where the number of paved streets don't out-number the fingers on my left hand...

Greetings, all. Two weeks since i last posted. I try not to post too frequently, as not to instil this expectation of a frequent correspondence. Well, at least that is what I tell myself. Okay, i am horrible with excuses. But I am here now, and thus, I will delve into the news.

First order of business, I know where I will be living for the next two years! The PC staff annouced our sites a few days ago. I will be living in Pobé, a larger village in the far north, in the Sahel Region. Rumor has it I will have electricity in my village, but whether or not my house has it, well, i am not holding my breath. In reality, I am somewhat disappointed I am not in a more remote area (I am actually in the most populated area of the most remote part of the country), you know, to add to the mystery and allue of being a PCV in West Africa....but I think I will manage.

I am in Ouagadougou for a few days for a counterpart workshop. Each volunteer has a counterpart with which they will work for the two years at site. Most of the time the counterpart is a teacher or health worker, depending upon the field, and they usually speak french (they may be the only person in a volunteers village that speaks french).

Last night I ate my first Hamburger since leaving the states. I feel that this is more than worth mentioning, because it was amazing. After a month of eating rice and peanut sauce, goat meat and cous-cous, I finally had a taste of home. I was content. Three other trainees and I caught a cab back to the hotel, but when we arrived, the driver tried to rip us off. It was a tense altercation, but all parties knew that he was over-charging; so we paid him the CORRECT faire and departed the cab. He was the first angry Burkinabé I have witnessed thus far in country. It was scary, but nevertheless a learning experience.

In other exciting news, I can now claim that I have gotten sick! Without going into any details, I discovered the other day that I contracted Giardia AND e. coli. Before any of you call the World Health Orginasation and demand a quarantine, I am fine. In fact, e. coli is the most common stomach ailment suffered by PCVs in Burkina Faso. Apparently Burkina Faso is the Number 1 PC country in Africa in regards to gastrointestinal ailments. Yay.

Also, I now have a cell phone! I still haven't memorized the number, but I am fairly certain that my loving father is going to post it on the website shortly for you all. I know that there are international calling cards for US to Burkina Faso for around 10 cents/minute....so no excuse family and friends, you better call me!

Well, I thought Id have time for one of my "Joel's World Famous Cultural Observations", but alas, I am out of time. I hope this blog finds all of you well and in the best of spirits. I am thinking of you all, missing you all, and wishing you all the best. Until next time, be well.

Contrary to popular belief, and other musings

Hello friends, family! Its me! I am in fact alive and more or less kicking here in Ouahigouya, Burkina Faso, or as i like to call it, the OHG.

Its almost been a whole month since I said my final goodbyes to everyone in Montrose. It is funny, at times, it feels as though I have been here in BF for months, as if time is passing by exceptionally slow, but at the same time (if one could fathom), time is also moving by lightning fast.

I apologize for not posting any pictures yet. I have taken over 150 photos, but the internet here is so depressingly slow, it would be impossible for me to upload photos at this cyber café. My hope is that when i head to Ouaga in a few weeks, i'll be able to post a few photos.

Things here are going well! And by well, i mean very difficult most of the time and finding myself challenged in many different ways :) In reality, every day brings a new challenge. The most overt of challenges clearly is the language barrier. Anybody can pass through a country with a bare minimum knowledge of the language and "survive", but i am discovering that conducting meetings and engaging in discussions that involve many social issues is somewhat difficult without a good understanding of the French (or Mooré/Fulfuldé/Gumulcéma) language. So there's that. But my French studies ARE coming along. My language facilitator (i.e. teacher) has been wonderful and he is exceptionally patient. The language instruction model here is based primarily on conversation. My LCF speaks no english, inside or outside of class. Only perfectly articulated french, which is in fact quite easy to understand.

My job description is falling into greater focus as well. We have participated in many different community meetings in our villages, in an attempt to practice and apply our acquired knowledge of the stuff they cram into our heads during class.

I haven't much time remaining, but i dont want to leave without providing what i forsee to be my very own, world famous "Cultural Observations"

When i was told that the people here in BF were nice, i had no real idea of HOW nice they really are. When leaving the Cyber Café a few weeks ago, my colleague Theo realized he had a flat tire. Not a problem, as we were all supplied with a bike repair kit, complete with all the goodies you might need in the case of a bicycular disaster. Not 2 seconds after Theo, Chrissy and I started staring at the front tire, a gentleman approached us and asked if we needed help. In our broken french, we explained that we didnt need help. He understood and began watching us try to change the tire. Later on, another gentleman approached and asked if we needed help. At some point, i'm not entirely sure, the two guys managed to merge their assistance into the equation and the next thing we knew, the Nassaras (Mooré for White Person) were standing there drinking water and the two men had patched and reassembled the tire, all within 3 minutes.
Long story short, the hospitality, the kindness of the Burkinabé is not only ever-present, but also, to a degree, it is subconcious. If you aren't on the lookout, the goodwill could take you by surprise.

Thats all the time i have for now. Back to my village, Sananga, where I get to eat more Rice, Rice and Rice. Things could be worse. Thank goodness for the overabundance of mangoes here!

Oh yeah, and if anyone wants to you know, send me a letter or a pack of gum or skittles or something else i have no chance of getting here......send it to the address at the right! Things are only taking 11 yes 11 days to get here!!!!

I hope all is well with everyone. Be good, live well.