Tuesday, June 30, 2009

greetings

Ne y yibeoogo
Y yi beoog kibare?
Laafi Bala
Y zak ramba?
Laafi

..... this continues for a while....

Greeting people in Burkina is very important. And if you forget, you will be yelled at, well not really, but they will just interrupt whatever you're saying with a greeting.
Greetings are also on of my favorite things about African culture.
While they can be long and sometimes hard to remember or understand, greeting someone shows recognition and value in each person you encounter. And out in village, you greet everyone you pass, without exception, and I love it. Yesterday morning I was sitting under a baobob tree with a couple other PC stagaires when a line of ladies walked by, we were busy and didn't greet them, so they all lined up near us and waited until we looked at them, then we all exchanged greetings. It was a great moment, to see all these beautiful women demanding us to show our respect and recognition of them.

We got placed with host families a couple weeks ago in a village called Bogoya which is about 7k from the main city we started in. We come back to the city for 2 days of training a week, the rest is in Bogoya or another village. So, there has been a lot of hardcore biking, but I'm enjoying it.

Village life is very different than typical american life. It's hard to describe as only little time has passed and I feel like I am just starting to figure things out just in my compound, let alone the whole village.

Bogoya is very focused on family farming. People in my family have millet, corn, yams and more. It rained a day last week so everyone, and I mean everyone, went out to the fields to cultivate the next day. I am amazed at how hard everyone works in Bogoya, especially the women, it is incredible. Most farm, but some have other professions within Bogoya or go to town for work. My sister sells samsam, a fried bread and bean ball type thing, that is really good. The weather and sun decide everything in village life also. I hardly can keep track of the day or hour; one wakes up with the sun and the goats bleating and goes to bed an hour or two after sundown.

My family is fantastic. I have two sisters, a papa and then a whole bunch of cousins. I'm constantly surrounded by children and have been learning so much through them. Many people in Bogoyo do not speak French, just Morre, but fortunately for me, my older sister does as well as my papa and some of the older kids who hang around a lot. So, through them I can usually figure out what is going on, but the French is coming slowly and Moore is one of the hardest things I've ever tried to learn. But it is amazing how much we are able to communicate without having total knowledge of a common language. I am also humbled constantly by how much my family takes care of me. My papa shows up randomly and always fixes things for me, or cleans (which is pretty unique for a burkinabe man), and makes sure I am doing well. My sisters never let me go without water or a very very full stomach. And all the kids are constantly assisting me, carrying things for me, playing games with me, or helping me study. Their hospitality is amazing.

While some adjustments are necessary in village life, and I miss things like cold drinks, I'm very happy to be where I am currently. I was feeling a little trapped in Ouahigoya from Burkina, but now I'm starting to participate in life here and see a little glimpse of the beauty and the struggle of the Burkinabe.

I hope you all are doing well and enjoying the journey your are currently experiencing.

Monday, June 15, 2009

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