Petit breakfast - from a panoramic view

Every morning at about 7 I head out to

a little kiosk to get the normal breakfast.

It consists of cafe au lait and some bread.

I started this ritual from the first day as 

a way to one ... eat. Two, to integrate into

the community. 

Of course at the moment there is the 

challenge of the local language. This makes

for a lot of time to just sit and look around.

The kiosk I go to has kind of a grotto setup

which when looking out creates a panoramic

frame from which to view the life as the day

starts up in our village.

It is just an amazing way to begin a day by 

sitting back with a cafe au lait and watch all 

the activity.

This kiosk is situated in the 'center' of town

and most of everything passes through.

Things like donkeys, goats, cows, dogs, ducks,

bicycles, moto scooters, village's one super-

sized mini van, chickens and last but not 

least ... vultures.

In one quick frame you might see all of the above

in movement at the same time. 

Students in clusters of 5 and 6 cutting through

from the outer villages as they pump away on

their bikes. Donkeys moving or being chased

here, the goats looking to reproduce over there.

Vultures about a foot and a half tall picking 

around like pigeons or seagulls until the dogs

decide to chase them away. Of course with 

that brings a commotion of flapping wings.

It's really like watching a movie screen with an

unscripted film as it rolls on at it's incredible 

activity filled pace.

Of course it may get old  but just

thinking of the mathematical probabilities

with all the variables in motion at random,

it may take time.

It's not central square but I know one thing 

our little center of town has that the central

doesn't ... vultures impersonating pigeons.

So I guess there is a uniqueness in the

center of our little world that makes us

relevant :=).

Also, biggest point of all is the speed of 

life here gives one the chance to be able

to sit and observe and still get everything 

needed to be done in the day.

After seeing and experiencing life through the 

panoramic view it makes you wonder if this

basic village life actually has more energy

and 'joy of life' to it.

Love these experiences ... always brings 

food for thought.

Language speedbumps

Anyone who has learned a language knows

that there are those inevitable moments

of looking foolish. I am going to guess 

that it happens to anyone who tries to

use the new language that they learned.

If not ... they should try it.

Each day in the early afternoon I head

towards the market place to buy what's

best called 'fried bread' for the dog named 9.

Today was no exception and at this 

point I've developed my regular vendor

people. 

It is one type of fried bread (called gateau)

from one middle aged lady. Another fried

bread called samsa (actually pounded

beans) from an elderly very nice lady.

Then I also get a few small bags of 

peanuts to munch on later in the day.

The purchasing is all done in the Moore

language ... the language I am learning.

At this point in the learning (about 2 

months) the chances of making a 

mistake or not knowing some words

are really pretty good.

A real funny exchange happened 

today while I was making my daily

purchase of peanuts. 

There are 3 ladies around 70 years

old that sit together in the most 

active area of the market. Usually 

I buy four little bags of peanuts 

(cost -$0.20 USD) and one of 

the three ladies produces a small

plastic bag that I hook on the handle

of my bicycle to carry them home.

But today I only bought 2 and thought

to just put them in my pants pocket

and save the bag.

As the second lady goes to hand the bag

to the first lady, I try and tell the lady ...

that I don't need the bag because I 

am going to use the pocket on my

pants to carry them.

Just that I don't remember how to 

say pants or even know how to say

pockets. But trying to get around that 

a bit by using the words I do know 

I put together a sentence that goes

like this ... I don't need the bag I have

clothes and at the same time I am 

pointing at my pocket. They kind of

looked at me so I repeated it again.

Again, that same kind of confused 

look. I'm thinking in the way of 

communicating that should have

worked.

I get the peanuts, put them in my 

pocket, say my going away greeting

and go.

Half way back to the house it hit me

that I used the wrong word for have.

In Moore the word for have is 'tara'

but I later realized that I was using

the word 'data' which means 

want/need. 

So instead of saying "I don't need

the bag I have clothes (with pocket)

... I was actually saying "I don't need

the bag because I want/need clothes"

while I was pointing to my pocket.

No wonder they had this confused 

and disbelieving look on their face.

Man, opportunity to appear foolish

wasn't lost. The speed bumps of 

learning a new language.

Despite the verbal absurdity of that

exchange I am going to miss those

moments when I do learn the 

language.

