arrival in burkina

Il fait chaud aujourd'hui, et il faut chaud tousjours.
For those non frenchies out there, It is hot today, and it is hot everyday. And it's not even the hot season. None of us have stopped sweating for more than 5 minutes since arriving in Burkina, with the exception of a little rain dance.

But I am so happy to be here. The journey here was a little longer than expected in different ways. Firstly, being my postponement of service. But most recently, the actual trip here. We left for the airport in Philidalphea on a Wednesday around 1:00 and arrived in Burkina Friday night. Our plane from Paris to Burkina had a stop in Niamey, Niger, a country on the northeast border of Burkina, to drop off a few passengers. We didn't leave for over 24 hours. It was actually a fun adventure and bonding time for our group of 32 Americans who have become my partners in this huge adventure for the next 2+ years. The engine broke down and AirFrance took us to a hotel where we were essentially in lock down (though there was some fun things happening at that hotel).

But once I stepped off that plan and saw some of the people in the streets, felt the African heat from the red sun, and smelled the African air, my nerves that had been building up the past month seemed to dissipate and excitement took over.

I don't know how much I can go into detail now, but this past week has been a whirlwind. So much of my experience thus far is wrapped up in the other volunteers who will be posted in Burkina with me. We are all in the education sector, half teaching secondary math and science (SE) and the other half doing Girls Education and Empowerment (GEE). So far, everyone seems really great. It's a little overwhelming as a whole group, but exciting to interact and meet so many fantastic people who have similar passions. Even after just one week, we had some crazy occurrences that have brought us together, and I'm sure it will continue as we train together in the next couple of months.

We spent one night in Ouaga, the capital, getting some shots, trying on bikes, and filling out some paperwork. Then we drove up to Ouahigouya and were welcomed with music, food and dancing. We will spend the next couple of days with more orientation then be placed with host families with whom we will stay with until August 25, our swear-in date. The GEE people will be placed in surrounding villages of the town and the SE volunteers will stay in town. So, I will come into town a couple times a week (by biking) and the other days of training will be in village with the rest of the GEE volunteers. It is going to be a challenge these next few months, and all current volunteers say it is actually the hardest part of service, but right now I am excited to get started.

I'm not sure how often I will be able to do these as the time is crunched with training and the availability it not great. I'm just starting to get an idea of how undeveloped Burkina is. It's very different in that sense from Namibia and South Africa. Yes, both those countries have more than their share of extreme poverty and difficult realities, but in terms of actual development, Nam and SA are many many years ahead of Burkina. For example, there is no trash collection system even in place. Literally people throw their trash in the streets because there is no where else to put it. There will be so much to learn about the country and its people, the “honorable/upright people” (translation of Burkina Faso) and I think I am ready to begin.

much love and peace,
Kim