Things are going well here in Burkina and its hard to believe I have only been in country a few days! We have had lots of meetings and orientations and received lots of stuff. We have probably gotten at least 6-7 books including French dictioary; verb and grammer books. We also got our bikes and accessories including pumps, water bottles, flat tire fixer kits, lights, repair manual etc and med kits including tons of meds for any kind of problems, big water filters water bottles with filters for travel, and kits to prepare blood slides for malaria test and preserved stool samples. In medical sessions we learned that Burkina used to have the most cases of volunteers with diarrhea each year but as of 2007 we had the 3rd most. Something to definetly look forward to! We had to practice pricking ourselves and preparing slides today so we can do it if necessary at site. Never expected to have so many fun adventures in Peace Corps!
We moved to our host families on Sunday and mine is great though we really cant communicate. I live in a village about ten km outside of Ouahigouya with four other trainees. We have varied info about the size but I guess it has somewhere between 1500 and 10000 people. Our small group has to make a map of the village tomorrow so I should get a better idea. We also are visiting the health center in our village later in the week so will get a sense of what the health center I will eventually work in will be like.
As for my host family, we live in a large walled compound with many rooms or houses. I have a two room house, semi private courtyard, and latrine/shower area at the back of the compound. My host sister who is also 23 told me that there are 6 moms, 5 dads, and 30 kids that live here and I have seen at least 30 goats that live in walled area. They also have a donkey, chickens, sheep, and cows. My communication is very limited so I havent been able to learn anything else. There are so many little kids--I think more than 30-- and they enjoy staring at me. I didnt get home until after dark last night and arrived late on Sunday so havent had much time to interact with them. Im looking forward to the weekend when I will be around during the daylight.
Its very hot here and I feel like Im constantly sweating. They call it the mini hot season but it should cool down in a month or two. It did rain yesterday afternoon after we were told we wouldnt see rain until next June but thats probably it for the rainy season which started in June. Everything is super muddy now and tonight is my first time biking home on long dirt road so wish me luck.
I am getting a cell phone today probably and will try to post the number when I get a chance but wont be back in the city for several days as I have language class and other activities in my village. Hope everyone is well; I have been thinking of you!!
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