01 October 08 School Begins
Sonata is leaving for Ouaga this morning, to continue her education. She won't return until summer. We have a quick coffee in the morning before she leaves for the taxi brousse. Others come by for coffee, and the elementary school children start to gather outside my place. When the whole bunch are ready we take photos of the group in their new clothes and school bags. This is especially exciting because its Zanabou's first day of school in her life.
I went to the clinic and chat with the major about Moslem feast of Ramadan yesterday. He thought I was coming over for repas then, as visitors enjoyed crushed igname (yams). There were many people on IV drips already at the CSPS. I found the medical staff deep into their paperwork over at the maternite'. The midwife, Lea is scrubbing the pantalons for baby weighing. We visit awhile talking about her plans to return to KDG for further studies.
I go towards Thyou to the restaurant on the way and test out their benga, which is very good. When I return home, a young man from Zao is waiting to talk to me about his two year old nephew who has already had a drip feed for malaria at the clinic, and needs to go to KDG for a blood transfusion according to what Gansonre told him. The father is in Ouaga presently, and the mother has been out of the picture some months now. Grandmother cares for the child, and that's why this young man is desperately looking for help. We go back to CSPS to get clarification from the staff. On the way I talk to my counterpart, who says once the nurse writes the referral for the child, he is done. Life in Burkina is tough. My response is that the Burkinabe' seek the same thing Americans want: life, liberty and happiness. That's what his uncle is trying to do...... We sit by the road waiting for taxi brousse, but none comes this time of day. Then one of the nurses comes by to say the child's father called from Ouaga to say he's coming this evening. They returned home as the boy's father will get him to KDG in the morning.
I read my book “My Sister's Keeper” about a donor sister and one with leukemia. Interesting!
02 Oct 08
Adama and Rasmane come for coffee/tea this morning. Adama asks for batteries, but I want to see for what. I water the newest Moringa trees coming up. Then go to the maternite', and greet the people there. Lea is hooking up an IV to a patient in the private room there. During the morning I weigh 20 babies, and say the weight to the mothers in Moore'. They understand and sometimes giggle at my accent. Lea sees a couple women for prenatal visits. It's noon when I gather my things to go to market, including my books for a language lesson afterwards.
When I get to the marche' I find an alternative to barbecued pork, goat. I am having milange when Georges arrives. We go find a spot to eat our sandwiches. He is buying supplies to feed those who came and helped with his arachide harvest. We saw a couple village ASCs, Jean Baptiste and Babou of Bolo, who want to know when we are coming back. I tell him “on vaccination day, Oct 19” and they are pleased. We found one of the men whose picture I took and give them to him. Then off to study my lesson.
On Friday when I visited the maternite' there was a young mother on drip IV who tried to converse in Moore' with me. It is frustrating to not understand each other. Her mother was caring for her baby. The clinic was quiet today. In the afternoon I worked on my COGES report and updated my VIH/AIDS report. At my language lesson we translated it into French. We got the population figures for the small villages and left the report for major to use at their meeting in the next 4 days. As we returned to my house the clouds were gathering for a rainstorm.
04 Oct 08
There was a fair number of people waiting at the taxi brousse place in the morning to go to Ouaga, and a heavy set lady sat down next to me. I was fairly squished the whole way there. In the city I stopped by the cathedral bookstore and bought 2 cassettes for 4 mille. One turned out to be Doula, not Moore', so that was a bit spendy I found. I had errands in town, getting food and leaving my new dress pants at the tailor for alteration. I went to the PC bureau to work on email, when Sally called and gave me a rundown on the class reunion at Janet Veatch's place. Sal also gave me their new email address. It was sooo good to talk with her.
In the afternoon PCV Thomas helped me install the Skype program on my computer. When Chris call that evening I was able to see him (his camera was on) and speak with him on Skype. New technology is wonderful!
The next morning I was getting ready to go to Mass, when it dawned me that I needed to stay and interview the health volunteers about Moringa experiences, as they were leaving for OHG soon. Linda returned from USA and text me that she was at TH, and could we order dinner together. I said sure and she ordered me a Cordon Bleu. Yummy!
06 Oct 08
On this Monday morning I typed all the antidotes from the workers who had experience with Moringa. I went to the bureau, where I got input from Dr. Claude on the Food Security issue. By 3pm Rob and I were on Bobanguida Blvd, where we found fencing for my Moringa project. I also picked up my pants from the tailor, who did an excellent job on the alteration. We also stopped by the church boutique, where Rob bought a bible in Moore', and I purchased a pagne.
Mariam, the medical secretary called to say the dentist had received my crown and wanted to put it in. I had to catch a taxi to get there, so I walked to the main road and the third taxi took me there. The crown went in very nicely. When it was time to go to the taxi gare around 1pm, I called all the numbers and couldn't get a taxi. The two men working at the TH, Combari' and Eduard, and the guard helped me call Barry at PCB with my problem. He sent a driver, Abraham right over to get me and all my stuff to the taxi brousse. We left Ouaga for home at 3pm, but the starter didn't work, which made a grinding sound every time Bouba shifted gears. When we reached our destination, Garrett met me and took 2 boxes for me, Gerard also transported the fencing and the insecticide sprayer to my house. Garrett invited me to stay for dinner of cabbage, tomato, onion and aubergine. Very delicious indeed! He had bought little haricot dough balls too. As we rode home in the dark I took a tumble on the path up the hill where I live. Luckily I fell on my right hip, not my left. Since I was going slowly, it didn't do much to me.
08 Oct 08
Gerard came by to make sure the fencing and box he transported home for me last night was here. Then he looked over the Moringa tree project and even watered them for me. When I saw the major later I asked him to think about where he wants the Moringa trees planted at the CSPS. He asked about the goats eating them and was happy to hear about the fencing.
I mentioned to the major that we, Garrett, Karim and I were scheduled to do a VIH sensibilisation tomorrow. He said the village chef was very sick, which meant the word didn't get out to the villagers so the causerie would need to be resheduled. I followed the major over to the chef's, who looked very ill indeed.
In the marche' I saw many friends, esp Patrice from Zao, who wants a picture of him participating in the VIH causerie we did at his village. I also visited with Bazile and Silvie, Gilbert, Florence, JB and Marie from church. We talked about Uno, photos, etc. After lunch at the marche' we had my lesson. I read several stories in my French 2e Reader, and George brought me a little book of bible stories in French. When I got back home, the neighbor kid said I had several visitors, Saidou, and Issa .
At 8pm I received a call from Lorraine. They were driving up the Columbia Gorge on their way to Spokane as we chatted. She filled me in on our class reunion, and I gave her my wish list, including flip-flops, bouncy balls and t-shirts. They will be visiting Vince's boys who go to college in eastern Washington. Dave and she are planning a cruise this fall to Mexico departing from San Francisco. I walked outside in the dark as we conversed and saw that the neighbors had VCR hooked up to a battery and the neighborhood was watching a video centered on an African family. There were a few chairs but most people were sitting on the dirt.
On Thursday the first couple hours were spent waiting to see if the sensibilisation was on or not. When it turned out the answer was no, I went over to the clinic where lots and mothers and babies were waiting for baby weighing. Lea, the acting midwife, had done 6 already and together we did 20 more. I gave the weight in Moore' to all the mothers and was pleased that I could. There were 6 or so newborns and a set of twins in the group.
Lea did a couple prenatal visits and allowed me to observe. She documented their history on a large card for that purpose, weighed them and measured their belly. She did a cursory pelvic exam, then doled out iron and palu medication. She left time to talk with them about due dates, and answer any questions she had. One mom had her 2 year old with her, and he was sharing his just harvested peanuts with me. When we were done with work we walked down to the little restaurant and Lea bought me lunch, Riz Gras with a piece of chicken. Lea is out of propane gas at home, so I invited her to lunch with me tomorrow.
I relaxed in the afternoon by reading Joseph Conrad's “Heart of Darkness” which we had read in high school English class. I understood it much better now. It helps to have a lifetime of experience to frame it in.
When it was time for my language lesson, my teacher arrived just ahead of a big storm and rain. We concentrated on Moore' both in the text and in the French-Moore' reader. We made plans to visit the nurse, Gansonre before he leaves village.
Friday morning I made a quick trip to Thyou bakery for bread and stopped several places to get omelette sandwich but eggs are out of season. I biked to CSPS and there were 4 infants on drip IVs, so I went home and got the balloons to pass out to them. I checked in with Lea about our lunch date. She told me a pregnant woman was there this morning who will give birth tonight or tomorrow. She agreed to text me when the woman is ready so I can be present at a delivery. Lea came over to my house at noon for lunch. We chatted about how poor the people are here. She also mentioned the chef needs to go to KDG for hernia surgery but she doesn't know if he can afford that. My afternoon plans to visit the major and Gansonre at the clinic were changed when the winds came up suddenly and it stormed with lots of rain over several hours.
When my language lesson started, Minata came over to talk with Georges a long time about 4 bodies found over night alongside the road from Thyou to Sala. Local news travels fast in village, especially when there's mystery to it.
10 Oct 08
On Saturday morning Minata and Issaka came over for coffee. I offered to buy petro at the marche' today for her. We saw some children going to school, which has classes that day. I went to the clinic and spoke to both the major and Gansonre to explain that due to the rain I didn't come to the clinic yesterday. They figured that out yesterday, and they knew the storm was the reason. I asked the major about the remote village Sune' and a moto ride there on vaccination day. He was agreeable to that. He also showed me where he thinks the Moringa grove of trees should be planted near the clinic. We joked about his view that we could do a whole field of Moringa, and my vision of doing the number (30 or so) that we could fence in. As I visited people at the clinic this morning, I realized the little girl Ingrid from yesterday had returned today for another drip feed. Her mother Orteille was there of course, and it turns out that I already knew her father Paul from our church. I hadn't known they live in Sala until then.
I found out too that the new nurse Philippe repaired the chef's hernia this morning, so he's not going to KDG after all. I went to the marche' in the afternoon for fruits and vegetables. Laurentine and I looked at the marmites, a kettle to cook over an open fire. I want one for a dutch oven, so I can prepare baked goodies. She offered to pick me up one in KDG next time she goes there.
On the way home for my language lesson, Georges got the petro I promised Minata. We wanted very much to beat the storm home. We got there in time to “batten down the hatches” before the rains came. Except I broke the petro bottle, so we spent a fair amount of time cleaning that up and getting the fumes out of the house. The three of us visited a while as the sound of the rain pounded on my tin corrugated roof.
12 Oct 09
I wore my l'ordination dress to church where Fr. Casmire was saying Mass. The choral group had a long practice afterwards as they are getting ready for the competition next weekend for the feast of Saint Luke (Sabou's parish name). When I biked back home, I saw Madame Kiemte', and we planned a visit soon. I tried to nap in the afternoon, but was restless, so I worked on my voting ballot. I can vote on a federal ballot, just for president, or an absentee ballot that I mail in, or the real ballot if it arrives in time, or email a ballot as a last resort. Lots of options.
Since I was invited to dinner, I left for Georges' place about 6pm. Laurentine was preparing marinated chicken in a marmite, along with riz gras. There was local French bread to dip in the sauce too. We ate after the girls returned from the well with water. (See photos.) We spent the evening listening to tapes and music from the church recorded on various feast days. George sang solo in some songs and led the choral group in others. They also showed me their family photo album, which was fun to look through. Georges had rigged his fluorescent light from a wire leading to a box with D batteries. This was helpful when he played the tapes too. The sky looked ominous as I went home that night.
On Monday after work the functionairres of the community of Sala met at the buvette and had a Farewell party for Gansonre, who has been given a position to head up a CSPS in Dolo, about 25K away and starting in a week or so. The COGES members and all the school teachers were there, along with the medical staff from CSPS. The new school director at Sala was there, who speaks English and wants to assist me with sensibilisation. (See photos.)
14 Oct 09
After the coffee group left my house this morning, I went to the clinic to get photos of Gansonre and the major before he left. I also had a chance to ask Philippe for a ride on his moto to Sune' (24K) the day he goes there for vaccination. He was agreeable but informed me that he leaves at 7am. I visited with the two infants on drip IV, and met the other people who are there sick at the clinic today. As I continued on my rounds, Issa rode up and said he has been trying to find me at home. We then went there and I gave him the Nike leather soccer ball for the Sala team. He was very grateful and happy.
The next day Minata came over for ointment or something to put on sore muscles. She went home and got an empty container of salve to show me what she wanted. I was able to give her some I had left over. When I got to clinic there were a few people there, a woman in the back room with an open sore on her leg. A two year old was on the porch with his parents waiting for medical attention. He cried when he saw me. I gave him a little boat he can play with in the water and demonstrated that in a dish of water. He watched that, but was frightened of that too. So I gave it to his father.
When I was done there, I rode my bike up the path behind the clinic and found Salamata's place, and called out to her. She was in the fields her husband said when he poked his head out the door. He has a skin rash over his body, which is chronic and he gets treatment for. It keeps him off work I understand and is painful. I was proud that I finally found their place and he will tell her I came to visit. I told him their new baby was beautiful, and he gave me a proud smile.
African School
On an average, children are 6-7 years old when they enter school at CP1 level. They speak local language and most work is oral. They have notebooks to begin writing numbers and letters in. They use little slates at their desks they practice on using chalk. At the end of their first year they pass into CP2, which starts in the fall after harvest. By the next levels CE1 and CE2 students begin to learn French, the national language of Burkina Faso. Proper diction and pronunciation are stressed. CM1 and CM2 are the remaining levels of primary school. By then the enrollment numbers are down due to many factors, i.e. children needed to work in the home or fields, or most obviously the cost.
The 6 middle school years start with Sixeme Annee (6e) and end with Premiere (1e) classe. Families pay 1250 francs per year ($2-3). Books, notebooks, pencils and pens are extra costs. Sometimes in (college) middle school, uniforms are required and funds are raised by parent groups to purchase these.
Considering the crowded conditions the children appear to be well behaved in the classroom. They share things and space with relatively no complaints and a minimum of confusion. Teachers lead their students through each class by demonstrating and saying what's expected. Visitors are rare and well received by them. Resources are limited, sometimes they use textbooks, but have to share those at their desks which seat three children or more. The number of students runs from 30 to as high as 60 in a room.
Every quarter the teachers in the district convene a formation or curriculum meeting with all the teachers from maybe six or eight schools in which uniform teaching methods are stressed. And much needed discussion takes place between all the teachers there.
African children want to learn. The motivation to get an education and better the standard of everyday life is encouraged by most adults and student peers. The sacrifices made by Burkinabe' to educate the young are everywhere. For example, mothers keep money from selling harvest products at market to pay for school; children doing homework by flashlights or under streetlights after dark; parents parting with savings to send their secondary students away to school; students living with strangers in other towns just to go to school; they endure long periods of time between family visits. And finally there is intense study by students preparing to take and pass their BAC (baccaloriat) test in order to enter the universities.
16 Oct 08
Because the women came early, Philippe, RN began weighing their babies early. When I arrived he graciously let me take over that task. Since I learned to say the weight in Moore' to the mothers, he let me know that while the kilos were correct, I should say the grams in 100s. So for example I weigh a baby at 6 kilos and 7 grams, it would be said, “Kilu wa yoobe, la gram a kobesopoe.” We finished early and there was a woman in labor, who had her husband and two friends waiting. The RN (infirmier) invited me into the delivery room as he checked her progress. To coax the delivery along, he gave her medication. The mother of four rested on a mat on the floor and alternately walked the floor. Hoping to witness a delivery I waited all day, even having my language lesson on the porch outside, but alas this fifth child preferred the following morning to be borne. I was happy to see this much and hope for more.
The next morning I prepared to take taxi brousse to Gao (30K) to see Stephanie. On our way to transport we checked in at the maternite' and found the postpartum room...empty! I went over to the delivery and Voila! There they all were, mother and brand new baby, her best friend and infirmier Philippe. He was patting baby hard on the back to encourage circulation. Both mother and baby appeared fatigued. The baby boy had a cone head, typical of spending time in the birth canal. I promised to return this evening after my day trip.
