Not necessarily one of those amazing fairy tale types of dream nor the kind that leave you haunted but a dream nonetheless. Swear-in was fantastic and to be able to call myself a Peace Corps Volunteer feels great. The ceremony was filled with speeches by volunteers, the U.S. Ambassador, our Country Director, the Prime Minister of Burkina followed by tribal dances and gift giving. Of course the part I enjoyed the most was taking the oath, the same oath each of our Presidents take. I teared up with a feeling of pride, excitement, and purpose. The ceremony kicked off a fair given by Peace Corps to show the community what exactly Peace Corps volunteers do. There were booths dedicated to heath aspects like Moringa—a tree used for malnutrition, Neem cream—cream made from leaves of a tree for mosquito protection, and our own PSDN—Peer Support Diversity Network for volunteers. There were countless booths selling their artisit specialty from bags made out of recycled plastic to beautiful hand-made fabrics. If you want to know more about the fair there’s a wonderful video on pcburkin.org.
The came ‘affectation’ and by that I mean a Peace Corps van picked me up in Gauoa to take me to my new home in Bouroum-Bouroum. It was a rocky start to say the least.. no one had a key to the house—mine had been in my wallet that was stolen in Ouaga—and therefore we had to pay someone to come break in. My latrine wasn’t finished with only one wall to go, of course it was the wall that faces the road. When we did get in my screen door was completely eaten by terminates and crumbing to the ground. There was ‘snake grass’ consuming my courtyard, which is dangerous so while we were waiting for the guy to break into my house the Peace Corps driver was so kind and started helping clean up my yard. By the time I was finally able to get all my stuff in it was pitch black out except for the fires of grass burning in my courtyard and the only noises are animals/insects in my filthy house. My only thought was, ‘What have I gotten myself into?’
The good thing about a rough beginning is it can only get better or as my very wise mother told me ‘this too shall pass..’. The next day was filled with a cleaning of my house, ceiling to floor, with the help of my water girl Pelagie. Her husband and some neighbor kids came over and helped with all of the folage and outdoor cleaning, Finally it was starting to feel like I could live there. The first week I just roamed around meeting people and introducing myself. I met a dear friend Fati who sells Attceike in the marche and I’ve spent a lot of time just hanging and chatting with her,
The past week was the first week of school and I’m teaching 5eme Math and 4eme Physique-Chemie. My 4eme class is only about 50 but my 5eme is aournd 80. They were incredibly timid but hopefully I can get them talking more. Each class is two hours and it’s tiring but I’m sure after a month or so I will get used to it. I’m starting an English club for the 3eme students and hope to have the first session this week.
My health is back to normal after a nasty case of E. Coli and am trying my best to adjust to the food. The lack of English is sometimes trying but it gives me a reason to keep working on my French. Life is much different than Sapone but I know it will just take time to figure it out. I have a new mailing address down here and would love to hear from everyone! If letters aren’t your thing emails work too! Please don’t leave me hanging over here in the dark—literally because I don’t have electricity—and keep me updated not only on new things that happen but just daily things! I’ll try to put new pictures up soon. Until next time..
