Back to School

Last month, the PCV’s (Peace Corps Volunteers) of Burkina Faso held a fair in Ouagadougou to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Peace Corps. Many volunteers used the fair to showcase their projects as well as provide an opportunity for their counterparts in village to sell their goods in the capital city. It was a good time and included a carnival with a dunk tank, a local fabric fashion show, and a concert by Floby, the most popular Burkinabe musical artist. He gave us a special performance in which he sang a song that he wrote specially for Peace Corps Burkina Faso.

This month, October 1st was the first day of school. I’m really excited to be back. It has been such a different world so far this year now that I can actually understand my students, can actually explain what I want to say, and am much better prepared now that I am used to the system and know what to expect. Also, I spent most of the summer writing a text book to accompany my class which frees up a lot of time spent writing notes and makes things a whole lot easier. Now we just need to pray that we can actually get through a full year of school without too much chaos erupting. Inshallah.

Videos:

Here is a video about the Peace Corps 50th Anniversary Fair in Ouagadougou.  About half way through you will see a random cameo of me (not really sure why).  Click here – Peace Corps 50th Anniversary Video

This is a video of Floby’s special performance for us singing his Peace Corps song.  Click here – Floby Performance

Pictures:

Many thanks to Lane Harper and Gulf Coast Office Products for donating much needed mouse pads to my school. Here is one of my classes saying, "Merci beaucoup!"

 

Merci bien also to Camille Ripley and Suntrust Mortgage. Believe it or not, mousepads really do make a difference to a young African touching a computer for the first time.

 

That is me getting dunked in the dunk tank at the 50th anniversary fair. It's not quite so perilous when it is 110 degrees outside and you are begging someone with good aim to make a toss.

 

Donuts, beer, and Settlers of Catan. Luis' birthday was the 17th so this is how we celebrated.

 

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