Georges had offered to help me get the canari (big clay vessel for water) home from Gao on the transport, so he brought along a rubber tire to set it in for the return trip. Transportation is a pretty hit and miss thing in Burkina Faso. We waited at Sala's boutique for over an hour, watching bush taxis go towards Ouaga, which is usual in the mornings, but not one going the opposite direction. Finally a big empty camion (truck) heading that way, stopped and the driver agreed we could ride in the cab with him and two other persons as far as Gao for 1500 francs. We were lucky the driver was skilled because the muddy road was very difficult to navigate in such a big truck. An hour later he let us out at the north end of Gao and we walked along the road asking where the marche' was near Stephanie's place. A woman pushing a charette with a bidon of dolo was going to the market, stopping for customers along the way, and she pointed out where our friend lives.
Stephanie was in the midst of a steady stream of friends coming by today (her next to last day in village) to say farewell. There were members of her COGES, her major, another major from the next village, and neighbors amongst others. Women of the village were in her courtyard busily preparing a fete that was to happen in the afternoon. Her CSPS is hosting one this evening for her. Stephanie, being the consummate hostess popped corn and brought out fresh peanuts for us. Soon we excused ourselves to go to the marche' a bit. Georges found a chicken to buy and add to his flock at home. We found some lunch too.
When we returned in the afternoon to take the canari to its new home, Stephanie and her friend put it on a bike and we all walked our treasures to the transport place. This includes other things Stephanie gave me too, a water bag for showering, a small fry pan, spices and tea. (See photo) Remember we had a live chicken plus the rest. We looked like a menagerie of unlikely kinds going down the road. I read my book while we waited over 2 hours for a vehicle going our way. A little pickup truck already loaded, stopped and we squeezed in too. I got to sit next to the driver, while Georges loaded the big item in its tire sitting on the tailgate. The ride back was so dusty that all the rear passengers looked like ghosts. But we felt lucky to get a ride. We retrieved our bikes to take the canari to it's new home.
18 Oct 08
We had a sensibilisation scheduled for Salo today, so I was all packed up early, including the two Moringa trees and some school supplies for there. We stopped by the maternite' to give Nana Veronique a quilt for her new baby along with a business card from my best friend, Sally, who made it. (See photo) As we left the clinic we chatted with Gansonre and Gilbert about the causerie we are doing at Salo today. We pedaled the 8K up the path south to Salo. Along the way we met the teachers, who offered to take the school supplies, because they were all going to an inservice workshop at Sala this day. We arrived at the marche' within the hour and found the ASC liaison was at the regional office today, and kindly a woman organized a group of people for the causerie and we began our Moringa Tree presentation before noon. We gave the trees to the village chef and the other village leader, Ziba Yamba. The villagers seem interested in getting the nutritional benefits from raising and eating the leaves of the Moringa.
Later that day we biked north to Sabou to watch the regional choral competition, that many parishes had practiced a long time for. I planned to stay the night with the nuns. Sisters Mary, Amy and Claudia were back from Italy, but Sr. Margaret was still in Europe translating for the Order. I had dinner with them before we drove back to the church grounds for the event. People were leaving as we drove in, and we soon discovered the whole event was canceled. One of the contestants was biking in on the main highway and was run over by a vehicle and killed. What a sadness fell all around!
Mass the next morning was offered for Francais, the young man who died in the accident last evening. The church was packed inside and out. He leaves a wife and new baby in village.
I visited the marche at Sabou today is market day there. When I came back to meet up with the sisters, who were having a meal at the parish house, they insisted that I eat too. Father Casmir said I had lost too much weight and “If you don't eat, the country of Africa will eat you!” He loaded up my plate, then sent me home with a bag of fruit.
20 Oct 08
Today we have a sensibilisation planned in Sune' on principal health problem as identified by the villagers there. We got to the clinic at 7am and met up with the major, who will go there today for vaccinations. This is my premiere time riding a moto to a remote village in Africa. (See photo) I am riding with the major on a trail to Sune'. Three quarters of the way there he stopped off at a compound and the major vaccinated their baby. They offered a callabasse of fresh cow's milk, and the major gave it to me. It was awesome, sweet and warm. Reminded me of the Jersey milk we drank as kids! How generous the Burkinabe' are!
When we got to the village of Sune' the major introduced us to the school director and staff. We gave the school some supplies I had bagged up. We set a date for November 15 to come and teach the children about hygiene. Then we met the ASC, Batia Laura Nya, who helped us with the causerie there. Near the end of the vaccinations, the major suggested we start the causerie while we had a gathering of women. So with 24 women and 15 children we did the sensibilisation which tells us the main health problem recognized by the villagers of Sune'. While Georges was able to translate my French into Moore, we needed Batia to translate into Gurounse for the others. We scheduled a follow up for November 15 for the men, who were in fields today. We spent additional time urging the villagers to come to clinic at Sala when they are seriously ill, or when the children present with symptoms of palu. There is precious little time to lose. Another woman asked about her son who doesn't speak yet at age 2, and I suggested evaluation by handicapped organization.
When we returned to village we needed to go to the marche' for vegetables and fruits, and to the tailor for alterations. I got text from Chris who said he'll be finished with house in one month and get ready, he's coming to Africa! Men in the hangar we were talking with over a dolo, said they want American to correspond with. Soon we noticed dark clouds gathering and rain was imminent. We headed for the buvette where we could wait and watch the storm pass. (See photo)
22 Oct 08
I went to visit Mimouna today. She had chocolate peanut butter to sell me, and benga too. She gave me her recipe for beans and rice, and offered to come to my house and show me how to make it. So that very afternoon, she and Sherri came to my place and she showed me how to make “benga et mui” (beans and rice). First she cleaned the beans and rice, picking out tiny pebbles, and anything that floats to the water surface. Then she put water on to boil and added handfuls of wet beans, cooked them 30 minutes, added rice for another 30 minutes. Potash and salt were the other ingredients.
Before they left I gave them lots of things for their hair and toys as well. When my friend came by we cleaned my canari so I could start using it. I served up plates of benga and mui for dinner, and was happy to have made it. I shared the rest with Minata for her family. Later that evening Karim and Saidou came by and we hassled out the date to plant the trees behind the maternite' with the help of villagers. It will be Saturday and I will make benga and mui for the workers.
I slept on the lippicot in front room, as a bat was flying in my room not wanting to leave.
23 Oct 08
I arrived at maternite' by 8:30 to help out with baby weighing. As the women came early today it had already started. There were ten or so women with babies. More came and after 10 still 3 or 4 came. One infant appeared to have thrush, a yeast infection in the mouth, and the baby was very hungry. The nurse gave mother an Rx for morning and evening use to clear it. Several women came for PreNatal Service.
Today I saw a nurse at clinic try to put IV in infant, but their veins are so tiny, sometimes it doesn't work. Another nurse tried and got it. What a relief!
In the afternoon I went to market to buy fresh fruit and veggies. I was looking for other things too, lid for canari, bath soap and mesh, and whisk broom. On the way back home we sat under a tree near the barrage for my lesson. The change of scenery was good.
The next day I read all the instructions for my sprayer Cliff sent. Lucky for me he had put most of it together before shipment. There are small insects making webs in the Moringa trees, so we practiced the sprayer with just water first before making a solution of “Rambo” and water to spray them. (See photo) Some yellowing of the leaves may be due to the heat or they are root bound in the sacks and need to be distributed for planting.
On Saturday I got up early and put the benga on to cook in a marmite (big pot). I wanted to get lunch ready before I went over to CSPS to watch the young men gathered to make the little forest of trees behind the maternite'. The men began clearing the field with a machete. Saidou and Karim were leading the work. They scoped out the area for Moringa planting and measured the fencing to size up the dimensions. Karim had brought the wood limbs for fence posts. They put the large posts on the corners and the smaller ones in between. We sent someone to the boutique in Thyou for wire to connect the fencing to the corners and also tie it to the posts.
We brought 35 trees from my veranda to plant in the fenced area. The men used their dabas to dig holes to plant the trees in 50 cm rows and 1 m apart. Karim watered them with the (watering) can. After the work was done, we all adjourned to my porch for benga and mui, served with a drizzle of oil, pima and salt, and it was a big hit. (See photo.)
In the late afternoon I went over to the ball field in Sala and watched the young men's soccer game. Many of the same young men who had helped with the Moringa project in the morning, were playing. Twenty four men in two teams played hard with the two captains scoring most of the points. I was able to give the president, Issaka, a Nike ball last week for Sala's team. The game lasted one hour and they played their hearts out.
Ousmane came for a visit in the evening and brought me his shoe size and asked for soccer gloves also. He and Abdoulaye and I played Uno for a game or two.
On Sunday besides the normal routine of church service and shopping at the marche' and boutique in Thyeo, I also began cleaning house for the stagierres, who are coming for 4 days this week. This is their demystification visit. I made a schedule of things we will do then, i.e. Hygiene sensibilisation with school children in Sala, baby weighing, observe Garrett teaching at the college, etc.
Early in the week I continued cleaning and downsizing. The neighbor kids liked sorting through my discards. I gave magazines and various greeting cards to Abdoulaye to share at school. When I went to CSPS Monday morning I found the major listening to a recap of Barack Obama on his radio. The Burkinabe' are very excited that he's running for president. I checked on the Moringa trees and the children at the pump nearby helped me water them. I called the major's son Abdoulaye over to help also. I stopped by the major's house and they were working on maise. They offered me warm Bouille and sugar which was very good. It is a local drink here.
Tuesday was a day for sensibilisations in Bolo with the villagers and at the school. We did the hygiene of hand washing with the students. For the demonstration I showed them how to properly wash their hands, then volunteers from the three classes showed the other children how to wash too. I spoke to the director and was able to give the school many supplies, thanks to my network of generous friends back home. When I gave him the 4 French readers he had requested, he said they were for a new school down the path at Bouyou. He offered to get them there.
We met Babou and Jean Baptiste the ASCs at the marche'. It took about an hour for a crowd to gather and we could talk with them about malaria, their number one health concern based on the last meeting with the villagers. We talked about how to cover up when the sun goes down, and the mosquitoes are out. To use a mosquito net, or cover with a pagne to sleep were strategies against mosquito bites. We have a flip chart that shows proper prevention of mosquitoes. When I demonstrated mosquito repellent, one man wanted my can of it. I can do that when we finish with the causeries. The villagers asked questions and responded to the information. The ASCs brought over rice and sauce for us to eat before we went home.
Back in Sala and before the sun went down I walked over to the chef's quartier and let him know about the 4 stagierres and language teacher that would be coming Wednesday to observe life in village. He was grateful for the advance notice.
29 Oct 08 Wednesday
I made more space on the porch for sleeping by moving all the Moringa trees to one side of it. I had the help of the children moving them and I watered them. I went to the boulangerie (bakery) for bread and to the boutique for staples. Around 1pm Christine the language teacher called, they are in Sabou so I went to the big tree by the road and waited for them. While sitting there I met Sampoko's brother and the chef from Dana, who is very fit for his age, almost 80. He joked with me about marriage and that drew the attention of 3 youngsters on bikes. (See photos.) Car cellular let my 5 visitors out nearby and they were happy to be done with transport. They brought my 3 boxes from the mailroom to me. Each trainee brought their backpack up the hill to my place and we ate lunch and rested a bit.
Then we walked to Thyou to the marche' to give them a sample of that. We talked to lots of people on the road and at the market. The trainees got to see the vegetables, and the other grains and powders sold at marche', along with clothing, and household items. We met the major, Gilbert and Adama from CSPS on the return home. In the early evening we walked to the major's home to visit with him longer. He extended an invitation to dinner the next night. He and his femme were very gracious to us, and even gave us a bag of newly harvested peanuts.
By the time we returned home, Karim, Saidou and George were there to visit. Everyone sampled the local dolo they brought over. I started cooking a simple dinner of pasta, salmon pieces and sliced tomatoes. Because the house was too warm, we sat around the porch to eat and talk. A couple people did the dishes afterwards, and others took a bucket bath in the douche. We were in bed early to be ready for a full day tomorrow.
After a quick breakfast, we all walked over to the maternite' to weigh babies. Two of the three medical staff were gone elsewhere and Gilbert was the only one left to see patients today. He came over to send the mothers with babies to weigh home. I asked him if I could do it, and he agreed to let me with the help of the staggieres. Christie and Illana wrote weights in the books and in the ledger. I put the babies in the harness seats and Annette held babies. Eric captured a few pictures. When Moore' was needed, Christina spoke to the mothers. We weighed 13 babies and finished up by 10:30. It was a job well done by our little group. The trainees went home for their French lesson with Christina, while I walked over to the school to arrange for tomorrow's sensibilisation on hygiene.
For lunch we had grilled cheese sandwiches and cut up watermelon and biscuits (cookies). Garrett came to have lunch with us and a tour of the barrage, which they seemed to enjoy. On the way home we stopped off to visit the village chef, who lives down the hill from me. Some of us napped while others played Uno in the afternoon.
Laurentine made her famous chicken and sauce dish over rice. I had made a cole slaw and we visited and listened to tapes of music both in French and Moore singing. It was lovely on the verandah.
Friday morning I packed a bag of supplies to give the director of school. I also gathered my props for the talk on handwashing with the students. Georges showed up to translate for me and we were all at the school by 9am ready to go. The director arranged that we would do two classes together, which made a very full classroom. We started with the two youngest classes in the outside hangars. They listened eagerly and shyly answered questions put to them about why and when would you wash your hands. They caught on quickly as Christie passed out candy for correct answers. My neighbors kids were smiling a lot during this session as I talked. Annette took photos for me, and the others helped lead the little chant we taught the students. The little kids learned the song quickly.
Next we taught the hygiene lesson to the middle grades, who took longer to answer the questions, but sang very well. We asked the class to go home and share the information with their families. Next session was with the older students, and my neighbor kids who were anxious to answer the questions. We stressed using soap to kill the microbes, a word they knew from their study of science. As we left school that day we could hear the students singing “Si tu veux la bonne sante'......:”
The chef Adama and family chef Hamadou came over to eat lunch with us and visit the staggieres some more. Garrett had invited us to watch him teach, so in the afternoon we walked to Thyou and witnessed him counseling the teenagers on the risks associated with early pregnancies. We sat on the far side of the room. Garrett involved the students quickly in the conversation and with the help of two students he did a condom demonstration using a pepper bottle. He also fielded their questions. After class Garrett answered some of the questions the stagierres had. We walked over to see Garrett's house, with three rooms and enclosed courtyard with Moringa 3 ft tall trees along the walls.
Before the sun went down that day we walked to the soccer field and watched the young men of Sala practice their game. Karim came over after the game to visit the trainees. Minata, my neighbor brought over dinner of to and sauce for all of us. We had a packed three days of demystification and felt good about the experience.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Sunday, January 18, 2009
African Adventure 14
01 September 08
Travel days are always challenging! I worked on my blog and essay this morning sans coffee. I looked for omelette sandwich on way to PC Bureau, but settled for a meat brouchette and cucumber sandwich. I waited half an hour for one of the three volunteer internet computers, then transferred my writings to blogspot.com and edited them too.
When I returned to the Transit House it was time to go, and Rob helped me tie my bags onto my bike. I had phoned Omar for a taxi ride, but his car is in the shop, so I went to the main street and haled one. When I arrived at the taxi gare for Thyou, the major was there waiting for the ride home too. I learned that the taxi brousse was in shop for repairs so we all waited another 3-4 hours for it to come back. I read my book, walked down the street to find coffee, and waited around. The dump next to the gare had several fires burning in it and the drifting smoke was another good reason to go elsewhere.
Because this was the period of Ramadan, and the driver is Muslim, we stopped for afternoon prayer enroute, with everyone deboarding and most joining in the prayer time. We also had a delay at Nabadogo for a flat tire repair along side the road. It still took us 3 hours to reach Thyou, which is 100K away from Ouaga. Because it was dark out most people were met by someone to help them get home. Georges was there to tie my bags onto my bike assisting me to get home. Madi was at home when I got there, waiting to go to bed, as he has been staying on my lipicot since his father came for a visit and is using his room. I ate a sandwich for supper and retired by 11pm after a long day!
02 September 08
Many people were gathered outside when I got up, and some came in for coffee. Mostly my neighbors and Minata, who was fasting during Ramadan, which means no food or drink during daylight. We looked at the Moringa trees, including some new ones that are sprouting up. Looks good!