On second thought ...

Maybe I'll just never really 'learn'

the language and have the next

two years as a non-stop language

adventure with a bunch of laughs

thrown in.

One room school

In the picture is the underdog school I mentioned

in the last blog post. 

It looks like it has four classes combined.

I went there last wednesday and with Amidou

(he's the health relay. A health relay 

is the liason between the health clinic 

and the village) we started a little 

tree nursery of moringa and afterwards

went over the proper hand washing technique.

Nothing earth shattering at this point

but it is the first time doing any activity

at that school or in the village itself.

It takes time to get used to each other

and get going in right direction activity wise.

There is the different culture factor that

has to be worked through before it 

all opens up.

This was a decent yet humble start and

here ... things are done with and in time.

This Monday it is back to that village 

to talk about the method of contracting

malaria. I am convinced that the people

aren't sure or understand why 

they should use their bed nets.

This is going to be done while making tea

and it should be targetting the adults.

I am going to try and get a little more technical

than usual and see how it goes.

Maybe it will work ... we'll see like normal.

Also next wednesday it's back to the

one room school to go over the brushing

of teeth. Again a small activity and one

topic at a time. 

I have been out to a few other villages 

and still developing the connections

at each respective one. When those are 

established I think it'll be kind of duplicating

the activities village to village. Of course

it can all change in a minute.

One crazy thing that is happening at 

this moment is that it is raining and

it's in the middle of the dry season.

It's also raining well enough that I'm

locked in the house area as a result of the 

river of water passing by. This is my

first dry season here so it could be a normal

occurence but will ask later to find out for sure.

The other countries with dry seasons I've

been in never had rain.

When it rains out here in the bush 

one usually stays put. After sending in this

blog post ... it is grab a book and

wait it out. 

A lazy Saturday morning in Burkina.

Village rotary

Yup,  that's what you're looking at in the

picture. The village does need a clean up project

... like real bad. So seeing this pin point of

light in total darkness (so to speak), makes

me wonder if I could talk to the guy who built

it. He is seeing things differently than

everyone else.

It has been a busy week and a half. I've
been helping out weighing babies

and this is to basically monitor any malnutrtion. 

We did have one case where the baby 

is 1 year old but weighs about 12 pounds.

So we have the high nutrition food to

give and we will keep an eye on the baby.

Also been out to visit the schools in the

villages. Have been to 5 so far with 6 more

to go. It is kind of crazy and cool at the

same time. All these different teachers and

students to get to know and build their 

trust ... it isn't boring or going to be.

I am starting with one school next Tuesday.

If you're one that is for the under dog

then this place is for you.

This is nothing more than a one classroom school

with seems like, a bunch of good kids.

Not much resources so we'll start a little

tree nursery with moringa. These trees

are used mostly for the nutritious leaves.

It is easy, simple and a break the ice

activity.

Plus, this village is the nicest one I've seen

yet. I mean the layout. Compounds set apart
and the center of town is a small boutique and
place to buy a coffee.

Had another haircut adventure with that dog.

I left the village and thought I was in the 

clear. But here comes the dog ... name is Rex ...

and I'm like ... not again.

Off we go and I am pedaling slower but 

the dog is kind of running up the middle

of the road playing chicken with  the oncoming

motor scooters and the drivers are giving 

me this look.

We get there ... get haircut ... take off ...

and Rex starts chasing goats on the side

of the road just to scare them.

I noticed the dog about half way back 

and met some people riding their bikes

and we chatted till it's time to head off 

the road and take the path in the bush 

that leads to the village.

Guess what ... looked back and no Rex.

So waited for 10 minutes and nothing.

I am thinking oh no, why me. It's not my dog

and I'm going to have to tell the owner his 

dog vanished.

A day and a half ... no Rex ... but he showed up 

this morning. 

Sure is a relief.

But in general it's falling into place.

I've integrated a bit and have my regular

coffee joints, lady I buy peanuts from, two ladies

with different fried doughs and regular

boutique guy. Still more to go with the 

schools but getting accustomed pretty

quick.

So next week we start the trees in the 

little village school house.

Should be really a fun way to begin.

