Peace Corps Journals / Burkina Faso / all updates

World War Z

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 18:46:00 +0800

(Burkina Faso / Peace Corps Dave)
You know how when you move someplace new it takes some time to getused to the sounds. Well I've been here awhile. I'm used to theanimal noises - the pig squeals the guinea fowl cluck the ba ...
4 reads

2 months in!

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 17:11:00 +0800

(Burkina Faso / Steph in Burkina Faso)
Hello friends. It's been a while since I posted a blog but I don't really feel like I have all that much to report. HOWEVER 2 great things did happen on March 13th:1. It was my official 2-month mark ...
10 reads

killing time at site

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:49:00 +0800

(Burkina Faso / Peace through Chemistry)
riding trains to ends of lines still we got nothing but time -Matt & Kim What can I say? Life continues to progress at site. Science classes are going. Computer lab is going. But all work and n ...
8 reads

I just got home and I should get this d ...

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 05:53:54 +0800

(Burkina Faso / Justin Lopina)
Today was awesome if a bit expensive & awkward.Rock climbing was awesome and I can't wait to go again. You can't really go on your own though so I'll need someone else to come with so we can trade ...
11 reads

Refraction Period

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 16:56:00 +0800

(Burkina Faso / A Day In the Life--Burkina Style)
March 13 2010Hey there Well this blog is not such a downer to be sure. Things have gotten a lot better in village. Tim and I are back into the swing of TIA. Sometimes it is very hard for us to li ...
13 reads

The Descent

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 16:46:00 +0800

(Burkina Faso / A Day In the Life--Burkina Style)
15 Feb 2010Hello everyone February was a pretty hectic month for both Tim and I. School is now near the end of the second trimester so everyone is super busy. The kids have been something this pas ...
10 reads

No more funny subject lines

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 16:44:00 +0800

(Burkina Faso / Peace Corps Dave)
I figured out the solution to that little problem. Which is not to sayI won't still throw in crazy subject lines in emails actually. I justno longer have as good of an excuse.8 MARSThe 8th of Mar ...
0 reads

Rat Out Rabbit In

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 16:21:00 +0800

(Burkina Faso / Aaron and Amy's Burkina Faso Adventure)
The project to start a computer lab is moving along. We hit some unexpected hiccups last week due to some philosophical differences between the school administration and Aaron and me as to how we shou ...
2 reads

pork burgers...food seems to be a recurring theme

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 03:24:31 +0800

(Burkina Faso / Travel Blog | vincentinafrica)
GreetingsMore great and wonderful things took place over the past couple days that I am pleased to share here with you.Thursday last week we ate large portions of slow cooked brick oven roasted pork a ...
8 reads

computer class begins

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 03:24:31 +0800

(Burkina Faso / Travel Blog | vincentinafrica)
Today Tuesday I taught my first real class in Burkina. The computer lab is still not ready so I had to make do with a classroom of 85 kids a blackboard and colored chalk. Due to logistical problems ...
6 reads

Welcome to West Africa would you like so ...

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 03:24:31 +0800

(Burkina Faso / Travel Blog | vincentinafrica)
Village Saturday I met up with Brian a GEE girls education and empowerment trainee who lives just outside of town about 5km into the bush in a small village. He Brad another IT trainee and ...
11 reads

chicken in a bag

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 03:24:30 +0800

(Burkina Faso / Travel Blog | vincentinafrica)
6.8.08In my last entry I mentioned that Brad and I rode through torrential downpour to get lunch one day last week. I would like to emphasize that getting soaked to the bone and wearing damp clothes ...
8 reads

urban poverty may be tougher than rural poverty

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 03:24:30 +0800

(Burkina Faso / Travel Blog | vincentinafrica)
this is an old post that didn't make it online on timeSpent the night at Brianrsquos again on Saturday and saw even more shooting stars broke my record again for best looking meteor. This time Brian ...
2 reads

French toast and banana bread

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 03:24:30 +0800

(Burkina Faso / Travel Blog | vincentinafrica)
Great things happened this weekI got my first package and it was amazing. Itrsquos funny to think that receiving a Science Illustrated magazine a book and some gum and mints would make my week. Ther ...
9 reads

where do i begin

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 03:24:30 +0800

(Burkina Faso / Travel Blog | vincentinafrica)
After trying to write chronological blog posts covering the last week like I did when I was in the army I decided to sum everything up under topic headings. It should give you an idea of what itrsquo ...
4 reads

Accident 1

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 03:24:29 +0800

(Burkina Faso / Travel Blog | vincentinafrica)
ACCIDENTI saw my first African accident scene today. After language class on my way to lunch I took the main road back towards our training center. Up ahead I saw a large group of people on the left ...
0 reads

Mail

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 03:24:29 +0800

(Burkina Faso / Travel Blog | vincentinafrica)
My new address at siteROUX VincentBP 73 KoudougouProvince du BoulkiemdeBurkina Faso West AfricaIf you send things by USPS write AIRMAIL and PAR AVION on the envelope or package. Use RED pen to write ...
0 reads

Did you know that gods of death like apples?

