After swear in on December 19th we had about 4 days of life skills training that will be very useful once we get to village. During this time we also had time to begin shopping for our new homes. Some people went all out buying tables and cots (lit picos) and using donkey carts to transport everything back to ECLA. I moved to a replacement sight so there was not many things that I needed to buy so I took pictures and relaxed before Affectation.
As mentioned in my holiday blog, Peace Corps kept us all together for Christmas Day. I thought I would share some photos of our first Christmas as volunteers.
December 24, 2008: Josh is doing some non-traditional Christmas Eve shopping, haha. He is a true Burkinabe carrying some of his new purchases for his site on the back of his bike. It is incredible how much Burkinabe’s strap onto their bikes.
December 24, 2008: Amanda, Josh, Gwen, and Erik snuggle outside under the pavilion on Christmas Eve to watch “Elf.” We are all comfy in our Pjs, so memorable.
December 24, 2008: Dan Pint regarding “Elf,” we use a chair and portable speakers as our theatre. You can see the plants behind the laptop.
December 25, 2008: Not only is it Christmas but it is also Brittany’s Birthday and we hook my iPod up to her portable speakers and promanade to our yogurt lady to get some petit dejeuner. It was so much fun and we kinda felt like Christmas carolers as all the Burkinabes stared wondering where the music was coming from.
December 25, 2008: After our Christmas petite dejeuner we stop by the water pump to get some peanut butter birddle and a truck passes and sprays Brittany and I with muddy water. Priceless.
December 25, 2008: I laughed so hard because it was like a scene out of a movie as we get sprayed with mud on Christmas. Yes, I am wearing a sweatshirt, it was somewhat cold Christmas morning.
December 25, 2008: Everyone that participated in Secret Santa with all of their wonderful Burkinabe goodies. It really was fun to be all together and watch everyone open up something. The activity lasted over an hour and then we went onto White Elephant.
December 25, 2008: I was the 3rd to the last to pick a present so I could have had anything I wanted, even old moldy Tô that someone wrapped up in a Reese’s box, but instead I got a Tie. I loved it and wear it as a belt when my pants are too big.
December 25, 2008: I exchanged gifts with some of my closest friends of stage then. I am giving Amanda her gift, and as you can see I spent hours on the plastic bag gift wrapping.
December 25, 2008: Super happy and excited for my own personalized calabashes that Lynette got me. She knew I am a sucker for drinking out of calabashes.
December 25, 2008: Amanda is unveiling the Christmas present she got me. . . . THE DEHYDRATOR
December 25, 2008: Later that day at the cyber post in OHG I skype with my family for almost 2 hours and watch as they celebrate Christmas. I actually felt like I was there in the living room. It was great!!!! If you look at the computer screen you can see them waving in the background. Hi Jen, Mom, Dad, and Taylor!!!
December 25, 2008: This is where we ate Christmas Dinner at a Lebanese hotel in OGH. It was actually quite engaging and a great send off after almost 3 months of being together.
December 25, 2008: After dinner we sang Christmas carols at the top of our lungs. Erik and I are rocking out!
December 25, 2008: Amanda, Me, and Brittany, my girls, enjoy each others company during dinner.
December 25, 2008: I stop by my host families house one more time to say goodbye at 10pm at night. I would leave OHG the next morning unsure as to when I will see my host sister Adissa again.
December 25, 2008: All my bags are packed. This is everything I have for my two years here in Burkina Faso. I am quite proud of myself beyond the three bags I brought from the states I only added two more bags, which mainly consist of Peace Corps books and my new dehydrator. I think my parents would be proud, knowing my history with the ability to accumulate STUFF.
No comments:
Post a Comment