J’adore ma famille hote!

After our Tuesday classes, we had our adoption ceremony for our host
families on Tuesday afternoon. Previously we had discussed what to
expect from our host family, especially in terms of cultural
differences, so despite our excitement, we were also extremely nervous
to meet them. Tuesday afternoon, all of the stagieres went to a
conference room, where the representatives of the Burkinabe families
had gathered. There were two short speeches (in French) and then our
director introduced the family and the volunteer, one by one. I sat
nervously, waiting to hear my name and meet the people I would live
with for the next two months. About halfway through, I heard my
name…and saw my new host dad, Michael. We shook hands, took a quick
picture, and we were off! I had my PC-issued bike, so I figured we
would walk/bike to my house together, but my family had brought their
car. When I got to the car, I met my host mother, Antoinette, who
could not come inside because her ankle is broken. After loading my
bike into the car, we headed for home.


When we arrived at our house, which was a good ten minutes away by
car, I was shocked by how nice it was! For training, I have been
living VERY nicely, especially as compared to some other of the PCTs.
I have my own bedroom (which is a requirement for all host family
placements) in a house with electricity, which means, most
importantly, I have a FAN in my room. I also have running water for
my shower as well as a toilet, whereas most of the other PCTs have
only a latrine and a one-roomed hut.


I get along very well with my family; they are very similar to an
American family. I requested a Catholic family before I was assigned
a placement, and I am glad I did for multiple reasons. First of all,
it is very easy to understand both the names of the members of the
family as well as the family structure. For some of the other PCTs,
distinguishing the different wives and children in Muslim families
with very Muslim names, has been a challenge. For me, I have a
father, Michael, and one mother, Antoinette. Maman Burkinabe ("Mama")
works at a hotel doing something related to communications, if I
understood correctly, but she has not been working now because of her
broken ankle. She also is the president of an association that
promotes the causes of women. She a very impressive women; she even
traveled to Washington in 2000 to participate in a march for women's
rights. I have no idea what my father does; I have not seen him since
the night of the adoption ceremony. I think he may work in
Ouagadougou during the week or something. They have four children,
two of whom still live at home, Michelle and Jean. The other two
sons, Frank and Marcel, live elsewhere in the country. I have talked
(or tried to) to Frank several times over the phone, and I met his
wife and son when they visited. My host sister Michelle and my
brother Jean in Koudougou are GREAT. They are both around my age, and
we hang out all the time together. In fact, the other night I went
out for drinks with them and some friends. They also offered to take
me dancing next weekend!


In addition to being fun to hang out with, my host siblings are very
smart and have a great comprehension of English. Every night, Jean
helps me with my French for hours, patiently correcting my errors and
explaining concepts to me. His assistance has been the most
beneficial for my language acquisition. The first night when I
arrived, I could not understand a single thing that my family said to
me, but now, only a week later, I understand a lot of what they say.
We watch together a specific TV program every night, and I learn a lot
by listening to that also.


In our house, we also have four domestiques, which roughly translates
as servants. The concept of domestiques is not uncommon in West
African cultures, as many times the children who serve families are
often relatives that serve their extended family in return for room
and board/school. I am not sure if that is the case with my four
young domestique girls, as well as the teenage boy who also lives with
us, but I hope to find out sensitively sometime soon. They are also
wonderful, though I do not interact with the girls as much. The
oldest, Elise, did show me how to do my laundry, and she even gave me
a manicure! I offered to reciprocate, but she would not let me. As a
whole, the whole family must think I am an idiot, as I do not know how
to do the very basic things!


I have loved my experience with my host family thus far; and after
this past weekend, when I returned from a weekend trip, going back to
my house in Koudougou felt a little bit like home. Already, I feel a
bit integrated into my new Burkinabe life!