Enroute to CSPS a moto approached me and to my surprise it was Kimtore' brothers coming to tell me they may go to Nabadogo today to visit their sister Martine and family. CSPS was not very busy, one woman on a IV drip. When the major arrived on moto we chatted a bit and then I noticed Salamata going to the well next to clinic with her daughters. I greeted her as she returned home on the path east behind the CSPS. The major mentioned that Salamata's husband suffers from dermititis, severe enough he can't work. She runs the restaurant which is their livelihood. I had been wanting to visit her at home, so I biked the same direction, but had no luck finding them. However I did have luck getting fairly lost. I went far enough that the path dropped down to the main road, but I had to traverse puddles and swampy areas to get there. I stopped by Mimouna's benga place for lunch.
In the afternoon I went to the marche' for vegetables and fruits I needed. I met Gerard who showed me where the tailor with the industrial machine was, so I got my leather fanny pack stitched. At dinnertime Sonata brought over rice and aubergine sauce to which I added roasted pork I had brought from marche' and ate my dinner.
The next day I spoke to the major about my plan to ask the chef for permission to have causerie in my quartier about paludisme (malaria) the main health problem identified. I also want to ask to do two VIH sensibilisations in Sala. I will ask Karim to assist me in my efforts.
While at CSPS I visited a young mother whose baby was on IV drip for palu and she had brought the baby bouillie (broth) for nourishment. She offered some to me and it was good. I asked her to show me how to make it. She lives under the rezo tower in Thyou and her father is Boukare', a prominent person there. I went home for a balloon and other toy for her infant, and she and grandmother thanked me profusely.
When Georges came back in the evening after their trip to KDG, he said that Maxime and he were successful in talking with the director of the school where Edithe will go, and they got George's former tutor to agreed to house her for the school year. The total cost of school for the year is 100,000F so the scholarship will certainly help.
Since it was so late in the evening we deferred my lesson until morning before I go to CSPS to weigh babies. I want to learn to say the weights in Moore' to the mother of each baby. There were two new babies in the recovery room and a new one in the maternite' with its mother too. I found out that the assistant nurse said there were too few women came today for baby weighing so it is postponed until next week.
In the afternoon Karim came and we walked down the hill to the chef's compound. There are always lots of people there and today was no exception. He readily gave permission for the Palu causerie for next Friday and two VIH-AIDS talks. Next I asked him about his preference for my translator and he said either Karim or Saidou. I told him that I definitely need a translator from my French into Moore' for the villagers, sans communications problems. So I hope this all works out! As we were leaving the chef asked me again for the goose neck flashlight he wants. It was in jest and I answered when my son gets here!
On Friday I went to CSPS where 3 babies and 5 adults were all on IV drip medication. The nurse was trying to get an IV into another baby with little luck. Their veins are so tiny. The major assisted, but still no luck. There was another new baby at the maternite' this morning with mother and grandmother. I went home for balloons for the babies on drips. The families are so grateful. I watched one mother's baby while she went out to the well for water.
In the afternoon I went to the marche', found Minata there and we went together for legumes and fruit. She took it home for me. She showed me three skirts she got at marche' for Zanabou for starting school. They were very cute. When I met Georges at the church hangar we chatted with friends and the catechists' family. One friend Koala Jean joined us as we went for pork sandwich and then took us to where his wife, Juliette is serving.their family's dolo. Their son's BAC graduation party is the event I attended earlier this season. Laurentine was getting supplies for the workday at their field tomorrow. She searched for pima (hot pepper) to serve with the meal, plus dolo. On the way back we all went to George's parents and Veronique served haricot-riz, which was excellent.
On Saturday I went to the Thyou barrage to join George and his family in the group effort to cultivate their fields today. I photoed some children who came by all excited to be in a picture. Soon George came with his charrette carrying water, pulled by their donkey. There were 10-15 people there to help, and it took all morning for the group of us to get one big field weeded. Presently Laurentine brought bengado for everyone else and beans and rice for me. What a treat! When we ate, I noticed the Burkinabe' sit on their dabas, so I tried to photo that balancing act.
Later on George walked me around their property. One part has a rise with trees and old rocks in places. He rotates the crops and hopes to clear another field to plant next year. We returned to cultivate a while longer before disbanding. The work is hard but fulfilling, esp in a group. I returned home before dark. I expressed to my neighbors that I wanted to go to the mosque to attend prayer service at 7:15 this evening. When I had queried the major he said it was open to all. Sonata offered to go with me. She brought the prayer rug we used. I did not kneel, and observed several others who could not either. The prayers are led by one chanter and everyone responds. It seems quite reverent. The service lasted 30 minutes. We walked home together in the dark.
07 September 08
This Sunday morning Zanabou and I went to church at the Catholic hangar. She had on a new outfit, and her hair was done up beautifully. There were lots of people on foot and bikes enroute to church today. A collection for an ill person was taken up following the regular collection. After service we greeted everyone and rode back to Thyou to the boulangerie (bakery) first, then to find a soda for Zanabou.
We returned home and Garrett came for a visit. He told me about his trip to OHG, Dibou and Tougan. We also talked about our VIH presentations planned. He has more time now than after school starts up again. He has three classes to teach this coming year.
I offered to cook spaghetti dinner for the neighbor kids tonight and they are all happy about that. About 7pm the kids all came over and I served them. The big kids sat at the table and all the little ones lined up on the lipicot. They especially liked the French bread. I sent over food for their parents, Minata and Ousmane too.
Connie called me in the evening, and I was so happy to hear how successful her surgery went. We chatted about their visit here in the early Springtime. It was fun to hear from her. I packed for Ouaga and went to bed.
08 September 08
At the Shell station we loaded up on the taxi brousse and one mother with four little children got on. One child clearly had car sickness, and kept vomiting into his mother's pagne. It lasted the whole trip! When I got to Ouaga I promptly got a cab to PCB and went to med office to get weighed and Silvie and I talked about my diet and how to increase calories. I also worked on internet 4 hours. I ran other errands. Back at Transit House the PCV were ordering in food and I got a chef's salad which was very good. We watched a pretty good movie on video, TNT detective series with Kara ?. I boxed up a pkg for Lance and Tammi and boys, which Linda will take to USA on Sept 15 for me.
In the meantime my dental appointment got cancelled. On Tuesday I went to PCB to work on internet some more, and that was productive. I called Omar the taxi driver who came to take me to taxi gare at 1pm so I could go back home, it being a quick trip. The return trip was packed also and interesting in the assortment of passengers. Another woman with 4 children got on, and as I had beanie babies with me I gave them to the younger ones, the teen having outgrown such a toy. A woman by the window was suffering from the ever present dust. At the junction to my village, some people got off and others got on. Three men boarded, one in handcuffs. Once at Thyou, I observed them leave on bicycles, with the prisoner riding behind one guard. Perhaps going back to village. Jean from my church was also on transport home.
I planned to go to the fields the next day, but it rained so hard all morning that didn't happen. Instead the neighbor kids and their friend Issa came over to play Uno which we all like. When I got to the clinic this morning there were lots of patients, 3 babies about one year old were on drip IV for malaria, two men were also ill with malaria and on IVs. Coincidentally that day at my lesson time, Karim and I were practicing our Malaria presentation for my quartier. We read the flip chart the health district supplied for the talk on malaria. I read the French and Karim read the Moore' conveniently located on the backside of the flip the audience sees. Tomorrow we'll practice again with a villager Saidou, who will translate my French comments into Moore' and assist with questions and answers as needed. The high point for the disease is this time of year.
On Thursday by 8am the maternite' waiting room is full of mothers and babies waiting for baby weighing. Gansonre comes over to say he will be at the main clinic seeing patients there, while Gilbert, the assistant RN will handle this part. He has me weigh the babies, and he records all the information that is pertinent in both the main register book and on the individual health books the mothers bring in. I report the weight to the mothers in kilograms in Moore'. Some babies cry at the sight of a white woman, but most are OK with my presence. Babies who need immunizations wait for the nurse to return and give injections or drops (polio).
Today they are distributing moustiquaires to the mothers with babies as they finish the process, so that draws lots of attendance. There are over 60 women this morning, some who have not been in for months, come for the mosquito net supplied by the health district. We work straight through to the end which is 2pm. Later on we had another practice session for our malaria presentation tomorrow with Karim, Saidou and myself.
In the evening I had to go to the cell tell place and was talking to Seni, a young man from Koudougou. He thanked me for my volunteer work here and said our country is poor and dirty and the people aren't very educated. Many die of malaria. He practiced his English some as we struggled talking to each other in French and English.
12 September 08
The day for the follow up causerie on malaria is here and we are doing it for my two quartiers. Rain threatened beforehand and also afterwards. The two family chefs and the village chef came. Many people attended also, approx 55. Karim and Saidou arrived and around 9:30 enough people were there to begin. Saidou translated my French and assisted Karim with his reading the Moore'. People were slow to respond to questions, but the village chef spoke up and then others chimed in. They complained there are no moustiquaires for most people and they are too poor to buy them. We encouraged the people to use a pagne (cloth) to sleep under.
13 September 08 Saturday
I am excited to go to the field of Minata today. Madi and I biked through mud puddles the long distance to their field. Minata was there building fire for roasting maize and boiling karite' butter. Madi walked me to the fields where the children were harvesting benga (beans). Abdoulaye proudly showed off two of his fields, where he grew benga and haricot and two of mille. See photos.
We walked further and visited Hamado and Yvette and she had bengado with melted karite' for us to eat, also Hamado gave us dolo. A group of workers were having their lunch there and we joined them. When we returned to Minata's place, the children were grilling maize, and we topped off our lunch with some warm off the fire. The day was fun.
14 September 08
The priest from Sabou came to say Mass, and Maxime, Georges brother assisted him. He was very friendly and teased the people there asking if the season of livernage was over, and the people said No very clearly. Maxime answered the priests question about the theme the bishop of BF has. After service we biked back to Henri and Veronique's home, and watched as Maxime and Edythe got ready to take her to KDG where she will attend school this year.
When we got to the marche' we saw Gilbert the assistant nurse, who said we actually weighed 96 babies on Thursday. I was able to talk to the tailor about my material, Jour de Femme 2008, and she will make me a skirt and top. I will get trim in Ouaga next time I go there.
I had a long conversation with Angie this evening. Her family had driven to baby Cash's first birthday party in Seattle. He is a to-head and walking now. They had a fun time there. Shawn has built them a deck coming out of the kitchen, and they also have outside shower and sauna. Lots of young families enjoyed the barbecue outdoors. They will post pictures.
I read my newest book “They Poured Fire on us from the Sky” about three boys from Sudan and how they survived the war and hunger there and made their long journey to America. It was a miracle they survived and many didn't.
15 September 08
Many patients with malaria were at the clinic this morning. I brought back a balloon for a 3-4 year old boy. A friend of Minata was also on drip and was hungry. I went to little restaurant by road to buy her lunch of rice and soup for 100 francs. I stopped by benga place and Garrett was there, so we ate benga together. In the afternoon I studied the Moringa information a long time as the rains went on for hours outside.
The focus of the next week was doing the VIH-AIDS sensibilisation at the Ipala quartier. I had asked the nurses if they would review our presentation, because the major has been gone to Ouaga. Gansonre did look it over and only made a couple suggestions, which I included. Then Garrett and I practiced with both Karim and Saidou, until we felt comfortable with it.
Three little kids were sick in clinic with malaria, so I gave them those bouncy balloons and the parents liked that. When I was at the market this week a young man spoke pretty good English with me. He told me his friend is on the radio at Sabou at 97.4 on the dial. In Burkina Faso radio is a big thing, everyone listens to it, much like everyone in the USA watches television. Radio is a good medium to get health issues discussed with the public, so PC encourages volunteers to consider doing spots on local stations whenever possible.
Oussmane, Minata and family wants a group photo of themselves. We made plans to take them in the morning when the light outside is very good. So early one morning we spent time doing that. I will make some enlarged ones because lots of homes have pictures of people hanging on their walls. They will enjoy it more in the coming years too.
On 18 October 08 we trekked over to Ipala qt for our sensibilisation on VIH-AIDS with about 30 people. It went OK and there weren't many questions, but we covered it pretty well. The villagers are always attentive when the condom demonstrations takes place.
That day of baby weighing at the clinic, there were 40 plus women, and Gansonre, the major and I worked until 1330 in the afternoon to finish them all. Gansonre used the floor scales to speed things up. So the mother gets on with the baby then by herself and the difference is an approximation of the child's weight. The major wrote the totals in the clinic book. While at the maternite' we harvested some Moringa leaves for my meeting at PC bureau with other volunteers this weekend when I will make Kopto for them. It is a good dip with tortilla chips. We also cropped the tree at two meters in the interior garden for easier access by the women, who do most of the cooking at home.
Later that evening I came to the major's home for dinner and his girls and wife fed me bouillie (broth), gillette (pancake), and ginger drink. When he returned from prayer at the mosque, he gave me grilled chicken to eat. We had a pleasant conversation and he is interested in my plan to talk with the students about dental care.
I spent the next four days in Ouaga. Dan Rooney director of the SED program and our adviser had the core group from the Moringa conference over to his house for dinner. His wife,Tanya fixed fajitas with chocolate cake for dessert. We felt pampered. The Moringa meeting the next day was good and the Kopto snack went over well.
While in Ouaga, I also had my new crown put in by the Brazilian dentist with strong hands. That was important for removing the old one. I also got some shopping done and checked in with the nurse about my diet. She said the protein intake is sufficient, but I need to increase the calories. I will also snack whenever I can during the day. The taxi brousse was broken so we had to take another transport home to Sabou then bike to Thyou, getting there after dark. Garrett came to meet me and help me and my stuff get home. What a relief!
24 September 08
The wind was up a bit and it sprinkled out. Madi is getting packed to move to Bobo, 300K away to the south for school this coming year. He goes to Sabou Thursday to catch the bus there. I gave him school supplies and a pkg of spaghetti sauce, which he loves. Also hooked him up with my great nephew for a pen pal in the states.
At midday my neighbor family was sitting under the hangar husking corn (maize). I joined in and of course took photos. It is the season for harvest coming on, and there are many things to do to dry and preserve staples of the diet for the coming dry season. See the piles of beans, white and yellow corn and gumbo drying in the courtyard.
25 September 08
Four of us biked to Gansin quartier this morning for VIH (AIDS) sensibilisation. They had found two under ripe ears of corn in the field as we headed out. There was dew on the grasses and crops. Fall is here! We also pedaled through two big puddles enroute. Some Gansin women who had been waiting for us were now walking to CSPS for baby weighing. We arrived and waited for more people to gather, and by 9am we began our talk with the villagers, 12 men, 26 women, 30-40 children. They seemed pleased we had come to speak with them. When Garrett and Saidou demonstrated proper condom use, a few giggles could be heard. Definite interest. See photos.
Issaka motoed Ousmane to Sabou in the evening to catch a bus back to Cote d'Ivoire.
I text the major that I'm not coming over to clinic this week because I don't want to give my cold to the patients there. Or to babies at baby weighing, which is my favorite activity.
26 September 08
Friday marche' is always a big one, with lots of people selling and buying. Lizetta is going to market with new potable towel I gave her for baby Julie. See photo. At marche' I was able to visit many friends and give them the photos I had gotten printed for them. I also got Karite' butter in Ouaga for a couple of the women, who were thrilled. I brought my blue lace to the tailor who is going to trim my Jour des Femme 2008 (Women's Day) dress she is making.
27 September 08
My friend, Achille is coming from Koudougou for a visit today. Garrett comes by to discuss numbers of people attending our VIH sensibilisation. We were doing that when Christina called with same question. There is a form on the computer for this. We also discuss what foods are in market and when. This is important information for talks on diet enrichment. We were eating lunch when Achille motoed up from KDG. He and I walk over to CSPS and the place is packed with patients on IVs etc. They have put moustiquaires on every bed there. There is a new baby in the maternite' too. See photo.
As we walk to the barrage we hear many warbling birds in a vibrant shade of red. They fly away before I can focus my camera on them. On the path home there is a man carving a big bowl out of a red wood. The women crush grains and nuts in these for sauce and millet for dolo, etc. We get home in the late afternoon and I prepare dinner and we play Uno to round out the day.
