Alright folks, it's been a while, hasn't it? I promised many times that I would have internet once I got to my site in the Cascades region. Well, I do have internet, but my trusty laptop stopped being trusthworthy and fried as soon as I arrived. You think you know a computer...
But do not fear! I'm receiving a new one (THANK YOU FAMILY!), one that's not 7 years old, so I can continue my work here as well as keep you posted on each exciting new development here in BF. (Of which there are multuous!) For example, coconuts and avocados have hit the scene in my town! It's a good time to be me, my friends. I have no idea what I'll do with any of them but it's new! It's exciting. Wow. Last night I was totes cadaeuxed an avocado so I made some salsa with it, garlic, lime, peppers, cumin, tomatoes and onions, fried up some garic bread and ate that ensemble. Not too shabby. The other day I made crepes with homemade syrup and onion rings. That was even less shabby. Seriously, I'm eating pretty darn well for Burkina standards. This week I'm trying tamale pie. And maybe a quiche. Why? BECAUSE I CAN!
Ok, ok, you're right. I shouldn't yell at you. It's just, after three months of eating only rice, it does the body good to mix it up a bit; cook on one's own, burn a pot of alfredo sauce... you know how it is. Mind you, the ingredients here aren't States quality but they do the trick. Cheese is expensive and unobtainable for me outside of Laughing Cow wedges. But enough about food!
New developments... let's see... I'm a member of the ICT committee which tracks and documents data and procedures for all the different pojects being done around the country; maintains a website, and produces media to help with our work here amongst some other stuff as well. Thus, I'll be making a quarterly trek to Ouaga for a weekend for these meetings and trainings. I'm especially excited and pumped and insert-your-own-adjective-here for working with monitoring and evaluating the success of our work here. I'm a numbers guy, in case my math major wasn't red-flag enough for you. Thus, we're going to be working hard to implement some new systems here to put a beurocratic spin on our work for the boys back home.
But let's talk ville. My site is not quite a town and not quite a village either. It's fairly small but we have a ton of merchandice and food that comes out of Cote D'Ivoire. A lot of houses have electricity (like mine) and even running water for taking showers (quite unlike mine)! However, there are many many folks without such luxuries. I'm living in a nice area which is not effectively reflective of the general life in town. As I explore the town more and more and become better integrated, I may develop a clearer idea of what I can do to assist the communal development.
Each day, I venture out and try to have a meangingful conversation with three new people/groups. It's tough. It's awkward. But I manage it. The marché is becoming much more intuitive now, and I can finally recognize
places to buy meals. Hey, street food involves a pot and a bench and that's it. It's very easy to overlook. This one lady has been hooking me up with free sweet potato fries every time I buy attieke from her. With some fish and onions... mmm mmm good. I talked for four hours once with a group of men at a little buvette (where you buy drinks), took tea with a group of students at the lycée I'll be teaching at, and talked development with some professionals in the town. I've started making a point of stopping to talk with and introduce myself to anyone who waves at me basically. It's not normal. But it's worth it. The people here are very nice and the culture dictates a person-first attitude to life. Most of my work in Burkina Faso really entails getting to know the people and helping them get to know the American way of life as well. Thus, I try to steal myself away from my house each day. (Although there's always another table to fix or exercise bench to build or cookbooks to peruse.)
I wake up at 5:30 and go to sleep at 10:30 generally. Not so bad. Although, last night I could hear yells and honking and craziness really late. When I came into town to catch the bus to Banfora, I noticed a soccer arena was constructed out of wood and wire and spotlights in the town square. I guess I missed that memo. Sigh. I guess I'll just have to take that guy up on his offer to play soccer with his crew and maybe break into that scene a little bit.
Oh. My. Goodness. I wrote so much. Sorry! I'll close out by saying I'll learn what classes I'll teach and my weekly schedule tomorrow and I'll update you all eventually on that! Good ol Conseil des Professeurs tomorrow... Donc, in short; things are good, I'm eating well finally, I keep thinking goats are saying my name. Maaaaaa is basically Matt.
A plus!
-Matt
