So it’s been a lil while since my last post. Last month went by so fast!!!! And now, it’s almost the end. Two weeks ago, I had to say goodbye to Zorgho. I was pretty sad to leave the toad eaters (mangeurs de crapauds = zorgholais), but I was also really excited for a new start in Ouaga, the capital. Ouaga is really something. At first, I was so scared, but now, no problems at all, I’m starting to really know the city. I bike to work everyday on one of the busiest roads. When I say busy, I mean, cars, trucks, buses, donkeys pulling a wagon, motorcycles and bikers EVERYWHERE! Total chaos! I can even take the city bus to and from downtown. I’m starting to get the urban city feel. I even went to the movies to watch a brukinabe film. It was super cool… never thought I would do that this summer.
At the beginning of July, we had our EWB retreat in the northern part of the country (Dori). It was soooo cool to reunite all the Canadians together. The retreat allowed us to share and compare our experiences. But at the same time, we all realized it was crunch time. Half the placement had past and we had so many things we wanted to accomplish. During the retreat, a tourist day was organised. I think we were all due for a chill out day. We rented camels for a night. Everyone got to ride a camel. It was so cool, but really high. After an hour, my but and my back were starting to feel tired. Our destination was the dunes of the Sahel. We had traditional tea and we slept on the dunes (without tents). It was super intense and awesome!
Half-way through July, I lived in 2 villages for about a week. In both villages, I worked in the fields with the family. In rural areas, everyone cultivates, and they work HARD! Everything is done by hand, no tractors or other mechanical machines… it’s really not easy. Oh and I had to wake up at 5h30 AM! (And I was usually the last one up). I also help fetch water at the pump with the women of the family. Having to pump 8 30L water jug is not exactly easy. In the end, I really tried to follow the women’s activities during my village stay. African women are my hero! They really don’t have it easy. I have to admit, it’s really impressive how they manage!
And now, I’m in Ouaga finishing up with my partner to wrap everything up. It’s now that I’m starting to realise all the progress I’ve made in the last 3 months. For all the downs and tough parts, this is the part that makes it all worth it! My home environment has always been pretty hectic. In Zorgho, we went from 2 to 8-10 during the month of July. So many people in one household!! And now in Ouaga, I live with tanti’s parents (the grandparents). They’re a family of 9 kids, so with the husbands/wives and grandchildren…. There’s a lot of people at the house. The whole family isn’t there all the time, but they stop by for a couple of hours/days quit a bit. In Africa, family is everything; it’s the most important thing. It’s so cool how they do everything together. For example, we sleep 4 in one small bedroom. Privacy doesn’t exist, lol. And if they have something, they share it all equally. It’s really neat. Yaaba (the grandmother) prepares home brewed beer, le dollo, made from mill. So the entire neighbourhood comes over to drink beer 2-3 times a week. (It takes 2 days to prepare) On Sat morning, she starts to serve at 6h30 am... there’s no such thing as sleeping inaround here.
Here’s a Q and A to answer some questions that you might have:
Q: Was I sick very often?
A: Luckily, I was only sick 3 times from either drinking local water or eating something my stomach wasn’t a big fan of. I took antibiotics every time and it did the job! Street food never made me sick and I can now drink the local water (in Zorgho and Ouaga), but it took me a long time (for the water). I had to buy bagged (in plastic baggies) water (cheaper than bottled water). Up to now, no malaria! Touch wood for the next 10 days. For those of you wondering, I’ve been on larium for an anti-malarian, and no weird intense dreams or crazy side effects like some people get.
Q: What food will I miss the most?
A: I am soooo going to miss fresh mangos and bissap (tea type juice made with lots of SUGAR). The food was one of the toughest things to get used to out here. I ate way too many meals with leaves and too many plates of rice… let’s just say I won’t be eating rice for a long time. I’ve been craving sugar ALL summer, lol!
Q: What I will miss the most?
A: I’m going to miss my family even if it’s been hard integrating in an African family. I’m really grateful they took me in and tought me so much. Everyone is so impressed that I can make the traditional dish (le tau).
And the handshake here is soooo rad!!! I feel like I’m part of the burkinabe club now that I can do the handshake and that people will initiate it. If you’re in the club, you flick your finger at the end of the handshake. So it’s really awkward if one person tries to flick and the other one doesn’t lol.
Q: What I will miss the least?
A: Cockroaches in the latrines and the shower at night! I was so scared of them that I would hold it in all night, lol! But there’s barely any in Ouaga for some odd reason… and thank god!
Q: What was the hardest to adapt?
A: Being white and having to deal with the western/white perception. It’s a challenge everyday but I’m starting to understand and deal with it a lot better now.
Seeing the kids living in the street is really hard. I see the real definition of unfair.
To live and see the role of women. It’s a lot to take at times, especially being a woman myself.
Q: What African animals did I see? lol
A: Ok so I didn’t see any lions or tigers, and I didn’t eat monkey brains as some of you might think, lol. However, I did see a lot of bats and I ate bat once. I even tried goat head soup. Both were so gross, but a delicacy here. I can say I tried them both. I saw sacred crocodiles once and lizards everywhere. And, I rode a camel and got pulled by a donkey on a wagon, lol. Can’t say I’ve ever done that in Canada, lol.
Q: How hot is it?
A: It’s soooo friggen hot!!!!! And it’s not even the dry season. In Ouaga, it’s a lot hotter than Zorgho… seems like the air doesn’t circulate and I don’t have a fan in my room anymore. I’ll survive the next 10 days anyway, lol. And night falls at about 7 pm.
Q: Is there anywhere to swim?
A: Kids go swimming in the creeks or small lakes, but Dr. Wise (no pun intended, EWB’s Dr) forbid us to swim. However, city people can go swimming in the hotel pools. In June, I went swimming… it was so cool!!!
Q: Can I buy the same food/products that we have?
A: In the big cities, you can find everything. Bottled soap, ketchup, nutella, chips, cookies, cereal, shampoo, etc, but it’s all imported, so that means it’s pretty pricy for locals. The big cities have a supermarket with aisles and cash registers, very western like. But in small towns and villages, we buy the basic necessities like pasta, sugar, coffee, cooking oil at the general store/booth and fresh condiments (fruits and veggies, spices) at the markets.
People often ask me if I’m anxious or excited to come home. And yes, I’m really excited to come home. But it’s not because I didn’t enjoy my experience, it was honestly an incredible experience! I’ve never learnt so much in so little time! I have never been tested intellectually and emotionally to this degree. I admit, I had some home sick phases, but you have to understand that living in a family environment made me miss MY family. In Zorgho, I really lived like a 22 yr old woman would live in Africa, and it allowed me to understand the role of women here. The experience allowed me to take a step back and reflect on my freedom, education and life in general. I’m a bit scared to come back to Canada because I feel like no one will be able to understand what I went through and how I’ve changed. It’s pretty crazy, my view of Africa changed completely. There were so many times where I wished I had a camera on me to capture everything I saw, so that you could understand what I’m living and everything I see. In the end I’m excited and scared to come home, but more excited! I realise how much I love my life!
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