The next day Achille and I went to the 9am service at church and got to visit with Georges, who had led the choir We stopped by the bakery and the boutique to get lunch supplies. I prepared a sack of things for him to take home. Achille left for home at midday. Sonata was outside braiding Zanabou's hair with yarn. See photo. When the wind came up we moved to my porch. Abdoulaye put on a foulard for a joke.
30 September 08 Ramadan
I opened my door to the usual bunch who come in the morning for coffee or tea. Issa told me that the prayer at the mosque is early, so we all got ready and gathered in front of my place. Minata carried the prayer rug, and Zanabou carried a little bench for me. Everyone put on their new clothes for the feast day. They were looking pristine. All the women, including me, had on new pagnes and foulards (head wraps). The children had on new clothes too and some families had matched outfits. We all walked the path to CSPS and met the major at the clinic pump. See photo. We all sat under a big tree there until the people were starting to gather in the soccer field.
It is impressive to witness Ramadan prayer service. All the men sit in the front in long lines. The boys sit behind them. The women sit aways in the back also in long lines. The rest of the children sit with them. The service opened with a respected elder singing verses of the Koran in chant. The congregation knelt, sat and stood, at times with their hands open to the east. They always face east when praying, even at home.
Next, ten or so men formed a circle up front and they recited verses from the Koran. Some held up a cloth to shield them from the sun. Then one man spoke to the crowd followed by an elder. Meanwhile the collection occurred. The service closed with another prayer. See photos.
We walked back home visiting people all the way. At home preparations for the feast of Ramadan were happening. Little girls were pounding the arachide (peanuts) until they were ready for Minata to mash them against an ancient rock with another object resembling a rolling pin. Sonata did most of the cooking. The menu was some of their best foods: pate d' arachide with beef and aubergine, over rice, spaghetti pasta with meat, and finally riz gras, rice with sauce made from fish and aubergine. As I watched this whole thing Minata passed out bissap to drink. The importance of holy days for all the religions practiced in Burkina Faso is demonstrated by social gathering to visit and eat together. I must have eaten four meals that day after noon. And the people are so willing to share what little they have.
Travel days are always challenging! I worked on my blog and essay this morning sans coffee. I looked for omelette sandwich on way to PC Bureau, but settled for a meat brouchette and cucumber sandwich. I waited half an hour for one of the three volunteer internet computers, then transferred my writings to blogspot.com and edited them too.
When I returned to the Transit House it was time to go, and Rob helped me tie my bags onto my bike. I had phoned Omar for a taxi ride, but his car is in the shop, so I went to the main street and haled one. When I arrived at the taxi gare for Thyou, the major was there waiting for the ride home too. I learned that the taxi brousse was in shop for repairs so we all waited another 3-4 hours for it to come back. I read my book, walked down the street to find coffee, and waited around. The dump next to the gare had several fires burning in it and the drifting smoke was another good reason to go elsewhere.
Because this was the period of Ramadan, and the driver is Muslim, we stopped for afternoon prayer enroute, with everyone deboarding and most joining in the prayer time. We also had a delay at Nabadogo for a flat tire repair along side the road. It still took us 3 hours to reach Thyou, which is 100K away from Ouaga. Because it was dark out most people were met by someone to help them get home. Georges was there to tie my bags onto my bike assisting me to get home. Madi was at home when I got there, waiting to go to bed, as he has been staying on my lipicot since his father came for a visit and is using his room. I ate a sandwich for supper and retired by 11pm after a long day!
02 September 08
Many people were gathered outside when I got up, and some came in for coffee. Mostly my neighbors and Minata, who was fasting during Ramadan, which means no food or drink during daylight. We looked at the Moringa trees, including some new ones that are sprouting up. Looks good!
Enroute to CSPS a moto approached me and to my surprise it was Kimtore' brothers coming to tell me they may go to Nabadogo today to visit their sister Martine and family. CSPS was not very busy, one woman on a IV drip. When the major arrived on moto we chatted a bit and then I noticed Salamata going to the well next to clinic with her daughters. I greeted her as she returned home on the path east behind the CSPS. The major mentioned that Salamata's husband suffers from dermititis, severe enough he can't work. She runs the restaurant which is their livelihood. I had been wanting to visit her at home, so I biked the same direction, but had no luck finding them. However I did have luck getting fairly lost. I went far enough that the path dropped down to the main road, but I had to traverse puddles and swampy areas to get there. I stopped by Mimouna's benga place for lunch.
In the afternoon I went to the marche' for vegetables and fruits I needed. I met Gerard who showed me where the tailor with the industrial machine was, so I got my leather fanny pack stitched. At dinnertime Sonata brought over rice and aubergine sauce to which I added roasted pork I had brought from marche' and ate my dinner.
The next day I spoke to the major about my plan to ask the chef for permission to have causerie in my quartier about paludisme (malaria) the main health problem identified. I also want to ask to do two VIH sensibilisations in Sala. I will ask Karim to assist me in my efforts.
While at CSPS I visited a young mother whose baby was on IV drip for palu and she had brought the baby bouillie (broth) for nourishment. She offered some to me and it was good. I asked her to show me how to make it. She lives under the rezo tower in Thyou and her father is Boukare', a prominent person there. I went home for a balloon and other toy for her infant, and she and grandmother thanked me profusely.
When Georges came back in the evening after their trip to KDG, he said that Maxime and he were successful in talking with the director of the school where Edithe will go, and they got George's former tutor to agreed to house her for the school year. The total cost of school for the year is 100,000F so the scholarship will certainly help.
Since it was so late in the evening we deferred my lesson until morning before I go to CSPS to weigh babies. I want to learn to say the weights in Moore' to the mother of each baby. There were two new babies in the recovery room and a new one in the maternite' with its mother too. I found out that the assistant nurse said there were too few women came today for baby weighing so it is postponed until next week.
In the afternoon Karim came and we walked down the hill to the chef's compound. There are always lots of people there and today was no exception. He readily gave permission for the Palu causerie for next Friday and two VIH-AIDS talks. Next I asked him about his preference for my translator and he said either Karim or Saidou. I told him that I definitely need a translator from my French into Moore' for the villagers, sans communications problems. So I hope this all works out! As we were leaving the chef asked me again for the goose neck flashlight he wants. It was in jest and I answered when my son gets here!
On Friday I went to CSPS where 3 babies and 5 adults were all on IV drip medication. The nurse was trying to get an IV into another baby with little luck. Their veins are so tiny. The major assisted, but still no luck. There was another new baby at the maternite' this morning with mother and grandmother. I went home for balloons for the babies on drips. The families are so grateful. I watched one mother's baby while she went out to the well for water.
In the afternoon I went to the marche', found Minata there and we went together for legumes and fruit. She took it home for me. She showed me three skirts she got at marche' for Zanabou for starting school. They were very cute. When I met Georges at the church hangar we chatted with friends and the catechists' family. One friend Koala Jean joined us as we went for pork sandwich and then took us to where his wife, Juliette is serving.their family's dolo. Their son's BAC graduation party is the event I attended earlier this season. Laurentine was getting supplies for the workday at their field tomorrow. She searched for pima (hot pepper) to serve with the meal, plus dolo. On the way back we all went to George's parents and Veronique served haricot-riz, which was excellent.
On Saturday I went to the Thyou barrage to join George and his family in the group effort to cultivate their fields today. I photoed some children who came by all excited to be in a picture. Soon George came with his charrette carrying water, pulled by their donkey. There were 10-15 people there to help, and it took all morning for the group of us to get one big field weeded. Presently Laurentine brought bengado for everyone else and beans and rice for me. What a treat! When we ate, I noticed the Burkinabe' sit on their dabas, so I tried to photo that balancing act.
Later on George walked me around their property. One part has a rise with trees and old rocks in places. He rotates the crops and hopes to clear another field to plant next year. We returned to cultivate a while longer before disbanding. The work is hard but fulfilling, esp in a group. I returned home before dark. I expressed to my neighbors that I wanted to go to the mosque to attend prayer service at 7:15 this evening. When I had queried the major he said it was open to all. Sonata offered to go with me. She brought the prayer rug we used. I did not kneel, and observed several others who could not either. The prayers are led by one chanter and everyone responds. It seems quite reverent. The service lasted 30 minutes. We walked home together in the dark.
07 September 08
This Sunday morning Zanabou and I went to church at the Catholic hangar. She had on a new outfit, and her hair was done up beautifully. There were lots of people on foot and bikes enroute to church today. A collection for an ill person was taken up following the regular collection. After service we greeted everyone and rode back to Thyou to the boulangerie (bakery) first, then to find a soda for Zanabou.
We returned home and Garrett came for a visit. He told me about his trip to OHG, Dibou and Tougan. We also talked about our VIH presentations planned. He has more time now than after school starts up again. He has three classes to teach this coming year.
I offered to cook spaghetti dinner for the neighbor kids tonight and they are all happy about that. About 7pm the kids all came over and I served them. The big kids sat at the table and all the little ones lined up on the lipicot. They especially liked the French bread. I sent over food for their parents, Minata and Ousmane too.
Connie called me in the evening, and I was so happy to hear how successful her surgery went. We chatted about their visit here in the early Springtime. It was fun to hear from her. I packed for Ouaga and went to bed.
08 September 08
At the Shell station we loaded up on the taxi brousse and one mother with four little children got on. One child clearly had car sickness, and kept vomiting into his mother's pagne. It lasted the whole trip! When I got to Ouaga I promptly got a cab to PCB and went to med office to get weighed and Silvie and I talked about my diet and how to increase calories. I also worked on internet 4 hours. I ran other errands. Back at Transit House the PCV were ordering in food and I got a chef's salad which was very good. We watched a pretty good movie on video, TNT detective series with Kara ?. I boxed up a pkg for Lance and Tammi and boys, which Linda will take to USA on Sept 15 for me.
In the meantime my dental appointment got cancelled. On Tuesday I went to PCB to work on internet some more, and that was productive. I called Omar the taxi driver who came to take me to taxi gare at 1pm so I could go back home, it being a quick trip. The return trip was packed also and interesting in the assortment of passengers. Another woman with 4 children got on, and as I had beanie babies with me I gave them to the younger ones, the teen having outgrown such a toy. A woman by the window was suffering from the ever present dust. At the junction to my village, some people got off and others got on. Three men boarded, one in handcuffs. Once at Thyou, I observed them leave on bicycles, with the prisoner riding behind one guard. Perhaps going back to village. Jean from my church was also on transport home.
I planned to go to the fields the next day, but it rained so hard all morning that didn't happen. Instead the neighbor kids and their friend Issa came over to play Uno which we all like. When I got to the clinic this morning there were lots of patients, 3 babies about one year old were on drip IV for malaria, two men were also ill with malaria and on IVs. Coincidentally that day at my lesson time, Karim and I were practicing our Malaria presentation for my quartier. We read the flip chart the health district supplied for the talk on malaria. I read the French and Karim read the Moore' conveniently located on the backside of the flip the audience sees. Tomorrow we'll practice again with a villager Saidou, who will translate my French comments into Moore' and assist with questions and answers as needed. The high point for the disease is this time of year.
On Thursday by 8am the maternite' waiting room is full of mothers and babies waiting for baby weighing. Gansonre comes over to say he will be at the main clinic seeing patients there, while Gilbert, the assistant RN will handle this part. He has me weigh the babies, and he records all the information that is pertinent in both the main register book and on the individual health books the mothers bring in. I report the weight to the mothers in kilograms in Moore'. Some babies cry at the sight of a white woman, but most are OK with my presence. Babies who need immunizations wait for the nurse to return and give injections or drops (polio).
Today they are distributing moustiquaires to the mothers with babies as they finish the process, so that draws lots of attendance. There are over 60 women this morning, some who have not been in for months, come for the mosquito net supplied by the health district. We work straight through to the end which is 2pm. Later on we had another practice session for our malaria presentation tomorrow with Karim, Saidou and myself.
In the evening I had to go to the cell tell place and was talking to Seni, a young man from Koudougou. He thanked me for my volunteer work here and said our country is poor and dirty and the people aren't very educated. Many die of malaria. He practiced his English some as we struggled talking to each other in French and English.
12 September 08
The day for the follow up causerie on malaria is here and we are doing it for my two quartiers. Rain threatened beforehand and also afterwards. The two family chefs and the village chef came. Many people attended also, approx 55. Karim and Saidou arrived and around 9:30 enough people were there to begin. Saidou translated my French and assisted Karim with his reading the Moore'. People were slow to respond to questions, but the village chef spoke up and then others chimed in. They complained there are no moustiquaires for most people and they are too poor to buy them. We encouraged the people to use a pagne (cloth) to sleep under.
13 September 08 Saturday
I am excited to go to the field of Minata today. Madi and I biked through mud puddles the long distance to their field. Minata was there building fire for roasting maize and boiling karite' butter. Madi walked me to the fields where the children were harvesting benga (beans). Abdoulaye proudly showed off two of his fields, where he grew benga and haricot and two of mille. See photos.
We walked further and visited Hamado and Yvette and she had bengado with melted karite' for us to eat, also Hamado gave us dolo. A group of workers were having their lunch there and we joined them. When we returned to Minata's place, the children were grilling maize, and we topped off our lunch with some warm off the fire. The day was fun.
14 September 08
The priest from Sabou came to say Mass, and Maxime, Georges brother assisted him. He was very friendly and teased the people there asking if the season of livernage was over, and the people said No very clearly. Maxime answered the priests question about the theme the bishop of BF has. After service we biked back to Henri and Veronique's home, and watched as Maxime and Edythe got ready to take her to KDG where she will attend school this year.
When we got to the marche' we saw Gilbert the assistant nurse, who said we actually weighed 96 babies on Thursday. I was able to talk to the tailor about my material, Jour de Femme 2008, and she will make me a skirt and top. I will get trim in Ouaga next time I go there.
I had a long conversation with Angie this evening. Her family had driven to baby Cash's first birthday party in Seattle. He is a to-head and walking now. They had a fun time there. Shawn has built them a deck coming out of the kitchen, and they also have outside shower and sauna. Lots of young families enjoyed the barbecue outdoors. They will post pictures.
I read my newest book “They Poured Fire on us from the Sky” about three boys from Sudan and how they survived the war and hunger there and made their long journey to America. It was a miracle they survived and many didn't.
15 September 08
Many patients with malaria were at the clinic this morning. I brought back a balloon for a 3-4 year old boy. A friend of Minata was also on drip and was hungry. I went to little restaurant by road to buy her lunch of rice and soup for 100 francs. I stopped by benga place and Garrett was there, so we ate benga together. In the afternoon I studied the Moringa information a long time as the rains went on for hours outside.
The focus of the next week was doing the VIH-AIDS sensibilisation at the Ipala quartier. I had asked the nurses if they would review our presentation, because the major has been gone to Ouaga. Gansonre did look it over and only made a couple suggestions, which I included. Then Garrett and I practiced with both Karim and Saidou, until we felt comfortable with it.
Three little kids were sick in clinic with malaria, so I gave them those bouncy balloons and the parents liked that. When I was at the market this week a young man spoke pretty good English with me. He told me his friend is on the radio at Sabou at 97.4 on the dial. In Burkina Faso radio is a big thing, everyone listens to it, much like everyone in the USA watches television. Radio is a good medium to get health issues discussed with the public, so PC encourages volunteers to consider doing spots on local stations whenever possible.
Oussmane, Minata and family wants a group photo of themselves. We made plans to take them in the morning when the light outside is very good. So early one morning we spent time doing that. I will make some enlarged ones because lots of homes have pictures of people hanging on their walls. They will enjoy it more in the coming years too.
On 18 October 08 we trekked over to Ipala qt for our sensibilisation on VIH-AIDS with about 30 people. It went OK and there weren't many questions, but we covered it pretty well. The villagers are always attentive when the condom demonstrations takes place.
That day of baby weighing at the clinic, there were 40 plus women, and Gansonre, the major and I worked until 1330 in the afternoon to finish them all. Gansonre used the floor scales to speed things up. So the mother gets on with the baby then by herself and the difference is an approximation of the child's weight. The major wrote the totals in the clinic book. While at the maternite' we harvested some Moringa leaves for my meeting at PC bureau with other volunteers this weekend when I will make Kopto for them. It is a good dip with tortilla chips. We also cropped the tree at two meters in the interior garden for easier access by the women, who do most of the cooking at home.
