Stuff I Forget to Tell You

This one's for the people back home.
I’ve realized there is a lot I forget to tell you guys or that’s difficult for me to explain. I forget that many of the realities I deal with everyday make no sense to you, because I forget that they are not “normal” or thought of in Americaland. And, sometimes I just feel weird posting about the honest realities where anybody with internet access can read them.

Anyway, we’ll start here...

Sunburn and Poop

So this is what happened.

While I was in Ouaga I offhandedly realized I had to pick up next month's money from the poste (think bank). There were rumors of a devaluation of our money and I didn't want to be caught empty handed. Also, I was running low on funds. I had to squeeze it in before I went home. 

I walked in with my friend around 9 am. There was some confusion as to what we were supposed to do as usually you just walk up and see where to put your ID in the line on the counter. But after listening to someone explain, we took a number from the pull (which I had often thought silly before as no one used it) and sat down to wait. I saw I was 70. High, but it could be worse. Surely several other people had been in in the last hour. Ding! The number counter switched. To 1. Fourty-eight minutes, much cussing in English and one phone call to the PC money people later, we decided to leave... they were on 8.

Christmas Sub-Saharan

To be honest, I don't know too much about the specifics of what Christmas will be like because last year I didn't really "do" Christmas. I’d just gotten to my village less than two weeks before and I knew maybe 6 people. I didn’t know where the church was or what they were doing to celebrate and I didn't really know how to ask. I didn’t have presents for anyone, I wasn’t cold... it just didn't feel like Christmas. I missed stage and I missed home. I was scared. So I hid in my hut and pretended it wasn’t Christmas. The only person that came to see me was my neighbor, who wished me a "Joyeaux Noel" and invited me to hang out with his family. Which was really nice until he gave me a beer at 8 am, which I couldn’t refuse (I tried several times), and which I proceeded to throw up all over the courtyard. I said I was sick and went back to sleep. I maybe read a book and ate oatmeal. Not exactly the kind of holiday you write home about. But this year I made plans.

Mam Photo Ramba

(Just means "my pictures")
I have some time before I catch my bus to download photos for you all. Sadly I don't have any of my birthday fete in village (we ate a whole sheep!) because my camera died and I couldn't find the cord to charge it. Here are some of the best of the last few months (Tabaski, mid-service conference, and thanksgiving).

Feli carrying arround her baby sister

Somira and Talato (her aunt) preparing food for Tabaski 

Dressed up in his best clothes for the fete

A Good Cause

A group called From Daniel's Tears is partnering with Eternal Threads to bring you "Burkina Bracelets". These awesome green bracelets are made by girls in Nepal rescued from trafficking and all the proceeds from selling the bracelets goes to the orphans in Burkina.

$1 to provide income to the girls in Nepal

$2 goes to two different orphanages here in Burkina

Quite possibly, the BEST THREE DOLLARS you ever spent! 

You can buy one for yourself or a hundred for your friends, church, or group to sell. (From Daniel's Tears is working on a video that will aid in advocating for Burkina's orphans.)

To order send an email at yakorphans@gmail.com or send an email to Cami at camiwarning@gmail.com. 

(Taken from http://burkinaorphanage.blogspot.com)


I haven't been to the orphanage in Yako myself yet, but I hear awesome things about it from other volunteers. If you're looking for a little way you can help Burkina (and Nepal) this is an option. 

Thinkin bout things

When you live alone, are the only one around that speaks your native language and have no electricity you tend to have a lot of time to just, well, think. About everything.