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 03:20:55 +0800

(Burkina Faso / Justin Lopina)
My plans for tomorrow exploded. I'm going to start a rock climbing course go out to dinner with friends and go to an anime convention.I have decided to go as Light Yagami due to my inability to lo ...
1 reads

Back by popular demand another firedancing post!

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 03:33:03 +0800

(Burkina Faso / Justin Lopina)
Lex should be happy: my chains were cut into two so I was able to practice as I taught Stef the basics. However the chains were cut poorly and I can't actually use the poi well so I do in fact nee ...
13 reads

NASARA!!! NASARA!!! NASAAAAAAAAARAAAA!!!!!

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:08:00 +0800

(Burkina Faso / Molly in the Peace Corps)
And hello to YOU little screaming child.Don't have an entry all typed out in advance to post today but since I am here I might as well say something.So hi! It's hot in Burkina Faso these days. That ...
7 reads

NASARA!!! NASARA!!! NASAAAAAAAAARAAAA!!!!!

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:08:00 +0800

Rodents of unusual size? I don't believe ...

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:45:00 +0800

(Burkina Faso / Peace Corps Dave)
A newly discovered quirk of my phone: in gmail no matter whether I amcomposing a new missive or replying to an existing conversation thesubject line is filled by whatever the subject was of the last ...
17 reads

Sister Seduction

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:05:00 +0800

(Burkina Faso / Christina in Burkina... IN TOGO!)
Things in this land of beans and rice are going well at least for me. It has been a little over three months since the big training and so far my teachers are doing well! In April we will get togethe ...
15 reads

Woo! Shooting oneself in the foot is fun!

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:25:37 +0800

(Burkina Faso / Justin Lopina)
So I'm close to getting my firedancing lessons off the ground. Stef wasn't able to make it Monday and I'm hoping Wednesday will work out. In preparation for these lessons I'm making a second pair ...
8 reads

Life is Looking Up

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 11:18:00 +0800

(Burkina Faso / Far off Places)
I realize my blog for January was somewhat down in the dumps but life has drastically improved as I have readjusted back to life here in Burkina. I cannot believe it is already March and I have been ...
15 reads

International Women's Day

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 23:13:00 +0800

(Burkina Faso / Bovard in Burkina)
Today is international women’s day and this year I’ve never been more acutely aware of the world’s need to celebrate women and promote women’s rights.Conversations that I’ve had in the past ...
9 reads

Invite Accepted

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:35:30 +0800

(Burkina Faso / Kathryn in the Peace Corps)
Not the most thrilling post but I thought I’d put it in writing. I just officially accepted the invite to Burkina. Now I just need to start trucking through the paperwork. There are essa ...
8 reads

In which I do battle…

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 11:33:00 +0800

(Burkina Faso / Bovard in Burkina)
Warning: The following post may contain strong nerd language which may be unintelligible to the average reader. There is a lot of dust in Burkina Faso and it seems a lot of it tries very hard to make ...
9 reads

Linda Richman

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 09:52:00 +0800

(Burkina Faso / Waggadoogoo)
Hello!Wow March already huh? You know I have insanely little time left here—about four months. Considering how quickly time has flown by during my past 21 months here in Burkina these remaining ...
2 reads

Mmm mmm rat. Bon Appetit!

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 19:54:00 +0800

(Burkina Faso / Aaron and Amy's Burkina Faso Adventure)
February has come and gone already taking with it any last remnants of cool weather. Here in Titao that little month was packed activities. We began by discovering a new culinary delight: rat. Before ...
6 reads

I am a Busy Bee!!

Sat, 06 Mar 2010 15:14:00 +0800

(Burkina Faso / Burkina Faso Bound: My Life in the Peace Corps)
I just recently organized an AIDS conference at the district to educate my community health agents. The conference went really well and all the health agents learned a lot. One funny thing that happen ...
8 reads

Family Planning Bike-a-thon--Pedal for a ...