Later that evening I came to the major's home for dinner and his girls and wife fed me bouillie (broth), gillette (pancake), and ginger drink. When he returned from prayer at the mosque, he gave me grilled chicken to eat. We had a pleasant conversation and he is interested in my plan to talk with the students about dental care.
I spent the next four days in Ouaga. Dan Rooney director of the SED program and our adviser had the core group from the Moringa conference over to his house for dinner. His wife,Tanya fixed fajitas with chocolate cake for dessert. We felt pampered. The Moringa meeting the next day was good and the Kopto snack went over well.
While in Ouaga, I also had my new crown put in by the Brazilian dentist with strong hands. That was important for removing the old one. I also got some shopping done and checked in with the nurse about my diet. She said the protein intake is sufficient, but I need to increase the calories. I will also snack whenever I can during the day. The taxi brousse was broken so we had to take another transport home to Sabou then bike to Thyou, getting there after dark. Garrett came to meet me and help me and my stuff get home. What a relief!
24 September 08
The wind was up a bit and it sprinkled out. Madi is getting packed to move to Bobo, 300K away to the south for school this coming year. He goes to Sabou Thursday to catch the bus there. I gave him school supplies and a pkg of spaghetti sauce, which he loves. Also hooked him up with my great nephew for a pen pal in the states.
At midday my neighbor family was sitting under the hangar husking corn (maize). I joined in and of course took photos. It is the season for harvest coming on, and there are many things to do to dry and preserve staples of the diet for the coming dry season. See the piles of beans, white and yellow corn and gumbo drying in the courtyard.
25 September 08
Four of us biked to Gansin quartier this morning for VIH (AIDS) sensibilisation. They had found two under ripe ears of corn in the field as we headed out. There was dew on the grasses and crops. Fall is here! We also pedaled through two big puddles enroute. Some Gansin women who had been waiting for us were now walking to CSPS for baby weighing. We arrived and waited for more people to gather, and by 9am we began our talk with the villagers, 12 men, 26 women, 30-40 children. They seemed pleased we had come to speak with them. When Garrett and Saidou demonstrated proper condom use, a few giggles could be heard. Definite interest. See photos.
Issaka motoed Ousmane to Sabou in the evening to catch a bus back to Cote d'Ivoire.
I text the major that I'm not coming over to clinic this week because I don't want to give my cold to the patients there. Or to babies at baby weighing, which is my favorite activity.
26 September 08
Friday marche' is always a big one, with lots of people selling and buying. Lizetta is going to market with new potable towel I gave her for baby Julie. See photo. At marche' I was able to visit many friends and give them the photos I had gotten printed for them. I also got Karite' butter in Ouaga for a couple of the women, who were thrilled. I brought my blue lace to the tailor who is going to trim my Jour des Femme 2008 (Women's Day) dress she is making.
27 September 08
My friend, Achille is coming from Koudougou for a visit today. Garrett comes by to discuss numbers of people attending our VIH sensibilisation. We were doing that when Christina called with same question. There is a form on the computer for this. We also discuss what foods are in market and when. This is important information for talks on diet enrichment. We were eating lunch when Achille motoed up from KDG. He and I walk over to CSPS and the place is packed with patients on IVs etc. They have put moustiquaires on every bed there. There is a new baby in the maternite' too. See photo.
As we walk to the barrage we hear many warbling birds in a vibrant shade of red. They fly away before I can focus my camera on them. On the path home there is a man carving a big bowl out of a red wood. The women crush grains and nuts in these for sauce and millet for dolo, etc. We get home in the late afternoon and I prepare dinner and we play Uno to round out the day.
The next day Achille and I went to the 9am service at church and got to visit with Georges, who had led the choir We stopped by the bakery and the boutique to get lunch supplies. I prepared a sack of things for him to take home. Achille left for home at midday. Sonata was outside braiding Zanabou's hair with yarn. See photo. When the wind came up we moved to my porch. Abdoulaye put on a foulard for a joke.
30 September 08 Ramadan
I opened my door to the usual bunch who come in the morning for coffee or tea. Issa told me that the prayer at the mosque is early, so we all got ready and gathered in front of my place. Minata carried the prayer rug, and Zanabou carried a little bench for me. Everyone put on their new clothes for the feast day. They were looking pristine. All the women, including me, had on new pagnes and foulards (head wraps). The children had on new clothes too and some families had matched outfits. We all walked the path to CSPS and met the major at the clinic pump. See photo. We all sat under a big tree there until the people were starting to gather in the soccer field.
It is impressive to witness Ramadan prayer service. All the men sit in the front in long lines. The boys sit behind them. The women sit aways in the back also in long lines. The rest of the children sit with them. The service opened with a respected elder singing verses of the Koran in chant. The congregation knelt, sat and stood, at times with their hands open to the east. They always face east when praying, even at home.
Next, ten or so men formed a circle up front and they recited verses from the Koran. Some held up a cloth to shield them from the sun. Then one man spoke to the crowd followed by an elder. Meanwhile the collection occurred. The service closed with another prayer. See photos.
We walked back home visiting people all the way. At home preparations for the feast of Ramadan were happening. Little girls were pounding the arachide (peanuts) until they were ready for Minata to mash them against an ancient rock with another object resembling a rolling pin. Sonata did most of the cooking. The menu was some of their best foods: pate d' arachide with beef and aubergine, over rice, spaghetti pasta with meat, and finally riz gras, rice with sauce made from fish and aubergine. As I watched this whole thing Minata passed out bissap to drink. The importance of holy days for all the religions practiced in Burkina Faso is demonstrated by social gathering to visit and eat together. I must have eaten four meals that day after noon. And the people are so willing to share what little they have.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
African Adventure 13
01 August 2008
This morning I went to the clinic and chatted with the major about the Gansin quartier. He clarified that it is 2-3K west of my house towards the Thyou barrage. The Gansin quartier near his home is that of the little brother to the main quartier. I shared with him the debate I was having with Karim over this information in view of where we do our next sensibilisation, and asked him to mention all this to Karim. I also said to the major that we are planning to start the Moringa Project next Saturday.
After the major left for Fri prayer service at the mosque, the accoucheuse came to chat with me and we spoke in English and French for awhile, then went to the maternite'. We talked with Awa (who has 6 children) from Bolo, who was there to support the younger wife of her husband who had a premature baby yesterday. Awa wants to come to America with me. Awa cooks for the marche' in Bolo and I had my first taste of rabbit there once. I took a photo of her cooking soup/sauce over the fire which she wants a copy of.
In the afternoon Garrett invited me to the celebration of the work of the Swiss volunteers, who had constructed a chicken coup in Thyou. We toured that and then proceeded on to the school where the closing ceremony took place. Many of the older men of Thyou and our church were there. Kabore' Sailif emceed the event. The volunteers had also donated a lot of things to the bibliography (library) they helped set up last year. After the functionaires recognized the efforts of the volunteers, one of the Swiss accepted their thanks and spoke briefly about the inter cultural exchange. One of the female volunteers requested Garrett take photos of the chickens when they arrive and email them so that the volunteer can show the project to their supporters back home. Apparently the Swiss went to Ouagadougou for the chickens, which had been inadvertently exposed to chickens in quarantine and therefore had to stay longer. Sailif had drinks served followed by grilled beef, then Riz Gras.
When we left that event, we proceeded to Alphonse's house where friends and neighbors were gathered for his birthday celebration. Another round of drinks and Riz Gras with many of the same people at both events. One of the older guys led grace after meals and then broke into a chanting of the Kyrie', which reminded me of all the Latin we learned in Catholic School and sang at Mass. Deja Vous!
During my language lesson we studied the new French dictionary for children, then I practiced Moore' numbers, so I can use them to speak with the mothers at baby weighing to tell them the baby's weight and whether there was an increase or decrease.
02 August 08
Abdoulaye brought over a letter for Lindsay from Sakinata with a picture she made. I biked to the Sabou marche' today to visit friends and see if I could find a casserole set reasonably priced. After finding that we found pork sandwiches and had lunch. In the afternoon I went to St. Luc's for Reconciliation service. Father Marc and I spoke part in English, but several times he lapsed into French for lack of words. I think we had a common understanding when all was said and done.
There were a number of altar boys in the church practicing for Mass. We went to the parish house and visited Father Jacques who recently returned from Italy and was quite sociable as he talked about his time there. The priests gave us a bag of millet grain to bring back to Thyou for Jean Baptiste, the catechist. As we were pedaling back, storm clouds were gathering for rain. By the time we reached Thyou, it started sprinkling. I continued on to my house, where Issaka was waiting for the soccer ball I had for him. Issaka is president of young men's soccer team in Sala. He pumped up the ball, then Abdoulaye did too. But too much, and the burst in my house sounded like a sonic boom. Zanabou came over to color while she soaked her foot because she had a pique (sliver) in it. Madi and his friends were up all night listening to music in front of my place, so I put my earplugs in and slept soundly through all that.
03 August 08
At the Mass in Thyou a priest with a lot of personality taught the congregation a song they can sing at home. He had each section repeat it and it was clear the children learned it best. The regular choral singing and drumming were beautiful. Besides having my swear in dress altered, I visited many friends at the marche' in Thyou this Sunday. I heard that one friend of mine, Sylvie is home with a swollen leg. I will go to her home soon to visit her.
Little Claude came and sat with me at market awhile as we ate fried dough balls. He asked for a soccer ball. I told him one will come from America for him. I got my fruits and vegetables next.
In the afternoon George and Laurentine invited me to go with them to visit all the quartiers in Bagre. Because the rainy season makes some roads impassable, we waded through a pond of water pooled into the road. The path was muddy from recent rains and after several kilometers, we arrived at the first quartier to visit an old family chef. Then we visited at a second one with a younger chef who gave me a bag of rice and gave us all dolo. We went on to a third quartier when a heavy rain commenced and lasted for an hour, so we sat in an outbuilding visiting and waiting. The head of this family was a man like a lot of other Burkinabe' who works in Cote d'Ivoire to make money, then returns home to family and farming.
Another little ole' man was jesting with me. He wants me to give him one of my daughters, who in turn would give him a daughter. I asked him if he likes cats and dogs. He perseverated though, as he wants a girl baby. I responded that he could ask for himself when my daughter visits here in Nov. We visited one more quartier before heading home. The rainfall made riding bikes nearly impossible on a path of mud and puddles. The two seasons are intense: the dry season is soo dry and hot, and the rainy season is sudden and long downpours with water pooled everywhere.
I picked up my produce from the marche' to take to my house. When I got home, Karim was there to tell me the sensibilisation for tomorrow has to be rescheduled to Wednesday because a man from Bobo is coming to work on the barrage pump system with the young men of the village. Being flexible is key to working here.
04 August 08
Soon after I got up Karim arrived from the direction of the CSPS with Alphonse my teacher friend I met at recent marche'. I invited them in for coffee. We got settled at the table and my neighbor family came over to check out the new visitor. They listened as Alphonse said how grateful he was Peace Corps is in Burkina Faso. He was so enthusiastic about our Moringa project that he offered to take leave of teaching job in Sabou to work for PC. I explained that he could participate in the community project as a volunteer. He said he'd return Wed for the rescheduled sensibilisation. I read more of my current book, “Power of One” after my company left. Then I conjugated verbs to prepare for my language lesson today.
05 August 08
I worked on an essay about the Air/Wind this morning, after braiding my hair. I then went to the clinic and talked with the major about our sensibilisation at the Gansin quartier by the school, which will be delayed due to Karim being involved in a project at the barrage when all the young men are available. As I walked through the waiting room, I visited with 4 people on drip feeds for malaria. The med staff was all there talking and when they finished I asked Lea, the accoucheuse if she wanted to go for benga (beans and rice) with me. So we walked across the street to the little restaurant. We visited in French and English. It is so nice but rare to chat in English with villagers, that it was a treat.
Many villagers were in fields today and as I passed by, I took pictures of them cultivating the haricot (beans) and arachide (peanuts). In one field a row of a dozen women were weeding the field together, moving forward in a line, while they visited catching up on the day's news. I was home studying, when Minata came over telling me she had sent all her prepared food to the field with her children. Hunger on my doorstep. With that hint I made her a peanut butter with banana sandwich. She was very grateful. She said she is raising 6-8 children with little outside help. It is very difficult.
During my language lesson I practiced writing reflexive French verbs and my Moringa presentation that we will do tomorrow. Karim, my Moringa counterpart, came by and we made plans for the next morning. I let him know that Alphonse, a teacher from Sabou and very interested in our project, will be attending. Alphonse wants to do a similar project in Sabou, so I gave him some seeds along with handouts to get started. He asked for my sons names and addresses to share with them how mom is doing things for the Burkinabe' and the people here like it.
Wednesday morning was spectacular, blue sky, sunny and very green trees and plants abounded. We walked to the Gansin quartier (compound) where our talk lasted an hour and the dozen or so people there seemed happy to learn the benefits of Moringa. We walked back by the CSPS to debrief with the major, who chastised Karim for not going to the main Gansin compound 3K east of Sala, which is traditionally the one to recognize first. Later that week we were able to rectify this by going out there and speaking to a large group of people at the main Gansin qt. about Moringa.
On market day, we went to visit my friend Sylvie, who is bedridden with a swollen leg. Her husband Bazile told us last week about her problem. Sylvie was sitting on two mats, sweating with her swollen leg wrapped up in a pagne. She unwrapped it and showed me a drainage hole in her shin. She takes traditional medicine, which was sitting beside her. It was a dark paste which she applies as a compress. This has been going on two weeks now. She believes someone came and put thorns near her front door, where she would step on them, and she doesn't know who. She was fairly discouraged. She is slowly recovering though.
07 August 08
Today was a work party at Kiemtore' Henri's field. I followed Georges and his charette full of bidons of water led by a donkey to the field 2K away. Many people including Henri were already there working and weeding. I observed how they used the daba tool for whacking at the weeds and followed suit. The trick is knowing good plants from bad, and that takes practice. The group of workers went down several rows at a time, clearing the weeds. We finished one section and then sharpened our dabas and got a drink of water before continuing. We moved to another field of millet and benga and cleared it, all the time the workers were talking and laughing as they went. They were enjoying their time together. We worked together this way until Laurentine came with lunch. We stopped for bengdo balls and dolo. The men sat in a circle, supported by their dabas. I tried to take a photo of this balancing. See photos.
My PCV neighbor Garrett stopped by my house after I got home in the afternoon and we did an outline on HIV/AIDS for a presentation later for my villages.
The next day we got our plan for the Moringa Project organized for Saturday when the men from village will convene and work together on it.
09 August 08 Moringa Project at Sala
By 8am four of us (Karim, Garrett, Georges and I) gathered at my house to walk to CSPS and clear out the interior garden at the maternite', where we would set the Moringa plants, protected from animals, etc. We sat under the tree in front of the accoucheuse house to mix the dirt, manure, and sand. The village chef had sent over two loads of dirt rich in chicken manure, and we walked over to the forester's bureau to request a wagon full of sand from his driveway. Then we had all the components to start mixing. The 20 young men from each of the three main quartiers of Sala who showed up to help with this project completely turned the mixture two times.
The village elders numbering ten men sat on a bench under the same tree and oversaw the activities. Madi, my neighbor and Alphonse, my friend also helped out. We had a good group of people there. Everyone gathered around the mixture and started filling the 550 sacks. This process went on several hours, then the sacks were organized for watering. After that each sachet received a Moringa seed. We broke for lunch, when Minata brought over Riz Gras for 25-30 people. When we resumed we loaded the sacks into the charrette for easy transport to the back door of the maternite' near the interior garden spot. By early afternoon we were out of mixture and for the most part finished with the project. However Karim, George and I went over to the chef's place and got more rich dirt, to finish filling 40 or so sacks. It was a satisfying day of work as a community with over 500 Moringa sacks as evidence.
