One of the most awkwardly awesome experiences I had recently brought me back to the days of high school, when the most important social event was a Saturday night school dance, a local football game or something equally pedestrian. However, in Burkinabe style, the nuit clôture was a bit different from the average high school weekend in small-town Iowa. La nuit clôture (literally translated as closing night) is an annual event held at the lycée (high school) to celebrate the end of the school year. When I was invited by my two 3me neighbors, I understood the night to be a cultural night, but in reality, it was basically an outdoor talent show outside the school. Acts ranged from theatre, chock-full of inside jokes and French I did not understand, to lip syncing, Akon-inspired dance routines. It was hilarious and really LONG. We walked to the school around 8 pm or so, and we stayed until 1 am! Even with electricity (other PCVs without power go to bed at 8pm), I am quite lame in village and turn in at 10 pm, so around that time, I was ready to call it a night. However, the path to the lycee goes through the dark bush for about twenty minutes, so I was at the mercy of my socially-charged high school friends. Throughout the night, the acts did improve, and there was more than one display of dancing prowess, break-dance style. As I sleepily walked my way back to my maison after the show, I decided that despite my satisfaction with the nuit clôture, I may stick to outings with my own age group after that :)
When not attending rowdy high school gatherings, I have found time to faire du sport ("do the sport") around village, and my nightly runs are quite easily becoming my favorite time of day. The running itself does not really excite me, but the ritual of greeting all my neighbors and stretching with the gang of small children who follow me is quite exhilarating. In fact, my favorite neighbor kids join me on my mat on my patio for my post-run stretching, and we do crunches while my dog runs around like crazy, trying to grab my hair. In addition, it really is the cutest thing watching my little Burkinabe kids attempt to mimic my downward dog! As a culmination to a fitness-packed week in village, bright and early on Saturday morning, I decided to attempt the hilly 55km bike ride to Bobo, carrying my two full weekend bags as well as my computer strapped to the back (of my bike, that is). I was determined to make it all the way to the city, especially as all the villagers were convinced it was impossible to bike the distance. Happily, I made it to Bobo after three hours or so, hot and tired, but also with a major feeling of accomplishment. Félicitations à moi!
Finally, my new village project has been daily typing classes with several of my association's apprentices. I lied when I mentioned Mavis Beacon; I actually use a freeware typing software program I found online, and we use that together. Watching Jacobe type "ddff, ddff, ddf" does tend to get a bit long, but my students are making pretty quick progress. Soon, we will start learning Microsoft Office and the internet. Petit a petit!
If it hasn't been apparent by the pictures I take in village (I promise to take better pictures soon), I spend alot of time with my neighborhood kids. My parents have sent me a lot of toys for them, so every day at least five little ones make their way over to my house (sometimes before six in the morning; I am never very happy, and I sleepily scream Jula commands at them: I be bo!) and demand puzzles, coloring books, or Matchbox kids. However, not only do the American toys provide endless entertainment, but the U.S. Post boxes the toys come in are also quite popular. For example:
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| San with his USA shirt and my care package box |
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| San and Lionel, happy with their new toy! |
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| Yes, my two favorite two-year-olds are in my box Also, housing update: I have officially changed my Pepto-pink kitchen into a bright magenta-red. I am pretty happy about the results: |
Anyways, that's all the news from Burkina Faso. We are all looking forward to July 4th festivites; maybe we can hunt down some hotdogs????!!!???
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