One tree ...

I returned to the village on Friday the 13th. Here

that's not a known superstition so it was a day

as usual. If anything bad happened to anyone 

that day there was no excuse of a bad luck day.

Like the lady who either side swiped someone

or someone sideswiped her that morning. I was

just beginning the journey back to the village

when I hear a crash and see this lady tumbling

along. Her's and another motor scooter collided.

It looked like at least a broken arm and first

thought was Friday the 13th and am I next. But

rode my bicycle 50 miles back to the village

without incident.

The picture is that of what would be a great 

bonsai tree design. It is actually one tree that

was split and actually grew horizontal with the

side branches growing vertical. Probably hard 

to see in the picture. It was taken about a quarter

mile away. Also with a smart phone camera. But

it is something to see.

Work wasn't big this week for the cause of being

up in the capital Ouagadougou for three days. But

did manage to pass out about 300 of the moringa

tree seeds. Like I mentioned in the prior blog entry

that I am using the brute force method. Pass out

hundreds of seeds and the mathematical 

probability should bring some success. If each

person had one tree the nutrition aspect would

be improved.

Going to another school this upcoming Friday.

This will make 4 that I'm working with. It's the

end of the school year practically but making 

connections for next year will save time.

It is coming to the slow time where people are

in the fields and school's out. Time to start

to become imaginative. That's how life in 

the Peace Corps can be. Especially out in the villages. 

 All we can do is roll with it.

A few days in the capital

I am up here in the capital (Ouagadougou) to do a little clerical work
and just chill a bit from the village life. It is nice having electricity and
other amenities but then there is the hustle and bustle of big city life to
deal with too.

A few of the updates from the village is that we had a third girl come
in for family planning. Again, she is of school age so the activity we
did to give out information on preventing teenage pregnancy is
working. To expect all to come is unreal but whomever comes
is better than before.

The rains are beginning to come more frequently so the villagers are out
in the fields a lot more. But it is time for planting and the plan is to give
out as many Moringa tree seeds as possible. It is difficult trying to have
trees come to maturity. The goats and cows just do a job on the smaller
trees and in essence, kill them. The moringa is a tree that they really
love, so protecting them until they are about 6ft tall is a must. I passed
out a few seeds to each student in the schools that I've been working with.
And also to other individuals that say they are interested. My thought is
to use the brute force method by putting out as many seeds as possible
to as many people as possible with hopes that a few will make it.
They are distributed to many households so someone has got to be
able to protect a tree, I think.

We are also trying to spruce up the health clinic a bit I received a few
bougainvillea cuttings (three exact) and we placed them in an area
that'll give maximum effect if they make it. Truthfully, not sure if they
will. We need to water them daily for a few months until some roots
develop. I am in the capital now and asked my neighbor to water
for the next few days. Will she is the question. But pictures will be
coming ... hopefully to show the before and after and not the void
where the cuttings used to be.

Working at the maternity is an interesting experience. The resources of
course don't match that of the States but the people here do a good job
despite that. They are capable workers and in the six months I've been
here only one baby has died. The baby was born, cried for about 5 hours
then died. It is a commendable job the people do with what they have.
Also, the women are pretty strong. You see them riding their bicycles
at what looks like more than 8 and a half months pregnant. I am amazed.

Well, it's time to go out and look for a new restaurant here in Ougadougou.
Going to live it up for the next few days.