10 August 08
This morning I planned to attend the service at Assembly of God church in Thyou. I arrived early, parked my bike by pastor's house and waited on the church steps for the bell to ring signaling the start of church service. I sat on the left side of the church and was quickly invited to the women's section on the right. The elders were in the front left, much like the Catholic Mass, with the young men behind them. The choral groups filed in to sit on the far right and the children filled the front rows of the church. Ministers were on the raised platform in front. The assistant minister spoke the first hour. Then the children came in and sat on the left in back. The various age groups were led in song by their music directors. These groups sang most of the second hour accompanied by drummers and tambourine players. (See photos.) In the third hour two ministers took turns singing and preaching scripture. A man came and sat me with a French teacher who translated the Moore' sermon into French for me. I got the jest of the message in Luc and Jacques gospels, “Pick up his cross to follow Jesus.” Several times the congregation got on their feet and prayed aloud, which had the effect of speaking in tongues on me. Even the pastor roamed the stage in loud prayer with eyes closed. They welcomed me.
11 August 08
I ran out of propane gas yesterday, so I requested hot water from the neighbor, who heats it on open fire cuisine. I listened to BBC news regarding the Olympics, etc. And there is power sharing going on in South Africa....regarding the elections last month. The runner up is going to be Prime Minister they say.
After a couple visitors in the morning I got my bath and went to the clinic, where there were lots of malaria patients today. I also went to look at our Moringa project, which was impressive. I ate rice and sauce at Fati's restaurant and visited with her and another woman with baby in tow. As I rode back home, it was very hot and sticky. I organized my paperwork for going to Ouaga, so I could turn in reimbursement forms, etc. When it was time for my language lesson, we sat behind my house in the shade of the house and the maize, which is very tall now. We came back inside my warm house after the lesson as the clouds were gathering for rain and lightening started up all around us. Georges left for home before the big storm broke. It stormed all evening, and I sat on my veranda and wrote the essay on Storms in Burkina Faso.
12 August 08
Gansonre is sick with malaria (palu) he said from going to Sapuy 4 days with no moustiquaire. The major is in Sapuy today, so Gilbert is treating all the patients, lots of whom have palu. I talked with Lea, the accoucheuse who was finishing up with the last prenatal visit patient. When I went down to the road where the two restaurants are, Salimata had returned with her new baby. She handed her to me and I held her for over an hour, while Salimata prepared the chicken for her marmite, a pot which cooks over the open fire.
In the afternoon I went to the marche' for food. I visited Veronique at the hangar, and friends from Villa were there asking about the pictures of the baptism. We had pork sandwiches and left for home and lesson, when we were stopped by the director of the school in Salou, who thanked me for school supplies. A teacher from Bolo also greeted us and I assured him we were coming back there soon. Before we got home a rain storm broke out. We pedaled fast!
13 August 08
One of the people who visited me for coffee this morning is a petite woman from Salam's quartier, next to me. Mariam shared with me in Moore' that she isn't feeling well. She felt hot and ached all over, and the whites of her eyes were yellow. I suggested the clinic, to which she responded she didn't have any money. When Madi, my neighbor returned I had him go with me to ask Mariam at her home how long she had been sick to which she replied two days. We also found out that her children and husband are in Cote d'Ivoire and she has no medical card nor source of income. I invited her to walk over to the CSPS with me for consultation. The nurse assistant checked her over and said it was her blood, diminishing due to past malaria. He wrote her 3 Rx, 2 she could get filled in Sala for 300 francs and Quinine to be filled in next village for 900 francs. When we got back home Mariam proceeded to take two big pills at once and I drew her a picture of the sun and the moon indicating one in the morning and one at night. It is very difficult to see effects of malaria on one's own doorstep.
Salam came with Mariam in the afternoon back to my house to thank me for the help.
Madi had a fellow student, Mimoni visiting from the University in Ouaga and brought him over to speak English with me. We got into a discussion on the availability of texts books, which both students told me are not affordable to them. Their formal English ends with middle school (lycee) and they need encouragement to continue learning and practice.
I had my language lesson in the afternoon. We snapped 20” long green beans for dinner with jerky and some onions it was yummy!
The next day I left for Ouaga on transport. It rained hard, and there were no wipers to see through the cracked front window of the taxi brousse. In the thick of the storm and after I arrived in town, I pedaled to PC bureau as I had to turn in forms and check on some things before it closed at noon for repose. Some emergency was happening with both Sylvie RN and Dr. Luc preparing to travel in response to. The med receptionist said all the drivers were also involved in the emergency and I needed to take a taxi to my dental appt at 3pm. The Burkinabe' dentist rebuilt my front tooth filling layer by layer this time, using an ultra violet light and hoping it would last longer. The other dentist came in to check my recent crown and gum repair he had done, and was very pleased with results, as was I.
15 August 08
I ate my leftovers from last night, rice with peanut sauce, and prepared to go to church for Assumption, which is a big feast day here. The church was packed inside and out. As I stood in the doorway a man gave me a chair to sit on. Turns out we had met before, Laurent is the drummer at Planete Music down de Gaulle Avenue. He invited me to come there again. The Mass was long and beautiful with a full student choir led by the director. Many people had clothing made from the pink pagnes made for Mary's Assumption. The service ended in Benediction with such enthusiasm. The congregation was so into it, they spontaneously started dancing around the altar. (See pictures.) An older gentleman approached me afterwards and was happy I was enjoying and reacting to the music. He also seemed happy my name was Mary.
I caught a taxi to go to the Artisan Village to get some gifts to send home. Later I returned to the PC bureau and stopped by the medical unit to visit Ryan and Sonia, who had been in a taxi brousse accident yesterday and both suffered fractures. They described the chaos during the accident as the bus slid off the road and hit a tree. Sonia said all the seats came unbolted from the floor and many people were injured. They will fly out for surgery soon.
That evening was the Close of Service party for the volunteers who came a year before our group. The Transit House was cleaned up inside and out for the occasion, and people arrived in festive dress to celebrate the night. We had fruit punch to drink and chips with dip before leaving for downtown for dinner, bowling and dancing. The COS group had gathered a slide show of their time in BF. I got the first taxi home at midnight and chatted with Ana about the influence of religion on the lives in Burkina.
The next day Peter, Kevin and I met at the American Embassy over lunch for our Moringa meeting. We were able to discuss how to proceed to gather the necessary information and invite other volunteers to help form a support group. Some volunteers were at the Embassy to watch the Olympics on the television, which showed sports of trampoline and beach volleyball. First TV I have seen since coming.
When I returned to the transit house, Chris was calling me on Skype, and I could see and hear him but he could not hear me, so we ended up texting each other online.
On Sunday Ana and I walked to St. Francis for Mass. Again it was packed and people motioned for us to sit near them on a bench on the side of the altar, so we did. The priests spoke slowly and I could understand some of the French. We visited the marche' after for used clothing and vegetables. By noon the core Moringa group met with SED director Dan Rooney for advise on how to proceed forming our support group. He encouraged us to expand Moringa to the global issue of food security. It was a good discussion for our planning. The next day I sent emails to other volunteers requesting their experiences with nutrition in the clinics esp on the days that mothers bring their babies in for weight checks. The collective experience!
A driver took me to my physical therapy appt which I try to schedule each time I'm in town. Gradually the feeling in my muscles hurt during the bike accident in April is returning. The driver also took me to buy 3 Mango trees for my neighbors in village. With his help, I was able to get the trees, my bike and all my baggage to the taxi brousse for returning home by mid afternoon. It rained buckets on the way home and in Sabou we waited 30 minutes for the storm to pass. I held up a sachet and filled it with leaky water three times while we sat there. The road 15K to Sala was flooded in spots, with the rainwater running fast on both sides of the road. (See photos.)
I had help getting everything to my house, where my friends had prepared rice and sauce with pintade meat in celebration of l'anniversaire of Mary's Assumption, a big fete in Africa!
On Tuesday I checked in with the major about my Ouaga trip for medical appointments and Moringa meetings. I looked at the project and about 40 seeds had come up. Garrett and I met in the afternoon to lay out our AIDS presentation we will do together in village in the coming months.
It was an interesting experience sending a 85th birthday card to Aunt Helen at home. I tried to meet with the taxi brousse driver to ask him to mail it in Ouaga. Other men were in the boutique and helped me explain in French what I needed. The envelope had gotten wet so we transferred the card into a dry one and taped the stamps on. The driver put it in a clear plastic bag for transport. A little thing takes a lot of effort by several people.
After we finished reviewing my French HIV-AIDS presentation in language class today, we had a long discussion about democracy and the history of Burkina. The Burkinabe' are very passionate about it.
21 Aug 08
Isakka's baby has palu, and is very uncomfortable. They took her to CSPS for meds. I tried to find Mariame to give her the rest of the quinine pills I had from her Rx, but she wasn't home. Soon someone sent her to my house. I went to maternite' today to help weigh babies, and there were lots of women and babies there because they were passing out moustiquaires again. Women came from small villages for it too. It was a lot of work and Lea had to record all of the information too. Lea invited me to a meal at her house on Saturday but I told her we would be in Zao doing an HIV presentation.
In the afternoon I went to the market in Thyou for veggies and also to boutique for staples. When I got home I had French lesson and practiced Moore'. Lea came on her moto with a dish of to and sauce. Karim came by for visit and to get units for his phone off mine. I mentioned that I hadn't eaten dinner yet and I was tired too, so everyone left and I made pork sandwich for dinner and retired early.
22 Aug 08
Madi came over for tea in the morning and to study out of the French dictionary, while I studied my French-Moore' reader. I read Newsweek about Obama's faith. Minata said Zanabou has temp and needs aspirin. I gave her non-aspirin, which is better for children. We talked about her entering school and made a plan to go talk to the director in the afternoon with Madi's help. That talk went well and Zanabou is registered to enter school for her first time at age 8. Thanks to Angie's family who gave three mille ($6) for a year's tuition. There will be smaller fees for school supplies too when school starts up mid-September.
I went to the health clinic in the morning to talk with the major about visual aides for AIDS presentation, and they (Philippe and Lea) looked around but no luck finding anything, so we will make do. The major was quite complimentary about the Moringa project. The forester came by and said we need to move the Moringa out of the interior garden, so they can dry out and the air can circulate on them. I walked down the path to Fati's restaurant and watched her prepare lunch, rice with sauce in a big marmite over the open fire. The sauce had oil and chives sauteed, tomato powder, salt, water, gumbo, peanut paste from crushed nuts, black bengado, pima and maggi. The sauce became thicker as it cooked. I ate lunch there when it was ready. It is fun to watch Burkinabe' cook. Fati's son came along with his slingshot, which is a staple for young boys as they often see birds or other creatures to aim at.
At my language class that day Garrett and I had Georges review the Moringa presentation we'd written and he made a number of suggestions. We practiced it once and discussed the condom demonstration we'll do with our talk. Our prop will be an ear of corn (maise). We made our departure to Zao plans for tomorrow.
23 August 08
My usual coffee/tea drinkers came for a cup this morning. Soon it was time to gather things together for our talk with villagers in Zao, 15K away. We stopped by the CSPS to check in with them about our activities today, and left off dishes belonging to the accoucheuse. I texted Patrice, the ASC in Zao to remind him we were coming for causerie as we left. The road was thick with mud from all the rains and riding was more difficult because of that, but the cool air of the morning was perfect riding conditions, and we continued on for an hour and a half. We were resting at the marche' when Patrice found us. He had spread the word and a few folks were gathering. The other ASC, Beli was in the field, so didn't come, but my friend Atia came and we were very excited to reunite after several months. She said she was by my place to visit and the major told her I was in Ouaga then.
Atia took me for benga (beans) at a food stand at the marche' before we walked a short distance to her house, where I met her mother and children. Atia is well liked in her compound, probably the heart of it, as she chatters and laughs constantly and other people do too. She wanted to take me to the field to see Beli, but I needed to get back so we could start the HIV presentation. By the time we started there were 25 adults and that many children gathered. More usually come as we proceed.
Garrett discussed with Patrice the appropriateness of condom demo with children there, and his response was they may not fully understand but others there would and we could proceed. Garrett and I alternated talking and Georges translated what we said into Moore' for the villagers. When we did the condom demo there were a few giggles and one lady shushed the others by saying “Don't laugh, this is important information we need to hear.” We were satisfied with our premiere talk on AIDS. On the way home the rains started and we ended up pretty wet, but felt lucky to have completed our mission today.
24 August 08
We are going to Nabatogo for St Louis fete today in the new church there. It is my first visit to this village, where Georges' sister and family live. We biked to Sabou, where we left our bikes and Father Casmir was picking up passengers in his mini-truck for the 25K ride to Nabatogo. The ride was amazing. I sat on a bench in the bed of the truck with my outer shirt over my head to keep the wind and dust out of my face. Father drove fast and we were there in 20 minutes flat. Some friends gave us a small bench, which all the congregation brings with them to sit on in church. All the people worked together to ready the altar for Mass. By 9:20 the church was crammed with people and the singing and drumming signaled the start of Mass with 3 priests to celebrate the first Mass in the new church on it's feast day. Service lasted 2 hrs with 3 babies baptized in the middle of the service and toward the end there were gifts given to the church from neighboring parishes, some as far away as the capitol. In a clearing beside the church there was a lot of festivities after mass, such as dances by groups, acrobats, and of course more music.
Today was the market day at Nabatogo so everyone was in good spirits. After we spent time there, we walked to Georges' sister, Martine and Marcel's house, where she made Riz Gras for dinner and many visitors came to join in that. Since Martine makes dolo for marche' her cuisine area is set up for that. There is a hearth with three vats built into it with the firebox under it. She has three or four vats underground for the fermenting stage which takes three days. I saw the leavening nearby in a huge pan.
Their daughter Edith is about Luke's age and wants an American pen pal, so she wrote him a letter, which I will mail. There was dancing happening that evening in a clearing by where the old church used to be and the teenagers were having a good time with that. We returned to Sabou on a taxi brousse tired but content with the day.
Minata's husband, Ousmane had come from Cote d'Ivoire earlier and was waiting for taxi brousse to Thyou. The rains had flooded the road in some parts and it was slow going. Ousmane had a lot of luggage and borrowed Georges bike to take it home. He loaded my bike with stuff too. We walked up the hill to our houses with help from the youth.
The next morning Karim and I asked the chef to borrow his charrette to move all the Moringa trees to my verandah. It took us several hours and three trips. Madi and Issa helped us with it.
I had invited Lea for lunch of tuna sandwiches today, as she is leaving Friday for visit of family in Ouaga and then onto KDG where she will continue her schooling. She arrived on her moto and we had a good visit. The major invited me to attend the Monitorage meeting Thursday with officials from the district office in Sapuy. He said the ASCs from our satellite villages will be in attendance too. It is annual talk with the village on the health status of the villages comparatively speaking.
27 August 08
Today my friend from Zao, Atia came for a visit. Issa translated for us as I showed her photos of my family and gave her some jewelry, toys, batteries and things for hers. I made spaghetti for lunch mid day and we have such a good time together in spite of the fact that we can't talk each others language. We spent the afternoon going to the marche' at Thyou. On her head Atia carried a bag of grain to sell, as I rode my bike next to her slowly. We spent the afternoon together there.
28 August 08
The Monitorage meeting that was scheduled to begin in the morning actually began in the late afternoon. The maternite' was full of mothers with infants for baby weighing so I went to help Lea with that. We worked straight through until 12:30. The number was large again because moustiquaires were being passed out too.
As the functionaires from the villages and a crowd gathered for the meeting so did the clouds overhead. Two doctors from the district office gave all the statistics on the health status of Sala and surrounding villages. They are concerned about the number of women who birth at home instead of coming to maternite'. Many complications arise from that fact. I had my tutor there to interpret for me.
Within an hour we all had to move inside the maternite' building as the downpour began. It lasted several hours, so being out of the weather felt good, even though it was crowded. We listened to the officials from Sapuy who talked intensely about the health problems. After dark a meal of Riz Gras with meat was served to all the attendees. The medical staff all went to the major's house for their meal. By the time I walked my bike home the puddles were filling the path there and I was wading and giggling in the dark about the experience.
29 August 08
This morning I packed for Ouaga and had to return to tree by CSPS to retrieve my hat I left there yesterday. I planted another round of Moringa seeds in the pots(sachets) where nothing had come up with the help of Issaka and Madi. When I got to the station in Thyou the taxi brousse had gone to Lea's house to pick her up along with her furnishings and luggage. By 11am I got to Transit House and discovered I wasn't signed in. I waited all day for a bed, and none was available—problem!
