Moving In

I have spoken with Kirstin and offered to update a bit, as she is uncertain when she will be able to get to an internet site.

She had a fun, though most unusual Christmas with the other PCV, in the heat of Muslim Burkina Faso. They enchanged White Elephant gifts, and did a Secret Santa. She also hoarded several packages which arrived earlier so she had something to open. She had amazingly left packages for her parents hidden in her bedroom, so we had something to open and remember other holidays. I know she is eager to celebrate the NEW YEAR with friends, and perhaps the Orthodox Christmas with a home made feast.

Early on Dec 26 she took a public bus, mini-bus, and PC transport in transit to her village. After two days travel, she arrived safely to her village to a warm welcome. She was greeted by a friendly crowd, and moved in to her new home. She describes two small dark rooms with a courtyard and shaded porch. She has no furniture yet, but hopes to meet a carptenter soon. She will need a table, chairs, shelves etc as the rooms are cement, and very empty. I know she is eager to paint, hang up things as she makes it feel like home. She finally will have access to all her things, and hopes to get everything out of the suitcases.

The village of about 5000 has a market every three days, and Kirsitn in eager to shop and begin cooking. She still has many items necessary for basic functioning to purchase, but is well on her way to settling in. She had been told there is internet at the local school, but it is now school holiday so will check this out later.

Kirstin promises to take pictures, and post as soon as possible. I know we are all eager to hear more, as she continues this adventure

MOM.

Christmas

I spent today busily shopping for my new house and will continue getting more things tomorrow. I have already purchased: a cot, a stovetop, pot to make into a dutch oven, nesting pots for cooking, mixing bowl, plates, cups, silverware, grater, strainer, and a metal cantine to store my food so the mice and bugs cant enjoy it! I still need a gas tank for the stove, another cantine for clothes, buckets for laundry and carrying water, big plastic garbage can for storing water, and basins for washing dishes. These are just the basics for my house and I am sure I will continue furnishing my house for a while. I also need tables, chairs, and benches but hope to get those made in my village or the next town over. I also bought a few Christmas presents. It felt very different than my usual Christmas shopping since it was 90 degrees out and the market wasnt very busy unlike the malls at home this time of year! I have seen a few random Christmas decorations but no other signs that the holidays are quickly approaching!

Since all of the newest BF volunteers are going to be together in Ouahigouya for Christmas we have tried to make the day special. We have already organized Secret Santa and White Elephant exchanges for Christmas day and I have horded three packages that I received in the last two weeks in order to have some presents to open on Christmas. We have organized a catered dinner at a hotel in town owned by a Lebanese woman so we are expecting an amazing meal but probably far from traditional for my family! Still there have been no stockings, cookies, Glogg, decorated tree, lights, snow, carols, or family so it’s not really feeling like the Christmas season. I know its going to be a hard day but I have so much to look forward to as I enter this next stage in my life as a volunteer.

I am leaving Ouahigouya bright and early at 6 am the morning after Christmas, while everyone in the U.S. is getting bargains at Target, to catch my bus to Ouaga followed by another bus to Tenkodogo. I will spend the night there before being dropped off in village on the morning of the 27th.

I am not sure when I will get back online but hear that my district capital does have a cyber café and I will be going there to visit the district medical center and doing some food shopping. I heard that my village has good cell phone reception so feel free to call or text. I also will be trying to go to Ouaga in a few weeks or have someone get my mail for me and I would love to have a note from you waiting in my new mailbox! I am keeping the same address but you can change the PCT to PCV now!

Comments

I love getting comments on my blog but don’t receive very many. Let me know what you think about my experiences or any questions you may have. It seems like there isn’t a way to e-mail responses when people leave a comment so please do include your e-mail if you want me to write back! Otherwise do know that I enjoy hearing from you!

Swear-In

I am now an official Peace Corps Volunteer after taking the oath yesterday and swearing-in! The last week has brought a lot of changes and am now waiting impatiently to move to site and really begin my life as a volunteer. After nine weeks of training in French and Bissa languages, medical, safety and security, cross-culture, and health technical sessions and living with a host family while being surround by 32 other American trainees, it is exciting to think about being on my own at site. I am ready to be able to set my own schedule, cook my own meals, have privacy when needed, and actually work in international public health. I reached the required language proficiency level about a month ago so have not been too concerned about this though my French still has a long way to go! I am currently at intermediate mid which is three levels higher than I was at when I arrived. We also had exit tests in each of the sessions but there was no concern about passing those.

This past week was counterpart workshop where all of our counterparts and supervisors from around Burkina Faso came to Ouahigouya to meet us, learn more about the Peace Corps, and set a plan for our first few weeks at site. For health volunteers, our counterparts are the “majors” or head nurses at the village health centers we will work in. Each of us are assigned to a health center where we can work with the staff and community board that overseas the health center to plan programs and activities. My counterpart has worked in the village for six years though he is not from the area. This seems to actually be quite a long time for a staff member to stay in the same community since these are government appointed positions that often involve moving every few years. I am thinking this may mean he is well-liked and respected in the community. Plus he speaks French slowly and clearly for me so I am able to understand much of what he says! The District Medical Officer for Garango where I will be also attended the workshop. He is my supervisor and I will probably try to meet with him every few months and may try to plan some programs at the district level. Karla, my closest PCV neighbor, is also in the same district so we share the same supervisor. My major also was able to share lots of info about my community and their health needs but I want to wait to share my impressions with you since I will be there so soon.

