This One is For Chelsea

October 22, 2010 at 6:59 pm | Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

When speaking of popular music here in Burkina, you speak of FloBy (pronounced like the vacuum hair buzzers), Sean Paul, and invariably, Celine Dion.

Yes, her songs, both english and french, are popular here. While
computers and mp3 players a bit cher (expensive), phones with moderate mp3 capabilities are a little more in reach. Thus, I have listened to many Celine Dion songs through the low quality phone speakers while hair is tressed.

Things are pretty great here. My phone keeps me in contact with other volunteers and periodic texts back home. Mail comes in close by in Zorgho. The 25 k bike ride there and back takes up the whole day after I get my errands done, but it is nice to leave site periodically and stock up on things I can’t get in village. Like Nido. Powdered milk is ok, but safer than the Peuhl milk I get in marche.

Marche (market) is once every three days. Which is pretty good. It is either jsut after marche or just before, no long wait period inbetween. Plus, I constructed a desert fridge with large clay bowls arranged like russian nesting dolls. Yay chemical engineering!

School `started’ on friday. Because a lot of the students have to
come from far away villages and find places to live, a lot of them
were not ready for school to start. So I introduced myself to my
three classes (6eme math, 5eme math, and 4eme physics and chemistry) and headed back home.

Most of my days consist of lesson planning (french complicates
things), and generally hanging out and meeting people. Life is pretty lovely and I feel very lucky to be here.

Can’t get enough of the blog? Think life here sounds super cool?
Visit! I understand it’s a pretty big undertaking, but I have a
village that I’d love to show you.

Cheers!!