March/April. Instances of child mal-nutrition are
definitely going to rise and we have been told to be prepared to deal with the
upcoming food shortage. Tough times ahead for the people of Burkina Faso.
Tougher still, the food shortage will be followed by malaria
season, June/July. Adults and children who’s immune systems are already weak
from lack of nutrition will be especially susceptible to falling ill with
Malaria. This coming year will be a busy year for those of us working with
Health related issues. I’m excited for my work and challenge but feel
increasingly sad about the reality and seriousness of the situation.
On a different note:
Women and men do not usually mix or associate here unless
they are university educated and more liberal minded. Women do not drink with
men and you would be hard pressed to find a woman at a bar or dancing. There is
no PDA and men and women pretty much live in two very different realms. It’s
interesting but as PCTs, most of us go out and enjoy spending time together.
Okay, that’s all for now.
In my next update, I will try to focus on things that I have been doing
but I wanted to give a lot more background info in this message. Its taken so
long to get solid information to you because I wanted to be sure that I was knowledgeable
about what I was speaking on. I would not want to get any false info out into
the WWW.
That being said, I hope that some of this was interesting,
or maybe even useful to some of you at home.
Best wishes
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Site Announcements!!! (Where i live after training)
In retrospect, there is a lot of unnecessary capitalization in this message. Woops. FEEEL MY EXCITEMENT!
Site announcement is cool because we have one of the HCNs(Host country national Staff) MCing the ceremony and then the director of our language/culture classes gave a
few words and then presents us with a nicely wrapped “gift”…. Which is a box of
tampons…….. with a hand drawn map of Burkina Inside.!! WHOAAA!!!! AWESOME!! *insert excitement for box of tampons here*
So they ask for a trainee to come up and read a city
name. After a PCT reads the site name, a PCV then reads the site description. At
the end of the description we, the PCTs, are supposed to guess who is going to
that site. Each description is catered to reflect the interest and desires of
the PCT assigned there. It was pretty easy to match the sites to the PCTS.
Below is my site description!!
Keep in mind, this is word for word and was written by
someone who English is a 4th language for.
“
You will be in a big village with a population of 6000 situated
in the Eastern Burkina Faso.
The village is situated at the front of scenic cliffs and close to beautiful waterfalls.
There are a few transport options. There is transport everyday.
You are the first health volunteer but second PCV of the
village. The first volunteer is from
education sector and had a wonderful time at the site. Your mayor used to be a PCT trainer and
travelled for th at in the US 3 times and, the first time was in 1967. So he
masters the Peace Corps goals, philosophy…and was able to explain that in the
community meeting!
It is a beautiful tourist
site with unexplored countryside between two animal parks.
People will just come to welcome you and make you feel at
home. This is an extremely motivated
community. The village as a whole (including leaders, women, and youth) is
excited to great you and has expressed that several times. They can’t wait to
have you! You will have no problem making this village your home with such a
friendly, motivated, and welcoming community.
Your closest neighbor PCV is at 8km biking from you.
There is a larger village with a large daily market, so access to food goods and such wouldn’t be a problem.
You have also in 2 secondary schools, 5 primary
schools, an agriculture office, and an environment office. So you will have the opportunity to apply
your experience in coaching for soccer club and also you can establish a peer
counseling health project in the schools!
Your house stands alone near the police. It has 3 bedrooms,
a living room, private douche, and a latrine in the courtyard. The community is
fencing a courtyard by a wall with a gate which provides a lot of privacy.
”
Notes:
PCVF, a PCV who came to training to help us out. She is real cool. I liked her a lot.
The other volunteer from my pst is also really
cool but its kind of weird that they put us so close together. Like, im not
complaining but its weird for them to do that. Most
volunteers are about 20-50k from each other. Which makes me wonder if there is
a safety issue. They did after all make a point of mentioning that I am next to
the police station.
What the
hell am I going to do with 3 bedrooms and a living room? Maybe I
turn one of them into a kitchen. Who knows.
Also, THERE IS AN EFFEN NATURE PARK!!! And WATERFALLS!!! One of the nature parks, I am not sure which one, is supposed to be the
largest nature park in West Africa! Like legit Zebras, Lions,
Elephants, and such. yea I'm ready..
And lots of kids! For soccer! Ah yea im ready to show
these kids how American ballas get down. I really want to do some coaching and potentially get kids organized with coaching for hope. A soccer organization that uses soccer to convey important health messages. Oh
man, Im excited!
