32 Going on 11

Two weeks ago, June 9, marked my one year anniversary of landing in Burkina Faso. I remember thinking those first couple months that moving to a very different place, speaking a very different language, and meeting very different people was almost like being a baby again. When I first got here after going straight to the hotel, I was very curious as what was beyond its walls but was too scared to leave the hotel by myself. I had to rely on someone else to do just about everything for me. It’s amazing how quickly that first year went and at the same time it’s unbelievable how much I have learned and experienced in that one year. I think I now know how dogs feel, aging 7 years for every one human year. However, I think in Burkina years, I have aged closer to 10 years. So after arriving a baby, I believe that I am finally a big boy. Here are 10 examples of why I believe I am now the equivalent of a 10 year-old (in American culture) in Burkina:

1) I can speak good: I can now definitely do everything I need to do in French though I often struggle in grown-up conversations.

2) I am somewhat potty-trained: I poop my pants less often than I did when I first got here and I rarely miss the hole now.

Here is the hole I am supposed to aim for.

3) I would eat hamburgers, pizza, and ice cream for every meal if I could: When I go to Ouaga, my diet consists of only these 3 things and I am perfectly happy.

4) I often dread leaving my courtyard for fear of being taunted by other children: Hearing le blanc (“whitey” in French), nesara (“whitey” in moore), and onbompiano (“whitey” in gourmantche) 100 times a day wears on me if I don’t feel well or am really tired.

5) I drink lots of juice: Lots of juice.

Juice! On the left is baobob, right is bissap (hibiscus).

6) I ride my bicycle everywhere I go: I actually look the part when I do, wearing my giant helmet and my book bag on my way-too-small-for-my-growing-body bike.

Just me and Lady Bike (it actually says Lady Bike on the sticker).

7) I go to school everyday and count down the days until summer vacation: I love teaching but there is nothing like the prospect of having a whole summer off!

Me walking across the field, leaving school, eighties' movie style. I lack the jean jacket and hair but can you guess the reference?

8 ) When I spend the night at my friends’ houses, we stay up all night playing board games: Settlers of Catan.

The traveller's version. I owe this little goldmine to my friend Dylan Butler who passed it down to us as he is closing his service. Thanks Dylan, safe travels.

9) When I play soccer with other 10 year-old kids, they are usually much better than me: I am thinking about teaching them a new sport just so I can be relatively good at something again.

10) I can wear ridiculous looking clothes and no one thinks anything of it: They might even tell me my outfit is pretty (c’est jolie).

This snazzy little number complete with hat is traditional dress for hunters in western Burkina Faso.

 

 I think I can safely say, the past twelve months have been the most exciting 10 years of my life.

Picture of me and some friends one year ago.

Picture of me and some friends one month ago. I'm the one in the middle with the green shirt.