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Monday, November 26, 2012

thanksgiving is not for the birds

This past week I attended my mid service conference. It's basically a 3 day conference in Ouaga where we share our feelings/project ideas and get medical/dental check ups. No cavities for me mom!!! Healthy as a 40 year old ox and all cried out from emotional over share, I finished the conference and strolled right into Thanksgiving! Since my whole stage was in town (Ouaga) we decided to celebrate Thanksgiving family style. Our Director of Programming and Training (Paul) invited us over to his pad for a tday pot luck. All of the decent volunteers prepared various dishes like stuffing, tofurkey (guess who made that one), green beans, and a poo load of desserts. Paul supplied 2 imported turkeys and other yummy eats. This turned out to be a surprisingly fun and happy day, we even played a bunch of Christmas music at the end of the night. I hope that everyone else had an amazing Thanksgiving.

Although I had a great time I would love to come home to the states for Christmas. I am excepting donations at www.flyjalysahome.please

facials while preparing dinner!

everyone grab a prop

Sunday, November 25, 2012

say it loud

10/17/2012

I've tried to ignore the way people here view themselves in terms of skin color. It is similar to people of color in the states (but less discrete). The deeply rooted self hatred is apparently universal. The other day my friend asked me if I use the same lotion on my face that I use on my arms. I told her yes, why do you ask? She then said that my face skin in prettier and clearer than my arms. Unlike my face my arms have zero acne so I know that it wasn't the texture that she was referring to. Clear in french here means lighter. This conversation reminded me of all the women here who use skin lightening lotions everyday and wear make up 3 shades lighter than their actual skin tone. Can you imagine what this kind of behavior can do to the psyche, not to mention the health risks involved. It is upsetting that our universal idea of beauty excludes so many kinds of people. Whenever I encounter someone who says "I can't stay in the sun, I'll get too black" or "You need to do something with your hair, its too nappy" I make an effort to show that I do not agree with those views. Despite this began to realize that some of those same feelings are inside of me. I am a product of my environment and when we're getting brain washed daily on what "beauty" is, its really hard to see past it. Everyday we are told that a certain standard is true beauty and you don't fit the mold.

Even other volunteers here do it. They will see a Burkinabe that is lighter or that has Arabic features and they will say wow she/he is so beautiful. My favorite is she's pretty for a/an African/ black person/ dark skinned girl/ Burkinabe. It's like they never thought an African  could be attractive. Ha it's really discouraging. Well forget that, I'm sick of defending the way that I look. I don't care if my skin blackens in the sun, that my hair is nappy, that my lips are luscious, that my nose is big, that my butt is bodacious.

I'm black and I'm proud.

new perspectives

10/08/2012
Because Bike Tour and Camp Glow I was out of site for a while. Although they both were great summer programs I never want to be out of site that long again. Being back after that long crazy summer is in a way refreshing. The guilt of being away is gone, it's nice to be back with friends at site,  and I'm back on my own schedule. I started MCAT prep again. Before I left my French was shaky at best, it's still shaky now but I am a lot more comfortable and confident with it. With this new found confidence I am more comfortable starting projects and speaking in front of large groups of people! I did a neem cream (cheap and easy to make anti mosquito repellent) demonstration the other day and it went well. I remember when I was so afraid to do any sort of public speaking. Despite this new found success I really do need to work on my local language. French is a lot easier to me than Moore (and I'm not even good at French.) The mid wife that works at my health clinic started selling neem cream to her patients on a regular basis. Now more people will be exposed to it and hopefully start using it. You can suck it malaria ridden mosquitos! There is a girl in my village who started selling tofu, yay! 1 point for nutrition and 1 point for my happy stomach. People here love tofu! It not like in the states where there is a unjustified stigma against any "healthy, vegetarian, vegan, non meat foods." It's amazing how effectively big business can infiltrate the minds of America.

10/15/2012
Today has been a strange day. This morning while I was feeing my dog I noticed that his skin was covered in ticks...hundreds of ticks. After leaving my courtyard I noticed that he was limping. After further examination I discovered a quarter sized hole on his inner thigh exposing his muscle. I began to take the ticks off outside of my health center with tweezers. While operating on my restless dog my best friend at site, Rouke walked up. She looked really sad and explained that her nephew's wife (Katy-my laundry lady) lost her brother and father last night. I asked how and she told me that a few days ago the uncle of Katy died in a car accident. Katy's father stricken with grief then took his own life by drinking insecticide. I was utterly shocked and wasn't sure how to respond. A few minutes later a lot of people started showing up at my health clinic, healthy people. As everyone stood around in silence looking sad I stood there confused and in the dark. I finally asked what was going on and someone told me that 2 children from my village died in a car accident.

Despite these tragedies it is refreshing to see so many non related community member come and support the family in need. To witness and somewhat be apart of the glue that bonds and strengthens this village, that solidifies the word neighbor, and expands the idea of family is an experience that I will always remember and cherish...gag (sappy I know but true)