Leaving Bobo
e-mail on 9/4/2002 Return to List
Well I'm here in Banfora, my region capital,
typing on a computer that's time is twice as much as in Bobo (2,250 CFA hour).
Which isn't all that cher (expensive) when you think about how great it is to
just write one letter to everybody and have it instantaneously arrive at each
person's door or computer.
Well I was one of the last out of Bobo. Those
that were closer to 
Ouaga left on Sunday.
It was a bit sad as we saw more than half of our little family board the bus.
Hugs all around. I think it was harder saying good-bye to some of the
facilitators since it's possible that we won't see them again, or at best, next
stage. Dee in particular was a bit heart wrenching. The coolest girl ever and I might get to see her in a year
if she'll be able to work stage again. She's off to the states soon and then
who knows where exactly. She seems completely at home no matter where she is.
Today six of us arrived in the Banfora Region.
Vincent our driver - a short cheery man who reminds me a little of a larger
Gary Coleman, Bartho - the head sante guy who has the voice of Issac Hayes and
the coolness and popularity of Shaft (Roundtree, not Jackson, no disrespect
Sam), then Josh who's one of our knew PCVLs - basically our middleman between
us and the top brass of Burkina Faso Peace Corps - really cool laid back dude -
we hit it off right away during worm week, Holly - a soon to be volunteer in
the Gauoa region who for logistical reasons is tagging along with us, Ras - my
roommate in Bobo and the only volunteer from my year in my region, then myself
- a slightly rosy, tired-out volunteer about to get to the stuff that he came
here for.
We had the usual protocal meetings with the
heads of state in Banfora, not all that exciting. I had a hard time keeping my
eyes open. I don't know if it's stress or what, but I've had a slight bought of
mild insomnia these last few days, waking up about ten times a night.
Then we headed south, near the border to Cote
d'ivorie, to the village of Yendere. This is Ras' village, and it seems much
more like a village then mine. His counterpart is a bachelor who is quite
popular with the women. The two of them make quite the pair. Ras has a nice
spacious three room house that I can't help but be envious of. It was what I
was picturing I'd have, but his bedroom is about the size of my largest room,
my only other room being a small bedroom.
Now we're staying in Banfora at the house that
I and three other volunteers rent. We sleep here tonight then head to my
village in the morning. I'm excited and nervous. I think my largest fear is
that I'll just create my own little world of reading and writing and not really
get involved in my village. My French feels a little more stable, but I'm still
pretty limited. Thanks to my parents sending me all kinds of French resources,
I hope to be "rude" in no time.
I'm a little worried about the whole food
thing. I haven't really figured out just what I'm going to be capable of making
in my house. I have a stove and some really basic cooking items, but no
furniture of yet. We couldn't really buy much in Bobo, though it was my stuff
that ended up filling up most of the car. And if I want to get the cheap local
furniture, I have to wait until the dry season (maybe late October) before it's
being produced.
I ended up buying thirty cans of tuna fish,
some mustard, 25 packets of spaghetti, and some assorted canned veggies. I'm
thinking tuna fish sandwiches once a day might be alright. I don't think I can
get tired of them, we'll see. I can always eat at my counterpart's house, but I
have yet to grow fond of To (pronounced Toe).
Let's see what else can I say. A lot of things
have been going on, a bit of roller coaster as you could guess. Part of me is
going to really miss a lot of the people in my group, the other part though is
happy to finally have a little liberty in what I do with my time, to be able to
set my own schedual.
I'm going to be in village for at least a
month. That is the highly recommended time for new volunteers. They want us to
stay there for the first three months, but I already know that's not going to
happen. It's impossible to buy anything in my village but bread and dolo, so
I'm going to have to make a trip in a month to restock my food shelves. Plus
Lisa and I have set a date for our first writing group meeting. Oct 9 we're
meeting in Banfora to hang out and read each other's stuff. I'm a little
nervous as I've had this huge break from writing and don't know how hard it
will be to get back into the groove. I've also never written a complete story
by hand. I'm going to miss the ease of a computer. I type much faster than I
write and I know that's going to be annoying.
The final nail in the "not going to stay
in village for the first three months" is that the once every other year
arts festival is at the end of October. It's in Ouaga and all the volunteers
agree that it would be stupid not to go. Since it's every other year, if we
don't go now, we won't have another opportunity unless we extend for a third
year.
It is just as well since I don't think I
really would like to go three months. They want us to do it since those in the
past that have tended to be much more integrated and comfortable in their
villages, and thus much happier. I can understand it, but I'm not really all
that worried about my integration. I think my personality will lend itself to
that goal quite nicely.
Well my time is growing short here so I'm
going to have to say good bye. I hope to find some time to write again when I
come into Banfora to meet with Lisa. Please write me back and let me know how
the states are going.
Love or Like (as the case may be) you all,
Shaffer
First son of Labola
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