And the description made note of access to food because
EVERYONE… and I do mean EVERYONE (staff included) knows I’m starving here.
Which is why it is so crucial that I have a market everyday. Most villages have
a market once a week or every 3 days or so. This market is everyday!!! Im hoping to eat good everyday! I think the other PCT in my area and I are talking about taking turns
cooking which would make things even easier.
PST: Work, Food, and Diarrhea. (And a lack of pleasure in all of the above)
November 9, 2011
I know Britt has been posting updates but I think that I
should give some details about what we’ve been up to here.
Today, we spent about 4 hours in language and then
two hours of technical language. In my
language class there are two other health volunteers who also placed into
Novice High
Side Note: (It is pretty embarrassing that I only placed into
novice high after studying French for 5 years as a kid and then taking a semester
of college level 2. Although another of the girls in my class also studied
French for 5 years, but then we have a novice who speaks fluent Russian with no
French background. Go figure. Ca va Aller. )
Most of the trainees
in our stage placed into Novice Intermediate but we do however have a couple
advanced and then a couple of intermediate highs as well. Of the two advanced, both have lived in
French speaking countries before (France and Cote D’Ivoire) so I don’t feel
tooo bad about my own level. Note to
future PCTs out there, training is a lot easier if you have language
experience. If I were better at French I would have already begun learning my
local language, which is Gourmantema (s/p?).
After 4 hours of French language, we transitioned to
technical language class which is where we learn Health technical terms in
French. After an hour and a half of this we headed out to a local primary
school (Elementary school) where we interrogated/greeted the headmaster. The purpose of our visit was to get an idea
of what needs and health issues children and schools face in Burkina Faso. Ultimately, we want to come back and do a few
sensibilizations, which are educational PSAs done in person. My group for example
will be working on educating the children about Palu, Malaria.
Some interesting things from today’s field trip:
- 1. At the school, while speaking with the headmaster, we learned that the school of 500 kids does not actually have a functioning latrine. While they do have 3 latrines, they are inaccessible because there is fear that the structure would collapse. A latrine is a huge hole in the ground that is about 3-4 meters wide and about 5 meters deep. The top of the latrine is covered in cement with a small round hole in the top. The fear at this school is that the cement will give in and students could potentially fall into a rather deep hole full of… crap, urine, and everything that grows in the above. The students, and staff, therefore relieve themselves anywhere/everywhere (which is fairly common for village life).
- 2. There is no place for the students, or staff, to ever wash their hands. So, they simply don’t (which is more common than one would like to accept).
- 3. Sitting in on a class of 10 year olds was AMAZING! One professor for a class of 70-100 kids was insane, but the kids were all well behaved and amazingly respectful (a direct result of socially acceptable corporal punishment?). I wanted to snap a picture of the class because it was truly something special. Although the kids were all dressed in rags and fairly dirty, they had a brilliant spark in their eyes. This observation holds true all over the country. Although the people may be poor and may also lack basic amenities and privileges, they are all exceptionally bright, friendly, and aware of their surroundings.
Food.
So it has been leaked that my
future site wants to focus a lot of resources on nutrition. AWESOME!! I love nutrition! But, it is fairly
impossible to maintain a well-balanced diet here. People usually live off of TO, which is a
carb derived from maize and is then eaten with various sauces. Pretty much zero vitamins, minerals, or
proteins. Straight Carbohydrate. This diet does not at all reflect what is
actually available in the country because a stroll through any market reveals a
plethora of vegetables and fruits. The
trouble here is not the lack of access to healthy foods, but is instead the
lack of understanding and interest in healthy alternatives to TO. For example; my family (being the positive
deviants that they are), served me white bread for breakfast…. And straight
spaghetti for lunch. Yes, strait
spaghetti is exactly what it sounds like. No sauce, no veggies, and no
meat. Simply noodles boiled in water. Although surprisingly tasteful, not very
healthy. My mom, being the health nut of the family, would have a serious issue
with the amount of carbs/sugars we ingest here.
It is truly a struggle every morning to get out of bed and look forward
to white bread. No jelly, jam, butter, or peanut butter. Always a struggle, but
I am really trying to get my family to expand their diet. Even further, I am looking forward to working
with my village to expand their diets to include other nutritiously delicious
alternatives to TO, bread, rice and noodles. I am anticipating that child
malnutrition will be a huge issue at my site and I am all ready to get to
work.
The opposite of eating is
excreting. A topic that is all too close to some of our hearts. Not a day goes by
without both jokes and discussions about diarrhea, amoebas, bacteria,
parasites, urine, and all of the colors that come with the afore mentioned.
