A Few Figures from my Peace Corps Service

While going through my list of changes over the last 3+ years, I realized there were a few other figures I wanted to share.

Languages learned at least partially:

Burkina: French, Bissa, and a little Moore

Belize: a little Kriol

Countries Visited:

While in Burkina: 8 (Burkina Faso, Algeria (airport layover), Egypt, Morocco, Ghana, Togo, Mali, Niger)

While in Belize: 2 (Belize, Mexico)

Visitors from the U.S.

Burkina: 2 (Anna, Mom)

Belize: 8 (Mom, Dad, Karla, Allison, Maren, Mike, Dylan, Anna)

Books Read:

Burkina: 133

Belize: 49

Pictures Taken:

Burkina: 4,690

Belize: 1,439

Electronics that didn't make it out of Peace Corps:

1 cell phone, 1 ipod, & 1 camera fell in a puddle in Burkina on a very sad day

1 camera was stolen & returned several months later but was broken

3 headlamps and at least that many flashlights died

1 cell phone stopped working

1 laptop (my 2003 computer from when I graduated HS) couldn't handle the heat

1 laptop (grad school laptop) still working but barely

Electronics just can't seem to handle the harsh conditions volunteers are living in. I actually lost a lot less than many of my PC friends. My external harddrive made it though so I have all of my pictures and thats what is most important to me!

Cross-stitch Completed: 1

It was goal to complete a cross-stitch kit while in Peace Corps and it took all 3 years to do. I started it in Jan 2009 and finished it my last weekend in Dangriga in Jan 2012. Its a little dirty from working outside in the dirt when I didn't have electricity but a lot of love was put in it so its going on the wall at some point!

Socks Knitted: 1 pair

I also had decided to learn to knit socks. Well, they were harder than I expected and I wasn't so excited about making wool socks when it was 90 degrees out. I did make several baby hats though too for kids in my Burkina family.

Journals Kept: 3

I filled three journals over the last three years with my joys and frustrations of living as a Peace Corps Volunteer in a foreign country.