I shopped at the Artisan's Village for my grandkids and went to PC bureau to get mail and use the internet. I returned to the TH around 6pm to get ready for the Swear-In of the new volunteers. Sarah and I took a taxi to the Ambassador's house and watched the ceremony. It was impressive, and we saw all of our teachers from training, JZ,Vini, Theo, Patrice. We also saw Jeanine and Mark Jackson, and Dan and Tanya Rooney. It was relaxing be a spectator. After drinks and hors d'oeuvres a PC car took us in groups downtown to the Nameze hotel where the new volunteers were staying and we all walked several blocks to the Moulin Rouge restaurant where we would eat dinner. I was walking on the sidewalk talking to another volunteer.
Enroute two guys on a moto tried to snatch my fanny pack! The guy on the back grabbed it but it didn't pop off, and he dragged me. The driver of the moto took off with me in tow. My Women's Strength training kicked in and I screamed. The voice is a powerful weapon! It seemed like minutes, but was probably seconds that I was sidestepping into the street with them. Luckily I didn't lose my balance and tumble. The grabber finally let go and they sped away. It happened so fast I had no time to be frightened, nor could the 8 volunteers in my group intervene. Afterwards I was very disturbed by the whole event!
When we got the cab home at 11pm I slept on the couch at the transit house, then the guard decided at midnight to discuss my no reservation situation. Three guys, Peter, Caleb and Marty helped me talk with him to allow me to stay and we would settle the problem tomorrow with Dr. Claude. In view of the stress of the attempted theft, I believed we could convince him. They did.
30 August 08
In the morning I pedaled to PC director's home to have coffee with Marti, his wife. Doug Teschner interviewed me about the attempted theft, and is concerned for our safety after hours in Ouaga, as there has been a rash of these kind of incidents. Marti and I visited over coffee and fruit with yogurt while discussing the kids in the BF culture and their survival skills. We talked about the education system too. Interesting discussion. Marti gave me a box to mail my kids a pkg, and also offered to take a box to mail in October when she is flying to the states.
In the afternoon Peter, Kevin and I went with Peter, the pastor of a Ouaga church on a Moringa Tree field trip. He was raised in the Congo and has lived in Africa most of his life. He drove us to the edge of the city, where we went through miles of shantis and slums. It was an eyeopener. We toured the facility and saw Moringa trees, beans, bananas, pumps, and drying trays of Moringa leaves for making powder. We visited with him a long time. He has many stories about his work in Africa and his many contacts in America who donate to his work here. We drove back by dusk.
Jen's mother is at TH visiting from America with flight out tonight and she offered to take my box to mail. A bunch of us ( 2 Saras, Robert, Lauren, Becky and I) were going to dinner at the Italian restaurant Verdoyant for Becky's birthday. It was a pleasant evening.
This morning I went to the clinic and chatted with the major about the Gansin quartier. He clarified that it is 2-3K west of my house towards the Thyou barrage. The Gansin quartier near his home is that of the little brother to the main quartier. I shared with him the debate I was having with Karim over this information in view of where we do our next sensibilisation, and asked him to mention all this to Karim. I also said to the major that we are planning to start the Moringa Project next Saturday.
After the major left for Fri prayer service at the mosque, the accoucheuse came to chat with me and we spoke in English and French for awhile, then went to the maternite'. We talked with Awa (who has 6 children) from Bolo, who was there to support the younger wife of her husband who had a premature baby yesterday. Awa wants to come to America with me. Awa cooks for the marche' in Bolo and I had my first taste of rabbit there once. I took a photo of her cooking soup/sauce over the fire which she wants a copy of.
In the afternoon Garrett invited me to the celebration of the work of the Swiss volunteers, who had constructed a chicken coup in Thyou. We toured that and then proceeded on to the school where the closing ceremony took place. Many of the older men of Thyou and our church were there. Kabore' Sailif emceed the event. The volunteers had also donated a lot of things to the bibliography (library) they helped set up last year. After the functionaires recognized the efforts of the volunteers, one of the Swiss accepted their thanks and spoke briefly about the inter cultural exchange. One of the female volunteers requested Garrett take photos of the chickens when they arrive and email them so that the volunteer can show the project to their supporters back home. Apparently the Swiss went to Ouagadougou for the chickens, which had been inadvertently exposed to chickens in quarantine and therefore had to stay longer. Sailif had drinks served followed by grilled beef, then Riz Gras.
When we left that event, we proceeded to Alphonse's house where friends and neighbors were gathered for his birthday celebration. Another round of drinks and Riz Gras with many of the same people at both events. One of the older guys led grace after meals and then broke into a chanting of the Kyrie', which reminded me of all the Latin we learned in Catholic School and sang at Mass. Deja Vous!
During my language lesson we studied the new French dictionary for children, then I practiced Moore' numbers, so I can use them to speak with the mothers at baby weighing to tell them the baby's weight and whether there was an increase or decrease.
02 August 08
Abdoulaye brought over a letter for Lindsay from Sakinata with a picture she made. I biked to the Sabou marche' today to visit friends and see if I could find a casserole set reasonably priced. After finding that we found pork sandwiches and had lunch. In the afternoon I went to St. Luc's for Reconciliation service. Father Marc and I spoke part in English, but several times he lapsed into French for lack of words. I think we had a common understanding when all was said and done.
There were a number of altar boys in the church practicing for Mass. We went to the parish house and visited Father Jacques who recently returned from Italy and was quite sociable as he talked about his time there. The priests gave us a bag of millet grain to bring back to Thyou for Jean Baptiste, the catechist. As we were pedaling back, storm clouds were gathering for rain. By the time we reached Thyou, it started sprinkling. I continued on to my house, where Issaka was waiting for the soccer ball I had for him. Issaka is president of young men's soccer team in Sala. He pumped up the ball, then Abdoulaye did too. But too much, and the burst in my house sounded like a sonic boom. Zanabou came over to color while she soaked her foot because she had a pique (sliver) in it. Madi and his friends were up all night listening to music in front of my place, so I put my earplugs in and slept soundly through all that.
03 August 08
At the Mass in Thyou a priest with a lot of personality taught the congregation a song they can sing at home. He had each section repeat it and it was clear the children learned it best. The regular choral singing and drumming were beautiful. Besides having my swear in dress altered, I visited many friends at the marche' in Thyou this Sunday. I heard that one friend of mine, Sylvie is home with a swollen leg. I will go to her home soon to visit her.
Little Claude came and sat with me at market awhile as we ate fried dough balls. He asked for a soccer ball. I told him one will come from America for him. I got my fruits and vegetables next.
In the afternoon George and Laurentine invited me to go with them to visit all the quartiers in Bagre. Because the rainy season makes some roads impassable, we waded through a pond of water pooled into the road. The path was muddy from recent rains and after several kilometers, we arrived at the first quartier to visit an old family chef. Then we visited at a second one with a younger chef who gave me a bag of rice and gave us all dolo. We went on to a third quartier when a heavy rain commenced and lasted for an hour, so we sat in an outbuilding visiting and waiting. The head of this family was a man like a lot of other Burkinabe' who works in Cote d'Ivoire to make money, then returns home to family and farming.
Another little ole' man was jesting with me. He wants me to give him one of my daughters, who in turn would give him a daughter. I asked him if he likes cats and dogs. He perseverated though, as he wants a girl baby. I responded that he could ask for himself when my daughter visits here in Nov. We visited one more quartier before heading home. The rainfall made riding bikes nearly impossible on a path of mud and puddles. The two seasons are intense: the dry season is soo dry and hot, and the rainy season is sudden and long downpours with water pooled everywhere.
I picked up my produce from the marche' to take to my house. When I got home, Karim was there to tell me the sensibilisation for tomorrow has to be rescheduled to Wednesday because a man from Bobo is coming to work on the barrage pump system with the young men of the village. Being flexible is key to working here.
04 August 08
Soon after I got up Karim arrived from the direction of the CSPS with Alphonse my teacher friend I met at recent marche'. I invited them in for coffee. We got settled at the table and my neighbor family came over to check out the new visitor. They listened as Alphonse said how grateful he was Peace Corps is in Burkina Faso. He was so enthusiastic about our Moringa project that he offered to take leave of teaching job in Sabou to work for PC. I explained that he could participate in the community project as a volunteer. He said he'd return Wed for the rescheduled sensibilisation. I read more of my current book, “Power of One” after my company left. Then I conjugated verbs to prepare for my language lesson today.
05 August 08
I worked on an essay about the Air/Wind this morning, after braiding my hair. I then went to the clinic and talked with the major about our sensibilisation at the Gansin quartier by the school, which will be delayed due to Karim being involved in a project at the barrage when all the young men are available. As I walked through the waiting room, I visited with 4 people on drip feeds for malaria. The med staff was all there talking and when they finished I asked Lea, the accoucheuse if she wanted to go for benga (beans and rice) with me. So we walked across the street to the little restaurant. We visited in French and English. It is so nice but rare to chat in English with villagers, that it was a treat.
Many villagers were in fields today and as I passed by, I took pictures of them cultivating the haricot (beans) and arachide (peanuts). In one field a row of a dozen women were weeding the field together, moving forward in a line, while they visited catching up on the day's news. I was home studying, when Minata came over telling me she had sent all her prepared food to the field with her children. Hunger on my doorstep. With that hint I made her a peanut butter with banana sandwich. She was very grateful. She said she is raising 6-8 children with little outside help. It is very difficult.
During my language lesson I practiced writing reflexive French verbs and my Moringa presentation that we will do tomorrow. Karim, my Moringa counterpart, came by and we made plans for the next morning. I let him know that Alphonse, a teacher from Sabou and very interested in our project, will be attending. Alphonse wants to do a similar project in Sabou, so I gave him some seeds along with handouts to get started. He asked for my sons names and addresses to share with them how mom is doing things for the Burkinabe' and the people here like it.
Wednesday morning was spectacular, blue sky, sunny and very green trees and plants abounded. We walked to the Gansin quartier (compound) where our talk lasted an hour and the dozen or so people there seemed happy to learn the benefits of Moringa. We walked back by the CSPS to debrief with the major, who chastised Karim for not going to the main Gansin compound 3K east of Sala, which is traditionally the one to recognize first. Later that week we were able to rectify this by going out there and speaking to a large group of people at the main Gansin qt. about Moringa.
On market day, we went to visit my friend Sylvie, who is bedridden with a swollen leg. Her husband Bazile told us last week about her problem. Sylvie was sitting on two mats, sweating with her swollen leg wrapped up in a pagne. She unwrapped it and showed me a drainage hole in her shin. She takes traditional medicine, which was sitting beside her. It was a dark paste which she applies as a compress. This has been going on two weeks now. She believes someone came and put thorns near her front door, where she would step on them, and she doesn't know who. She was fairly discouraged. She is slowly recovering though.
07 August 08
Today was a work party at Kiemtore' Henri's field. I followed Georges and his charette full of bidons of water led by a donkey to the field 2K away. Many people including Henri were already there working and weeding. I observed how they used the daba tool for whacking at the weeds and followed suit. The trick is knowing good plants from bad, and that takes practice. The group of workers went down several rows at a time, clearing the weeds. We finished one section and then sharpened our dabas and got a drink of water before continuing. We moved to another field of millet and benga and cleared it, all the time the workers were talking and laughing as they went. They were enjoying their time together. We worked together this way until Laurentine came with lunch. We stopped for bengdo balls and dolo. The men sat in a circle, supported by their dabas. I tried to take a photo of this balancing. See photos.
My PCV neighbor Garrett stopped by my house after I got home in the afternoon and we did an outline on HIV/AIDS for a presentation later for my villages.
The next day we got our plan for the Moringa Project organized for Saturday when the men from village will convene and work together on it.
09 August 08 Moringa Project at Sala
By 8am four of us (Karim, Garrett, Georges and I) gathered at my house to walk to CSPS and clear out the interior garden at the maternite', where we would set the Moringa plants, protected from animals, etc. We sat under the tree in front of the accoucheuse house to mix the dirt, manure, and sand. The village chef had sent over two loads of dirt rich in chicken manure, and we walked over to the forester's bureau to request a wagon full of sand from his driveway. Then we had all the components to start mixing. The 20 young men from each of the three main quartiers of Sala who showed up to help with this project completely turned the mixture two times.
The village elders numbering ten men sat on a bench under the same tree and oversaw the activities. Madi, my neighbor and Alphonse, my friend also helped out. We had a good group of people there. Everyone gathered around the mixture and started filling the 550 sacks. This process went on several hours, then the sacks were organized for watering. After that each sachet received a Moringa seed. We broke for lunch, when Minata brought over Riz Gras for 25-30 people. When we resumed we loaded the sacks into the charrette for easy transport to the back door of the maternite' near the interior garden spot. By early afternoon we were out of mixture and for the most part finished with the project. However Karim, George and I went over to the chef's place and got more rich dirt, to finish filling 40 or so sacks. It was a satisfying day of work as a community with over 500 Moringa sacks as evidence.
10 August 08
This morning I planned to attend the service at Assembly of God church in Thyou. I arrived early, parked my bike by pastor's house and waited on the church steps for the bell to ring signaling the start of church service. I sat on the left side of the church and was quickly invited to the women's section on the right. The elders were in the front left, much like the Catholic Mass, with the young men behind them. The choral groups filed in to sit on the far right and the children filled the front rows of the church. Ministers were on the raised platform in front. The assistant minister spoke the first hour. Then the children came in and sat on the left in back. The various age groups were led in song by their music directors. These groups sang most of the second hour accompanied by drummers and tambourine players. (See photos.) In the third hour two ministers took turns singing and preaching scripture. A man came and sat me with a French teacher who translated the Moore' sermon into French for me. I got the jest of the message in Luc and Jacques gospels, “Pick up his cross to follow Jesus.” Several times the congregation got on their feet and prayed aloud, which had the effect of speaking in tongues on me. Even the pastor roamed the stage in loud prayer with eyes closed. They welcomed me.
11 August 08
I ran out of propane gas yesterday, so I requested hot water from the neighbor, who heats it on open fire cuisine. I listened to BBC news regarding the Olympics, etc. And there is power sharing going on in South Africa....regarding the elections last month. The runner up is going to be Prime Minister they say.
After a couple visitors in the morning I got my bath and went to the clinic, where there were lots of malaria patients today. I also went to look at our Moringa project, which was impressive. I ate rice and sauce at Fati's restaurant and visited with her and another woman with baby in tow. As I rode back home, it was very hot and sticky. I organized my paperwork for going to Ouaga, so I could turn in reimbursement forms, etc. When it was time for my language lesson, we sat behind my house in the shade of the house and the maize, which is very tall now. We came back inside my warm house after the lesson as the clouds were gathering for rain and lightening started up all around us. Georges left for home before the big storm broke. It stormed all evening, and I sat on my veranda and wrote the essay on Storms in Burkina Faso.
12 August 08
Gansonre is sick with malaria (palu) he said from going to Sapuy 4 days with no moustiquaire. The major is in Sapuy today, so Gilbert is treating all the patients, lots of whom have palu. I talked with Lea, the accoucheuse who was finishing up with the last prenatal visit patient. When I went down to the road where the two restaurants are, Salimata had returned with her new baby. She handed her to me and I held her for over an hour, while Salimata prepared the chicken for her marmite, a pot which cooks over the open fire.
In the afternoon I went to the marche' for food. I visited Veronique at the hangar, and friends from Villa were there asking about the pictures of the baptism. We had pork sandwiches and left for home and lesson, when we were stopped by the director of the school in Salou, who thanked me for school supplies. A teacher from Bolo also greeted us and I assured him we were coming back there soon. Before we got home a rain storm broke out. We pedaled fast!