Sat, 06 Mar 2010 10:30:00 +0800

(Burkina Faso / Burkina Faso Bound: My Life in the Peace Corps)
I feel like these last few months have flown by. Work wise all of my projects are coming together and I feel great. I just finished a Family Planning regional bike-a-thon with two other volunteers. I ...
13 reads

Animism Spirits and Funerals

Sat, 06 Mar 2010 08:38:00 +0800

(Burkina Faso / Burkina Faso Bound: My Life in the Peace Corps)
A few weeks ago Ganga brought me to an animist funeral. It was quite the experience and very informative. It was like I was five years old again and asking “why why why?” It is a fascinating rel ...
14 reads

quick post in case of death

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 20:10:38 +0800

(Burkina Faso / Justin Lopina)
I'm off in 15 minutes. We've got an hour of talking and then a solid (that is continuous) 4 hour block of capoeira with Mestre Amen - the Big Guy of my group who's here from LA for the weekend. I' ...
15 reads

Frustrations...and also being reminded t ...

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 18:16:08 +0800

(Burkina Faso / "Go forth and set the world on fire.")
What a week! To start I get back to site after a weekend in Gaoua (the Internet connection has been down for some reason and I needed to send some e-mails so I stayed longer than expected). I'm using ...
15 reads

a la nuit

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:54:57 +0800

(Burkina Faso / Thomas in Burkina)
Part 1: QuestionsWhat if there was a stranger in your house?What if it was a man?What if it was the middle of the night? 3 am?What if there were no lights?What if it was a black man?What if he woke yo ...
12 reads

bachelorette chef extraordinaire (19th of Feb)

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:34:00 +0800

(Burkina Faso / Molly in the Peace Corps)
"Hey you went to school in the Valley " I say to my closest Peace Corps neighbor who is sitting on my mat in the heat of my house during a brief visit on his way back home. "I know it's kind of a do ...
0 reads

bachelorette chef extraordinaire (19th of Feb)

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:34:00 +0800

Ch ch ch ch changes (15th of Feb)

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:33:00 +0800

(Burkina Faso / Molly in the Peace Corps)
The cold season is over if it was even ever here. It never really got cold during the day though nights and mornings and speedy bike rides were chilly for a little while. Everyone seems to agree t ...
0 reads

Ch ch ch ch changes (15th of Feb)

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:33:00 +0800

The Peace Corps Story (15th of Feb)

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:31:00 +0800

(Burkina Faso / Molly in the Peace Corps)
This is it as we're told it we in the precious Peace Corps sectors where structure is something that's been left behind with our favorite hooded sweatshirts (of the excessively pricey justified-by-g ...
0 reads

The Peace Corps Story (15th of Feb)

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:31:00 +0800

Blog Posts

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 13:44:00 +0800

(Burkina Faso / The Continuous Adventure Called Life)
I was hoping I would get online and find several e-mails and/or comments on my last blog with ideas for topics to write about and am disappointed to find nothing waiting for me. I have no idea what to ...
7 reads

Festima

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 13:26:00 +0800

(Burkina Faso / Bovard in Burkina)
The green leaves of the mask rippled in waves to the sound of the drum beat as the dancer’s feet flew pausing only momentarily to strike the ground. Kicking up clouds of dust he made his way across ...
0 reads

Random Life of Burkina Faso

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 09:18:00 +0800

(Burkina Faso / Audrey's African Adventures)
So I'm waiting for my friends to arrive in Burkina and I decided to upload some pictures. I couldn't get my photo albums to open so I just added some strait to my blog. (A blue sheep a gift for my ...
14 reads

West African Mask Festival

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 12:04:00 +0800

(Burkina Faso / Peace Corps West Africa)
I'll write more later - I just wanted to get some pictures up of last weekend in Dedougou where 18 other PCVs and myself went to FESTIMA a west african mask festival that is held every year in Burkin ...
11 reads

West African Mask Festival

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 12:04:00 +0800

Studying a new language is fun!

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 18:15:00 +0800

(Burkina Faso / Peace Corps Dave)
Is a lie I tell myself. It WILL be fun speaking Mooré but let's bereal the first couple months in a new tongue are just painful. Atleast I'm finally after 21 months trying.STARBUCKSSp ...
6 reads

Parfait learning to say "Sara"

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 17:07:00 +0800

(Burkina Faso / The Leap of Faith)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=- kTKfJ05K68
7 reads

Another lookalike contest!

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 18:58:17 +0800

(Burkina Faso / Justin Lopina)
Two for two no effort necessary. Although this time we've got a good father/son/clone thing going on.White button down? Check.Gray trousers? Check.Black belt? Check.Silver coffee mug? Check.Pen ...
14 reads