Although not off to the start I wanted, my mom made it safely to Burkina Faso! We started the trip off with a day in Ouaga, to let her recuperate from the flight and me to rest from the long voyage back from Ghana. The next day we travelled down to the South of Burkina, to the town Banfora, one of the main touristy places in the country. Once down in Banfora, we arranged for a guide to pick us up the next morning to go site-seeing. After spending the night in one of Burkina’s loveliest hotels, we were well rested for the day ahead of us. But we were not quite prepared. The guide arrived in a beat-up sedan that was supposed to take us 80km on a bad dirt road to Niansogoni, a trogolyte village perched on a cliff top. But we made it, despite the bone jarring ride! We hiked up the cliff to see the cave dwellings that have not been inhabited since 1980. After Niansogoni, we made our way back towards Banfora and stopped along the way to see Sindou peaks. These monumental structures were made by the movement of oceans and wind and hardly any noises disturb the silence. In fact it was a little spooky, but a needed rest from the cars jostling.
The next day found us with the same guide, but we stayed closer to Banfora, so we did not have as long in that dreaded car. We went to the waterfalls of Takeledougou, hidden behind fields and fields of sugarcane. Being at the waterfalls was like being in a different country, or back in the rainforest in Ghana. The trees were humungous and the temperature was downright cold (to me, after being in Burkina 19 months). We hiked up to the waterfalls and enjoyed the view, and the water, which is a rarity here.
Then it was up to Tougouri! I needed to get back to begin teaching again; I was already a week late for the start of the second trimester. Once back at site, we settled into a routine, I’d get up, run, and go to school, Mom would show up a little later, then we’d cook lunch, then go visit people in village, then it’d already be time for dinner! I think Mom enjoyed being in village much more than doing touristy things, but I’m glad she got to see different parts of Burkina. Everyone was very excited to meet my mother and state what a good thing it was for her to come here. Still today, two weeks later, I get asked everyday how my mother is doing back in the U.S.
The final night of her stay in village, we had a big fete (party) to honor her visit. 17 chickens were killed and cooked with a basketful of vegetables. All of the teachers at my school showed up, along with some village friends. The school gave my mother a traditional outfit which she wore and even danced in (once the generator got going, unfortunately). I wasn’t thinking when I said yes, the teachers could bring a generator. This meant there was a loud generator running with music blasting over it in my relatively small courtyard. Oh well, my village friends had a great time.
Then it was time for my Mom to leave. I have to admit it, but I was glad to see her go. It was a GREAT trip and I am thrilled she now knows how I’ve been living for the past two years, but after living alone for this long and all of a sudden having someone around 24/7, I was tired. But I cannot begin to say how thankful I am that she came to visit. I love you Mom.
Now, it’s back to the grind of things. School is in full swing and I’ve taken on a few extra hours teaching sex education classes, which I actually love teaching! It’s a lot of fun to get into topics that the students actually care about and talk about things that are pertinent to their immediate lives. Don’t get me wrong, someday my students may have to know the acidic properties of granite or the lifecycle of algae, but not now. In addition to sex ed, we will be talking about gender issues and inequality, goal settings, and decision-making skills. In addition, I also started a World Map Project at my school, which involved myself and some of my students first drawing, then painting, the world on a concrete slab on the outside wall of the library at my school. Even though I’m still in the beginning stages, it has generated a lot of interest. If I’m ever working on it when the students are not in class, I usually have a crowd of at least 30 students around me watching me. It’s going to be really exciting when it starts to actually become a map of the world.
Hot season is also upon us, on the cusp of breaking. The past few days have been in the low 100s and I’m not excited of sweating for the next 6 months. This past cold season definitely spoiled me. However, it rained (ok, sprinkled) this afternoon. That never happens up North where I am. There are “mango rains” in February, but generally only in the lush, green South of Burkina. So I am a little confused. But not complaining in the least, because rain means cloudy skies which mean a lower temperature. Yay! I will be sleeping well tonight!
That’s all from here at the moment. Again, I apologize for the lack of photos. Please look on facebook for recent pictures. Miss you all!
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