13 August 08
One of the people who visited me for coffee this morning is a petite woman from Salam's quartier, next to me. Mariam shared with me in Moore' that she isn't feeling well. She felt hot and ached all over, and the whites of her eyes were yellow. I suggested the clinic, to which she responded she didn't have any money. When Madi, my neighbor returned I had him go with me to ask Mariam at her home how long she had been sick to which she replied two days. We also found out that her children and husband are in Cote d'Ivoire and she has no medical card nor source of income. I invited her to walk over to the CSPS with me for consultation. The nurse assistant checked her over and said it was her blood, diminishing due to past malaria. He wrote her 3 Rx, 2 she could get filled in Sala for 300 francs and Quinine to be filled in next village for 900 francs. When we got back home Mariam proceeded to take two big pills at once and I drew her a picture of the sun and the moon indicating one in the morning and one at night. It is very difficult to see effects of malaria on one's own doorstep.
Salam came with Mariam in the afternoon back to my house to thank me for the help.
Madi had a fellow student, Mimoni visiting from the University in Ouaga and brought him over to speak English with me. We got into a discussion on the availability of texts books, which both students told me are not affordable to them. Their formal English ends with middle school (lycee) and they need encouragement to continue learning and practice.
I had my language lesson in the afternoon. We snapped 20” long green beans for dinner with jerky and some onions it was yummy!
The next day I left for Ouaga on transport. It rained hard, and there were no wipers to see through the cracked front window of the taxi brousse. In the thick of the storm and after I arrived in town, I pedaled to PC bureau as I had to turn in forms and check on some things before it closed at noon for repose. Some emergency was happening with both Sylvie RN and Dr. Luc preparing to travel in response to. The med receptionist said all the drivers were also involved in the emergency and I needed to take a taxi to my dental appt at 3pm. The Burkinabe' dentist rebuilt my front tooth filling layer by layer this time, using an ultra violet light and hoping it would last longer. The other dentist came in to check my recent crown and gum repair he had done, and was very pleased with results, as was I.
15 August 08
I ate my leftovers from last night, rice with peanut sauce, and prepared to go to church for Assumption, which is a big feast day here. The church was packed inside and out. As I stood in the doorway a man gave me a chair to sit on. Turns out we had met before, Laurent is the drummer at Planete Music down de Gaulle Avenue. He invited me to come there again. The Mass was long and beautiful with a full student choir led by the director. Many people had clothing made from the pink pagnes made for Mary's Assumption. The service ended in Benediction with such enthusiasm. The congregation was so into it, they spontaneously started dancing around the altar. (See pictures.) An older gentleman approached me afterwards and was happy I was enjoying and reacting to the music. He also seemed happy my name was Mary.
I caught a taxi to go to the Artisan Village to get some gifts to send home. Later I returned to the PC bureau and stopped by the medical unit to visit Ryan and Sonia, who had been in a taxi brousse accident yesterday and both suffered fractures. They described the chaos during the accident as the bus slid off the road and hit a tree. Sonia said all the seats came unbolted from the floor and many people were injured. They will fly out for surgery soon.
That evening was the Close of Service party for the volunteers who came a year before our group. The Transit House was cleaned up inside and out for the occasion, and people arrived in festive dress to celebrate the night. We had fruit punch to drink and chips with dip before leaving for downtown for dinner, bowling and dancing. The COS group had gathered a slide show of their time in BF. I got the first taxi home at midnight and chatted with Ana about the influence of religion on the lives in Burkina.
The next day Peter, Kevin and I met at the American Embassy over lunch for our Moringa meeting. We were able to discuss how to proceed to gather the necessary information and invite other volunteers to help form a support group. Some volunteers were at the Embassy to watch the Olympics on the television, which showed sports of trampoline and beach volleyball. First TV I have seen since coming.
When I returned to the transit house, Chris was calling me on Skype, and I could see and hear him but he could not hear me, so we ended up texting each other online.
On Sunday Ana and I walked to St. Francis for Mass. Again it was packed and people motioned for us to sit near them on a bench on the side of the altar, so we did. The priests spoke slowly and I could understand some of the French. We visited the marche' after for used clothing and vegetables. By noon the core Moringa group met with SED director Dan Rooney for advise on how to proceed forming our support group. He encouraged us to expand Moringa to the global issue of food security. It was a good discussion for our planning. The next day I sent emails to other volunteers requesting their experiences with nutrition in the clinics esp on the days that mothers bring their babies in for weight checks. The collective experience!
A driver took me to my physical therapy appt which I try to schedule each time I'm in town. Gradually the feeling in my muscles hurt during the bike accident in April is returning. The driver also took me to buy 3 Mango trees for my neighbors in village. With his help, I was able to get the trees, my bike and all my baggage to the taxi brousse for returning home by mid afternoon. It rained buckets on the way home and in Sabou we waited 30 minutes for the storm to pass. I held up a sachet and filled it with leaky water three times while we sat there. The road 15K to Sala was flooded in spots, with the rainwater running fast on both sides of the road. (See photos.)
I had help getting everything to my house, where my friends had prepared rice and sauce with pintade meat in celebration of l'anniversaire of Mary's Assumption, a big fete in Africa!
On Tuesday I checked in with the major about my Ouaga trip for medical appointments and Moringa meetings. I looked at the project and about 40 seeds had come up. Garrett and I met in the afternoon to lay out our AIDS presentation we will do together in village in the coming months.
It was an interesting experience sending a 85th birthday card to Aunt Helen at home. I tried to meet with the taxi brousse driver to ask him to mail it in Ouaga. Other men were in the boutique and helped me explain in French what I needed. The envelope had gotten wet so we transferred the card into a dry one and taped the stamps on. The driver put it in a clear plastic bag for transport. A little thing takes a lot of effort by several people.
After we finished reviewing my French HIV-AIDS presentation in language class today, we had a long discussion about democracy and the history of Burkina. The Burkinabe' are very passionate about it.
21 Aug 08
Isakka's baby has palu, and is very uncomfortable. They took her to CSPS for meds. I tried to find Mariame to give her the rest of the quinine pills I had from her Rx, but she wasn't home. Soon someone sent her to my house. I went to maternite' today to help weigh babies, and there were lots of women and babies there because they were passing out moustiquaires again. Women came from small villages for it too. It was a lot of work and Lea had to record all of the information too. Lea invited me to a meal at her house on Saturday but I told her we would be in Zao doing an HIV presentation.
In the afternoon I went to the market in Thyou for veggies and also to boutique for staples. When I got home I had French lesson and practiced Moore'. Lea came on her moto with a dish of to and sauce. Karim came by for visit and to get units for his phone off mine. I mentioned that I hadn't eaten dinner yet and I was tired too, so everyone left and I made pork sandwich for dinner and retired early.
22 Aug 08
Madi came over for tea in the morning and to study out of the French dictionary, while I studied my French-Moore' reader. I read Newsweek about Obama's faith. Minata said Zanabou has temp and needs aspirin. I gave her non-aspirin, which is better for children. We talked about her entering school and made a plan to go talk to the director in the afternoon with Madi's help. That talk went well and Zanabou is registered to enter school for her first time at age 8. Thanks to Angie's family who gave three mille ($6) for a year's tuition. There will be smaller fees for school supplies too when school starts up mid-September.
I went to the health clinic in the morning to talk with the major about visual aides for AIDS presentation, and they (Philippe and Lea) looked around but no luck finding anything, so we will make do. The major was quite complimentary about the Moringa project. The forester came by and said we need to move the Moringa out of the interior garden, so they can dry out and the air can circulate on them. I walked down the path to Fati's restaurant and watched her prepare lunch, rice with sauce in a big marmite over the open fire. The sauce had oil and chives sauteed, tomato powder, salt, water, gumbo, peanut paste from crushed nuts, black bengado, pima and maggi. The sauce became thicker as it cooked. I ate lunch there when it was ready. It is fun to watch Burkinabe' cook. Fati's son came along with his slingshot, which is a staple for young boys as they often see birds or other creatures to aim at.
At my language class that day Garrett and I had Georges review the Moringa presentation we'd written and he made a number of suggestions. We practiced it once and discussed the condom demonstration we'll do with our talk. Our prop will be an ear of corn (maise). We made our departure to Zao plans for tomorrow.
23 August 08
My usual coffee/tea drinkers came for a cup this morning. Soon it was time to gather things together for our talk with villagers in Zao, 15K away. We stopped by the CSPS to check in with them about our activities today, and left off dishes belonging to the accoucheuse. I texted Patrice, the ASC in Zao to remind him we were coming for causerie as we left. The road was thick with mud from all the rains and riding was more difficult because of that, but the cool air of the morning was perfect riding conditions, and we continued on for an hour and a half. We were resting at the marche' when Patrice found us. He had spread the word and a few folks were gathering. The other ASC, Beli was in the field, so didn't come, but my friend Atia came and we were very excited to reunite after several months. She said she was by my place to visit and the major told her I was in Ouaga then.
Atia took me for benga (beans) at a food stand at the marche' before we walked a short distance to her house, where I met her mother and children. Atia is well liked in her compound, probably the heart of it, as she chatters and laughs constantly and other people do too. She wanted to take me to the field to see Beli, but I needed to get back so we could start the HIV presentation. By the time we started there were 25 adults and that many children gathered. More usually come as we proceed.
Garrett discussed with Patrice the appropriateness of condom demo with children there, and his response was they may not fully understand but others there would and we could proceed. Garrett and I alternated talking and Georges translated what we said into Moore' for the villagers. When we did the condom demo there were a few giggles and one lady shushed the others by saying “Don't laugh, this is important information we need to hear.” We were satisfied with our premiere talk on AIDS. On the way home the rains started and we ended up pretty wet, but felt lucky to have completed our mission today.
24 August 08
We are going to Nabatogo for St Louis fete today in the new church there. It is my first visit to this village, where Georges' sister and family live. We biked to Sabou, where we left our bikes and Father Casmir was picking up passengers in his mini-truck for the 25K ride to Nabatogo. The ride was amazing. I sat on a bench in the bed of the truck with my outer shirt over my head to keep the wind and dust out of my face. Father drove fast and we were there in 20 minutes flat. Some friends gave us a small bench, which all the congregation brings with them to sit on in church. All the people worked together to ready the altar for Mass. By 9:20 the church was crammed with people and the singing and drumming signaled the start of Mass with 3 priests to celebrate the first Mass in the new church on it's feast day. Service lasted 2 hrs with 3 babies baptized in the middle of the service and toward the end there were gifts given to the church from neighboring parishes, some as far away as the capitol. In a clearing beside the church there was a lot of festivities after mass, such as dances by groups, acrobats, and of course more music.
Today was the market day at Nabatogo so everyone was in good spirits. After we spent time there, we walked to Georges' sister, Martine and Marcel's house, where she made Riz Gras for dinner and many visitors came to join in that. Since Martine makes dolo for marche' her cuisine area is set up for that. There is a hearth with three vats built into it with the firebox under it. She has three or four vats underground for the fermenting stage which takes three days. I saw the leavening nearby in a huge pan.
Their daughter Edith is about Luke's age and wants an American pen pal, so she wrote him a letter, which I will mail. There was dancing happening that evening in a clearing by where the old church used to be and the teenagers were having a good time with that. We returned to Sabou on a taxi brousse tired but content with the day.
Minata's husband, Ousmane had come from Cote d'Ivoire earlier and was waiting for taxi brousse to Thyou. The rains had flooded the road in some parts and it was slow going. Ousmane had a lot of luggage and borrowed Georges bike to take it home. He loaded my bike with stuff too. We walked up the hill to our houses with help from the youth.
The next morning Karim and I asked the chef to borrow his charrette to move all the Moringa trees to my verandah. It took us several hours and three trips. Madi and Issa helped us with it.
I had invited Lea for lunch of tuna sandwiches today, as she is leaving Friday for visit of family in Ouaga and then onto KDG where she will continue her schooling. She arrived on her moto and we had a good visit. The major invited me to attend the Monitorage meeting Thursday with officials from the district office in Sapuy. He said the ASCs from our satellite villages will be in attendance too. It is annual talk with the village on the health status of the villages comparatively speaking.
27 August 08
Today my friend from Zao, Atia came for a visit. Issa translated for us as I showed her photos of my family and gave her some jewelry, toys, batteries and things for hers. I made spaghetti for lunch mid day and we have such a good time together in spite of the fact that we can't talk each others language. We spent the afternoon going to the marche' at Thyou. On her head Atia carried a bag of grain to sell, as I rode my bike next to her slowly. We spent the afternoon together there.
28 August 08
The Monitorage meeting that was scheduled to begin in the morning actually began in the late afternoon. The maternite' was full of mothers with infants for baby weighing so I went to help Lea with that. We worked straight through until 12:30. The number was large again because moustiquaires were being passed out too.
As the functionaires from the villages and a crowd gathered for the meeting so did the clouds overhead. Two doctors from the district office gave all the statistics on the health status of Sala and surrounding villages. They are concerned about the number of women who birth at home instead of coming to maternite'. Many complications arise from that fact. I had my tutor there to interpret for me.
Within an hour we all had to move inside the maternite' building as the downpour began. It lasted several hours, so being out of the weather felt good, even though it was crowded. We listened to the officials from Sapuy who talked intensely about the health problems. After dark a meal of Riz Gras with meat was served to all the attendees. The medical staff all went to the major's house for their meal. By the time I walked my bike home the puddles were filling the path there and I was wading and giggling in the dark about the experience.
29 August 08
This morning I packed for Ouaga and had to return to tree by CSPS to retrieve my hat I left there yesterday. I planted another round of Moringa seeds in the pots(sachets) where nothing had come up with the help of Issaka and Madi. When I got to the station in Thyou the taxi brousse had gone to Lea's house to pick her up along with her furnishings and luggage. By 11am I got to Transit House and discovered I wasn't signed in. I waited all day for a bed, and none was available—problem!
I shopped at the Artisan's Village for my grandkids and went to PC bureau to get mail and use the internet. I returned to the TH around 6pm to get ready for the Swear-In of the new volunteers. Sarah and I took a taxi to the Ambassador's house and watched the ceremony. It was impressive, and we saw all of our teachers from training, JZ,Vini, Theo, Patrice. We also saw Jeanine and Mark Jackson, and Dan and Tanya Rooney. It was relaxing be a spectator. After drinks and hors d'oeuvres a PC car took us in groups downtown to the Nameze hotel where the new volunteers were staying and we all walked several blocks to the Moulin Rouge restaurant where we would eat dinner. I was walking on the sidewalk talking to another volunteer.
Enroute two guys on a moto tried to snatch my fanny pack! The guy on the back grabbed it but it didn't pop off, and he dragged me. The driver of the moto took off with me in tow. My Women's Strength training kicked in and I screamed. The voice is a powerful weapon! It seemed like minutes, but was probably seconds that I was sidestepping into the street with them. Luckily I didn't lose my balance and tumble. The grabber finally let go and they sped away. It happened so fast I had no time to be frightened, nor could the 8 volunteers in my group intervene. Afterwards I was very disturbed by the whole event!
When we got the cab home at 11pm I slept on the couch at the transit house, then the guard decided at midnight to discuss my no reservation situation. Three guys, Peter, Caleb and Marty helped me talk with him to allow me to stay and we would settle the problem tomorrow with Dr. Claude. In view of the stress of the attempted theft, I believed we could convince him. They did.
30 August 08
In the morning I pedaled to PC director's home to have coffee with Marti, his wife. Doug Teschner interviewed me about the attempted theft, and is concerned for our safety after hours in Ouaga, as there has been a rash of these kind of incidents. Marti and I visited over coffee and fruit with yogurt while discussing the kids in the BF culture and their survival skills. We talked about the education system too. Interesting discussion. Marti gave me a box to mail my kids a pkg, and also offered to take a box to mail in October when she is flying to the states.
In the afternoon Peter, Kevin and I went with Peter, the pastor of a Ouaga church on a Moringa Tree field trip. He was raised in the Congo and has lived in Africa most of his life. He drove us to the edge of the city, where we went through miles of shantis and slums. It was an eyeopener. We toured the facility and saw Moringa trees, beans, bananas, pumps, and drying trays of Moringa leaves for making powder. We visited with him a long time. He has many stories about his work in Africa and his many contacts in America who donate to his work here. We drove back by dusk.
Jen's mother is at TH visiting from America with flight out tonight and she offered to take my box to mail. A bunch of us ( 2 Saras, Robert, Lauren, Becky and I) were going to dinner at the Italian restaurant Verdoyant for Becky's birthday. It was a pleasant evening.
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