Only one case of E Coli - Not too shabby!!

So I have been out of the loop of the entire world for over10 days now because I have been living with a host family in a very small village where I don't have electricity or running water, so now I am living the real deal villagois life! I am back in Gourcy for some training until Thursday so I will try to blog once more before I return to the village.

Despite the lack of comforts (in every possible way) I really like the village life a lot. People are extremely friendly to us, and of course we're kind of like mini celebrities until they get used to us. It's the kind of place that if you fart, everyone knows (that's actually an expression there). There are around 2,000 people in the village, no police, a tiny hospital, no telecenters, no TV, no internet, etc... I take bucket baths 2 times a day, which are actually really relaxing.. especially after a long sweaty day, and when the stars are out. I live with the village chief, but since the village is so small, it isn't like the Gourcy chief. There are no comforts being there as I might have thought. The latrine is gross, and my room is a hot little dungeon... but I sleep outside every night to avoid waking up in a bed of sweat... we're all struggling with that little discomfort.

So far my health has been great.. really no problems at all. There have been 3 out of our original group of 15 who have gotten sick enough to be taken to Ouaga for treatment, but they are all back and just fine. One girl had E Coli, but with antibiotics she's all better.

I loved coming back to Gourcy on Sunday because our group got split up into 3 villages, so we haven't seen each other for 10 days, and it was a blast getting together.. one of the groups who is in a "luxurious" village (relatively) because they have some electricity and actual restaurants, had prepared the BEST salad of mangoes, avocadoes, cucumbers, etc.. and also somehow made pizza. I didn't think pizza and salad could make me so happy.... it was the sweetest gesture because aside from that group, the rest of us were basically living in Survivor-style accommodations, and I hadn't had a veggie in quite a while. We were very grateful to them, and it was just a very family-style type of comfort that night being with everyone and enjoying talking and laughing for hours.

All of the little jokes most of you made before I left are true for the most part. Women carry very large items on their heads, there are animal sacrifices (especially here because it's primarily Muslim), children run around the sandy and rocky "streets" barefoot and with snot on their facs and dirt everywhere, and so on.. Some of you may be mortified but some of this stuff, but the cultural exchange going on is something I can't describe. Many people have never seen someone with white skin, and some kids actually run screaming from me. It has been educational on both our parts in just a short time, and it makes me even more motivated to get to my job assignment, when I'll actually be integrated (hopefully) in the village.

I can't get all my thoughts together, and I have been writing limericks to pass time at night and mostly to make my co-volunteers laugh... so don't think I am miserable here, because I am quite content and feel well-adjusted... but some of them are written to be funny, not as complaints or insults to the Burkinabe life or people... I think it may have just been a one-week bout of OCD brought on by my malaria pills.... who knows??? Please pardon the many latrine limericks.. we have to joke about those or we'd go crazy!

Oh and by the way, my family gave me a new name: Fatimata Ouedraogo - it's easier for them, but go figure the girl with the worst body complex gets a name that starts with "fat"... I'd diet but there isn't much to eat anyway. Oh, and I have lost 7 lbs already!! yippers... don't worry, I am eating 3 meals a day... I think the dirt helps the food process faster, though .. jk

So here goes - there are a lot of limericks, so you may want to get a drink or a snack now, or use the latrine, before you begin:

I hope you are all doing well,
I am trying to give some intel..
I'll do this in rhyme,
Cause at night I have time,
So here's life in the dusty Sahel :

In Bassi I live with the Chief,
At first I thought "what a relief"
Yet no one speaks French
And my room has a stench
I have yet to eat salmon or beef

Being here in the village is rough,
The natives really have it tough
It's like camping but hotter,
And no running water
There's no meat on their bones, just all buff!

When I go for a stroll about town,
I'm center stage like a circus clown.
Cause every man, kid and donkey,
Likes to stare at the honkey
But it's rare to be met with a frown.

Some kids, when they see us they run,
In the middle of their daily fun...
With tears in their eyes,
And through all of the flies,
Cause our skin color compares to none.

Most kids, though, get a big kick
When I juggle or do a card trick
When I sit out at night,
With 30 kids in my sight
I practice my language and hope it will stick.

Most meals here consist of rice,
If I'm lucky they may add some spice
With meat or with fries,
And often dirt in disguise,
I would DIE for a mocha on ice!!!

One meal they eat here a lot,
Looks like a bowl of dark green snot,
It's served with a grain,
Like polenta but plain
With your hands, you dig right in that pot!

Out of a bucket I bathe twice a day,
In an open air room made of clay,
Should a relative pass,
While I'm standing bare-ass,
I just smile and mutter "good day!"

If I need some water to drink,
I must stop for a minute to think,
For what did they teach,
Get the filter and bleach...
There's no longer a faucet and sink.

Latrines can always be found,
Just some walls and a hole in the ground,
You perch high atop,
Pray to G-d it will drop,
And then hope that you hear the right sound.

One night I went to the latrine,
With my lantern and paper to clean,
When what did approach
But a large cockroach!
With his friends, so I left without peein'

One guy here got a big fright,
While using the latrine one night,
For something just stirred,
'Twas a small tweety bird...
From out of the hole, it up and took flight!!!

It must be nice to be you,
Where you can still enjoy a cold brew.
I've but ONE place to eat,
Where chickens peck at my feet,
And the ground is covered in poo...

When it comes to getting some rest,
5-6 hours a night at best
In the middle of a dream,
There's a blood-curdling scream,
Cause a donkey felt like being a pest!!

Right now the temp is one-fifteen,
And there isn't too much that is green,
I shvitz quite a lot,
Sleep outside on a cot,
Where the stars create quite a great scene.

This week I just got my bike,
Which eases the daily hike
But for every white person,
The helmet does worsen
The stares, the laughs, and the like...

Thank goodness for teachers and peers,
We can share our concerns and our fears,
But mostly we joke
About what we must smoke
To give up the U.S. to come here.

OK, yes I think I definitely had OCD... after typing these all out, I am quite sure it is OCD.

One guy in my group posted some pics on his blog - dumb steph forgot her USB cable - so if you'd like to check them out, here is his site: adaminafrica.blogspot.com

Thanks for all the emails... I anxiously await some letters, too... there have been mail calls for some volunteers here.... but nothing for Stephie :(

I will let you know what I may need in a care package next time around - when I have a better idea of what to expect at my permanent site. I think we find out our assignments this week or next.

I may get a cell phone, too by the way. They are not too expensive, and it is free to receive calls and text between volunteers, so you can call me ANYTIME!!! Free for me - not for you, though... so maybe once in a while we can talk.

Miss you all tons... I read the journal of your messages to me every night. It makes me happy to think of you at home and how much I love, love, love you!!!!

If you've made it this far, thanks for reading!!!

Gros Bisous!!!
Fatimata