e-mail dated October 29, 2002 Return to List
Hey Everybody,
Well I'm here in Banfora, stop over to my adventure in Ouaga at
the Arts Festival. I came in to check email and write a few brief ones, but the
computer that connects to the internet is now on the fritz. I'm hoping that he
can figure out what's the problem so I can send these emails. While I wait, I
thought I'd make use of the time and write an email for everybody.
Things have been pretty much putting along. It was tough to get back into the swing of village life when I knew I'd be leaving again in just over a week. So I pretty much just wrote, worked on my French, and hung out with the people who work at my clinic. Nothing all that exciting. I woke up real early this morning, too excited to sleep. I couldn't wait to start my adventure. So I biked out of Labola around 5:30 in the morning, with only the half moon lighting my way. Then about half way through my trip, I caught the sunrise. I still can't believe I'm here. There are moments that just seem to perfect to not belong to some over budget movie. Of course there is plenty of dullness, heat, and uselessness tooÉ But I'm getting used to it. I scoff now when I see that the temperature has reached 100 degrees in my tiny house. "Huh, sure doesn't feel like a hundred." The uselessness is the worst part. I know part of my job here is just to let people get to know me and get to know them, but it would sure be nice if I could also maybe help somebody as well. We have JNVs (Polio Vaccination Days) again right when I get back so I'm pumped for that. They really don't need my help, but at least I'm doing something. Plus it's such a kick to bike around the back-country of Burkina Faso. I think I'm hooked.
Even though I'm exhausted from the lack of sleep, I'm still
bubbling with energy for my trip. I'm going to Bobo tomorrow to spend the day
and get some errands done. I'm getting five rolls of film developed. Everybody
cross your fingers and hope that the heat, or inept photo processing, doesn't
ruin them. If they turn out alright, I'll send the negatives on to my parents
and I'm sure that they'll put them on the internet for all to gawk at. Bobo
will be great. I'm going to hook up with a few really cool people there, then
we'll all head to Ouaga the next day. Then it's four nights in Ouaga, where
I'll soak up the arts of all of Africa, attend my first Peace Corps party, and
get some more stuff done that I can only do in Ouaga. I'm bringing my bike with
me. I'm going to finally figure out this so-called capital. The times I've been
there before, I've been a little intimidated with all the people and the odd
angled streets. Ras spent a while up there when he was evacuated and Josh knows
it well, so I'll have some people to show me around. I hope to have the place
down by the time I leave. After that, it's a caravan of writers going down to
Gaoua to meet up with Lisa, the group's co-founder. Then back to Labola on the
eighth, just in time for JNVs on the ninth. Should be great.
Well I just heard the sound of a dial up so hopefully everything
is finally working. Hope everything is going great in the states. I'll write
and let you guys know how it goes.
Well, more later,
Shaffer
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