Out with 2013

It is the 31st December and what a difference 

a year does make. Last year it was home

in the States with family, friends,

food, electricity and the very handy

thing called running water.

So now going into the year 2014 it is

Africa and particularly ... Burkina Faso.

Also without all the above mentioned people
and amenities. 

But life is going on and living in an African village

is a definite experience.

In the picture you can see a calendar

of 2013 that the volunteer I replaced

left behind. I did make an X on 

the 31st as you can see.

It's kind of humourous that at this time

of the year it is 'out with the old and 

in with the new'.

In the case of the volunteers in this Burkina 

village it is opposite. It is 'in with the

old and out with the new'.

Reason being that I am over twice

the age of the volunteer I replaced.

Wonder how that's going to work 

out for this village. The ole time will 

tell ... as it always does.

So ... from Africa and another life away ... 

don't worry ... I think it will be 'out with 

the old and in with the new' where 

you are.

Yuma palle soma ... Happy New Year.

Simple haircut adventure

At the moment the village does not have 

any electricity. The rumor is that by

the end of January ... like the January

coming up ... the health clinic where I reside

will be hooked up to the grid. 

It would be nice if that happened.

But for now something like getting a simple 

haircut (I get one of those number zero 

on the clipper ones) requires electricity.

So, being in need of one requires a 23 km 

trip to the nearest town. 

The other morning I decided to get on 

my bike and go to that town in

search of a coiffure to get a haircut. 

As I take off, 9 (the dog) and the head of the

health clinic's dog, start following me.

It about 3 km through the bush until

you arrive to the paved road and then

it's 20 km from there.

The dogs kept following me and I was

kind of hoping they would give up at

the road. 

But they didn't ... with 9 and the

other dog tailing me and weaving

in and out of the road, I thought ...

what is going  on here.

It is bad enough that I am the only 

nasara (white person) riding a bike

or even anywhere, let alone these

two dogs.

So I started pedaling as fast as I could

with the plan to basically ditch the dogs. 

Figured they would get the hint and quit.

9 was smart enough and gave 

up after 2 or so kilometers. The

other dog ... not so. He just kept

running and running and actually

sprinted the whole 20 km. 

I'm like this has got to be a sight

an old guy nasara pedaling his

rearend off while this dog is sprinting

after him. It must of been by the look

on the people's faces as we flew by.

All I kept thinking was ... why me and

this dog has got to quit, he's got to.

When we arrived at the coiffure

(barber shop) in the town, the dog 

just drops in front of the door and

goes into a spasm for a few seconds.

I thought the dog was going to die

and how was I going to explain 

this to the head of the clinic.

After about 20 minutes and .50 cents

(USA dollar) later, we head back.

This time I went slow and added

an extra hour to the return trip. I 

got the dog some food along the

way but all I heard all the way

back as we passed by was ... there's

that nasara with the dog.

When we arrived the dog was beat

and I'm sure he didn't move much

the rest of the day.

Funny thing was only saw the dog

for about a minute before he went

on the 46 km journey with me.

If we had electricity it would be nothing

more than a boring haircut. I am 

now wondering if too much 

development can take the adventure

out of life.

Christmas Eve 2013

So here it is Christmas eve 2013 and five

days into life in the new village. 

I would like to wish everybody back home

a very Merry Christmas and hope that 

it is a special day.

Unlike in the northeast of the USA where 

I come from, it is warm and with the 

Harmattan wind, it is comfortable ... but ...

no dreaming of a White Christmas here.

I just took the picture a few minutes ago

and it is about 1 in the afternoon and 

not a cloud in the sky. The kid in the 

back is one of my next door neighbors.

The one in front ... don't know.

It is also the holiday season and many

of the people that I'll be working with

are not around. 

Yesterday the pharmacist bought a 

rake so I've been spending a little 

time cleaning up the health clinic's

grounds. Just keeping busy until 

the 6th of January when they return

from their holiday.

What a difference a year makes. Last

xmas was cold, family and presents.

This year it is the family (villagers 5

days of knowing), heat and my new

dog friend called 'neuf' (number 9 in English).

I do miss the family but they are here

in my heart while the new family is

trying to get used to the first 

white person to live amongst them.

I will always remember where I was

on Christmas day 2013 ... a village

in Burkina Faso, Africa.