Some of us who have been sick have even had to prepare… samples… to be checked
for bacteria and such. Not a
comfortable…. Or neat… experience…
(From what I hear)
Although I spent some time in the
infirmary and was sick the majority of last week, I am part of a lucky majority
that have not had to prepare samples yet.
It’s tough being sick here but it is most definitely comforting to have
22 other trainees here all going through the same thing. Oral Rehydration Salts
and all! Never before have I ever been
so familiar with other’s bodies. On that same note, never have so many people
been aware of my body and health. We’ve
all shed noticeable pounds and most of us guys have lost a lot of muscle
weight. Between the heat, food, and constantly being sick, we’re all thinning
out and beginning to look the part of PCVs in BF.
Well it is now 8:19pm and I’m
exhausted. Time for bed. Mefloquin dreams to look forward to tonight! OH BABY!
Good Night!!!
Ps. We had a trainee versus staff
soccer game. We would have won had the staff not recruited local talent. SMH.
Final Score: 3-2 Staff. It was great playing
with everyone.
PPs. Random fact. Burkina Faso as a country has the third
highest incidence of diarrhea in the general population. (Of all the countries in all the world.)
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
How much can I type before my battery dies?
I currently have 37% battery life remaining and a lot that i want to say here/discuss. I wonder how much I can get off. hmmmm
So my host family is a mixed blessing. At times they are pretty cool but rather puzzling at other times. Truly the source of a lot of frustration for me. During my first couple of weeks here, we did a lot of dancing and soccer playing... (poh yea, it was heaven) but now that my work has picked up, thngs have slowed down. I was teaching the 9 kids some breakdancing moves the other night. We got some natural talent in the family! what what!
And then they have been teaching me local dances such as windica and bogobo? i just butchered those spellings but sound them out!
Sunday, my host father came home and, in good spirits, offered me his wife to share with him and now refers to me as his petite babe. I'm not sure how I should take this and I cannot really ask too much about it since I do not speak moore(the local language) and my family does not speak french! It has truly been a challenge to communicate and has been down right frustrating at other times. But one thing is sure, I will not be sharing anybodies wife.....
yuck.
he couldnt have been serious right?
This past saturday was our first day off so a few of us went dancing and oh man did we have fun. With us being so dehydrated and it being so hot here, it only takes 1 beer(twice the size of a regular US beer) to get us dancing. It was a great time and I really love my stage.
We are all really chill and laid back but when the music comes on, everyone starts getting crazy (in good respectful manner of course). No really, I have been truly impressed by the level of maturity and professionalism that we have demonstrated while going out. The toughest part at the end of the night is saying goodbye and having to bike all over the village to make sure the girls get home safely. Burkina is not a dangerous place by any stretch of the imagination, but it is never okay to let intoxicated peoples ride home alone. no matter where you are. we've truly become a family here and we all look out for each other.
You would also thtnk that there would be hookups or drama but I am happyy to say, most of us see each other more as family than anything else. Its great. Especially for me and some of the others that are trying to maintain a relationship. Of the 22 of us remaining, 5 of us have partners back at home.
****Which reminds me, I need to thank britt for updating my blog and everything for me. Internet does not usually happen here and electricty comes in random times. but I do buy prepaid phone minutes which i use on parents and britt. Anyone who wants to call or talk is most def welcome. My number here is in a blog someplace below. Britt posted it. I actually dont know mu number yet.... wopmp womp! But forreal. THANK YOU BRITTANY! aka my other half. You the best. ****
Well, projects! We have been in training learning different thigns about planting trees, collecting seeds, prepping seeds, doing malaria consultations, counseling, HIV/AIDS testing, and a lot of administration stuff. I guess i sometimes forget that peace corps is a government organization with a lot of red tape. womp womp. So all in all, very little actual work/projects while in BF but a lot of training and admin stuff.
My french is..... going......yeaaa, story for another day.
Well thats alll for now. battery dying... buhhh I'll Leave you with thisssss.... sum up my last 12 hours. :-)
Never in my life did i
think that I would rock out to Luda and lil wayne at a outdoor bar in the
middle of africa while in costume with 20 other Americans. (in celebration of
halloween ofcourse). Then to bike about 4 k home through the millet
field (yet under a gorgeous night sky filled with stars)with constant stops to allow herds of pigs and donkeys to cross the road.
Family HIV and Malaria house/hut consults this morning though. Time to get
serious!
Best wishes everyone,
Pat
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