For our swearing-in ceremony many volunteers had comples, complete outfits, made from local pagne material purchased at the market and taken to tailors. There was a wide variety of styles represented but I think we all looked great. The US Ambassador to Burkina attended and spoke at our swear-in along with the several important people from the area and our Country Director. Our host families, counterparts, PC staff, and current volunteers all attended to congratulate us. Usually the swearing-in is held in Ouaga at the Ambassador’s house but for whatever reason it was held in Ouahigouya this year. All of the staff was very excited because everyone that started in our group made it to swear in without ETing --early terminating and returning to the US. We are the first group that all swore-in in at least nine years which is as far back as the staff can remember. It’s exciting to now be actual volunteers for many reasons including the fact that our stipend doubles from about $4 a day to $8 a day. Before we had many meals covered and no home expenses though so the doubling in income is definitely needed!

We are now attending Life Skills Workshop with our counterparts which includes lots of activities to teach about HIV/AIDS. My understanding is that this event is often held after being at site for several months but they decided to hold it earlier in order to allow us to be together for Christmas.

PS I added more pictures to Picaso so check them out at the link to the right!

Contact Info Update

I moved out of my host family this morning and am spending the next 10 days in Ouahigouya before moving to site on Dec 26. Several people have asked about my address since I had originally said my address was only good through December. At this point I have decided to keep using the PC office address since I heard it is kinda expensive to rent a po box. I have a mailbox anyways at the PC office and they can collect my mail. I am thinking I will be going into Ouaga every few weeks so can get my mail then. The only change is that as of Friday when I swear in, I will be a PCV --Peace Corps Volunteer-- not a PCT -Trainee. Please keep sending cards and packages. I really appreciate it!!

In case you forgot:

Kirstin Krudwig, PCV
S/c Corps de la Paix
01 BP 6031
Ouagadougou 01
Burkina Faso
West Africa

Pictures

I am finally trying to get some pictures posted online since I found my cord in my suitcase that has been in storage.






This is a lot of my host family. I think a few people are probably missing since it is a large family but you get the idea.

The rest of the pictures are accessible by the link on the right. It just seems easier to load them in Picasso than on this page.

Tabaski

This is a week full of fetes--holidays or parties--in Burkina Faso. Tabaski was celebrated in Monday here though I have heard that some places celebrated Tuesday or another day. For the last several weeks my family had said it would be on Sunday the 7th but the night before they said that it actually was going to be on Monday. It is an Islamic holiday celebrated 70 days after Ramadan so it does vary every year and doesnt line up with our calendar. It just seemed very strange that no one knew what day to celebrate until a day or two beforehand. Anyways, Tabaski is the Feast of the Sacrifice or the Fete du Muton as my family called it. The holiday is based on the Old Testament story where God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son but he was allowed to substitue a sheep at the last minute. So how is it celebrated you ask? Well we did lots of sacrificing of sheep!!

Everyone --thats all 1200 people that live in my village-- met up in a center open area of town to pray. The men were in the front and the women lined up behind them with children mixed in with parents and some playing in the way back. Everyone prayed together and I stood and watched the community. Afterwards people mingled around, showed off their fancy new clothes they had made for the fete, enjoyed juices and candies that kids were selling. It kind of felt like fourth of July or another holiday where people are hanging out. I reconnected with my host family and headed home with them. It was time for the slaughter. My family of about 50ish people slaughtered three goats and one sheep right in our courtyard basically in front of my house. The men sharpened their knives and the children helped hold down the animals while their necks were slit. They were then cut open and all the parts were divided up and such. I tried watching most of it but the blood got to be a bit much after awhile. It wasnt nearly as bad as I had thought it might be. The cutting up of the animals seemed to be the mens job while the women prepared other food including yams, rice, and vegetables. There was so much food prepared!!! People seemed to eat throughout the day and then in the afternoon the children were given platters with meat chunks on to take to the neighbors, relatives, village leaders, etc. Many people also came to our house to give my host dad a piece of meat. It seems like a big part of the holiday is sharing with those that are important to you. I was a little grossed out by the amount of raw meat that was being passed around and the shaking of hands that went with this because you of course must greet everyone that comes but at the same time loved seeing the connections between community members!!

Later in the afternoon people bathed and changed clothes again into another even nicer outfit and the children went out in groups to ask for a cadeau or gift. They sang a little song and clapped when they came to our house and my dad or someone else would give them small coins. I gave out candy which was also appreciated but I think they preferred money!! The adults also went out to visit friends and I think later at night there was a big dance party. I was tired at that point and had to long bike ride and class the next day so skipped out on the night activities. I did hear music playing long into the night which is unusual in a village without electricity!!

Tommorrow is Indepence Day and Saturday is the tenth anniversary since a well-known journalist was killed so many of the schools are closed all week. I have no other plans for celebration since I still have class but my the kids in my family are excited for the vacation!!

It has gotten much colder here though nowhere like the snow and cold I am hearing about in Wisconsin!! We had about four days that were really chilly and I needed to wear pants and sweatshirt. At night it got down to mid 50s which doesnt sound cold but its 40 degrees colder than what it has been basically every day since I arrived. I think the cold streak has passes since the last two nights were not as chilly.

It doesnt really feel like the American holidays are approaching other than the change in weather. I cant believe Christmas is only two weeks away!! I am a little sad about being away from my family during this time but am hoping that we will be able to celebrate together. Plus I will be busy preparing to move to my site the next day!!

I know I have said it before but I want to reiterate how much I appreciate your cards!! I would love to send lots of letters back but its really hard for me right now because I make about four dollars a day for food, internet, necessities, and postage costs about 1.75 dollars!! I am trying to get some letters out though and will try to send more once I get to site. Please keep sending mail because I love to hear what else is going on in the world!!