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Sunday, March 31, 2013

Better late than never


Okay, I have to admit that I haven’t been updating because when I got back from the States I was in a bit of denial about being back in Burkina. (I had an amazing time in the States by the way thanks rents) As of now I have 7 more months in country. I’m looking forward to leaving Burkina to start my next adventure. I am pleased to see the progress I’ve made while being here. I spent the last 5 weeks at site without leaving once! Personal record. Below are a couple of entries that I wrote while during that time.

2/27
Hot season is practically here. Ahhhh You know it’s approaching when the heat wakes you up around 5am. This morning I woke up to heat miser singeing. I grumbled around my house cursing the heat while I got ready start my day. Sweat trickled down my chest from the slightest exertion. I started to make the usual porridge that I have every morning but the thought of turning on my stove literally made me want to kick a baby. I settled for granola and an orange. After devouring the cereal I go outside to peel my orange. Standing there as I gaze around my neighborhood, I become filled with youthful joy. As I take in the sounds of my buzzing village, a cool breeze whispers on my skin. I am instantly reminded of my childhood. The weather reminded me of the start of spring after a long winter in south NJ. Young me waking up before 6am to get ready for school, watching the sun rise to the soundtrack of birds chirping as I feed the dogs. In my childhood home we didn’t have air conditioning so you could really feel the difference when the seasons began to change. It’s the same in Burkina Faso except the seasons are dusty and hot, rainy and hot, or hot. It wasn’t all bad though. I looked forward to this change. No more winter coats and heavy stifling clothing and more animals about soaking in the warm air. This change in weather also was the sign of school’s end! To any child the beginning of summer vacation is pure happiness. As I stand here peeling my orange in Burkina Faso West Africa I am reminded of that true adolescent bliss. I’m a child again. I finally drift out of this pleasant reverie and look down at my hands to find my orange perfectly peeled. I split open mother nature’s citrus candy and it’s browned at the core with a maggot squirming in the mush. That’s Burkina for you.

3/9
OMG I’m currently having a manic episode of happiness. Today I woke up feeling slightly ill. Despite this I ate breakfast as usual and went to the pump to do my laundry. After that I set up my desert fridge. I put my water bottle in it. After this I swept my house and courtyard, took a shower, and then left for the market to pick up groceries. The only good thing about hot season is that it’s the season for mangos. I bought 4 fat mangos back to my house. I cut one open and shoved it down my gullet. WOAH talk about food sex, it was orgasmic. After this passionate food session I open up my desert fridge and find that my water is cold! The desert fridge works! This day started out rough but it ended on a great note. Focus on the little things: delicious mangos, cold water, completed chores. Gahd I appreciate the simple life.