One Year in Burkina

A few weeks ago we celebrate one year in Burkina. I meant to write then since I was in town but after writing several other blogs forgot to mention the whole reason I was in Ouaga. Its crazy to think that I have been out of the United States for over a year now. The time has really flown by. It seems like May was a few weeks ago, not 6 months ago. I guess that must mean I am well settled into my life here and I have to say it actually feels like home.

There are still little (well, sometimes big) cultural differences that get to me but overall I feel pretty integrated into my community and content with life in general. I have started feeling very busy. I know this is a good thing but have to admit I am kinda missing all the reading time I used to have! I'm working on several different projects and seem to find more and more activities and things to do in village. Plus I have lots of teens that like to come over and do their homework or just hang out at my house. All in all, it means a lot less alone time which didn't bother me before but am enjoying these changes in my routine.

I am excited to be back in Ouaga today because I have a good friend arriving tonight. Anna was my RA my freshmen year at Madison and we lived across the hall. I dragged her to a Peace Corps info session about a month after school started and she ended up joining before me and serving in Cape Verde. I visited her there and we celebrated her 25th birthday. She nows works at the Peace Corps office in D.C. and has come to spend a month with me and celebrate my 25th birthday in Burkina. We are going to be doing some traveling around Burkina which I really haven't done yet and also spend several weeks in village. I am so excited to show her my friends, family, home, and work!