surprise... i'm home

Burkina Faso Eats Another Volunteer

Hi guys, it's with some sad and some happy that I share with you all that Heather is on her way home soon. Sad because Eleanor and I will miss her, but happy because it was definately the right decision at the the right time for her. It's going to be lonely here without her, but the choice to stay a while longer makes me really want to make the most of my limited time here. Catch ya later.

Hello, it's been a rough week or so leading up to the school year (especially if you're Heather), but we're almost there. The sequence of events (if you're Heather) went something like (but not limited to) the following: slapped by a beggar, infected blister, attempted kiss by a taxi driver, and high fever, achy, nausea sickness with green slimy diahrrea (of which I would post a picture if one existed, but sadly one does not). So we're here recovering, and we'll be returning to village promptly thereafter.
I start teaching next Monday, and so begins the next phase of our action packed adventure here in Burkina Faso.

PS I feel like my blog entries are lacking in cultural/interesting information about Burkina Faso, so in order to address this problem I've included the following short list of food and beverage items that can be bought and enjoyed in a plastic baggy:
water
various juice type drinks
yogurt
liquor
cooking oil

... and the list goes on. Volunteer's feel free to add to the list in the form of a comment.

Just Checking In

Hey everybody! I'm currently in Ouaga for a relaxing weekend and to run some errands like use the internet. So we're real volunteers now, and we've been in village for a few weeks. It's going well. School starts sometime in October so we are just hanging out and making it home.
There are a few things that I've added to our wish list so feel free to check that out. Also, when people call us it doesn't cost us anything so don't hesitate to pick up a phone card and ring us as much as you want or can afford. Last thing, there should be some new picures on picasa soon so check 0n that.
Really last thing, thanks everybody for sending packages and letters. We picked up packages from our parents this weekend. Keep in touch!
PS Very last thing... Friends and family and whoever email me phone #'s and addresses SVP. Thanks!

Wish List!

Here's a small list of suggestions to assist anyone who wants to send us stuff:

Clif Bars and Luna Bars
Granola
All kinds of Kashi stuff (the hot cereals are delicious)
Dried fruit (especially cherries and cranberries)
Other stuff from the health food store
Propel dry drink mix
Skippy natural peanut butter or PB and Co
Palm Oil (shortening in a tub from Nature's Pantry... it's not hydrogenated)
Whole cardamom pods (green, from Nature's Pantry)
Dried Oregano (Nature's Pantry)
World Map
Interesting tea

Good Cocoa powder


The list isn't all inclusive so feel free to be creative. I'll continue to update it.

Here's a picture of Heather looking angry/confused during sight visit:

And here's a picture of me gnarfing a pizza in Ouaga: