Mid-March-Madness

Jessi, wearing her newly made March 8th dress, leads her leadership club in the International Women's Day parade at our site.

Jessi's dance club marches in the parade as well. Hopefully we'll get some photos of them actually dancing posted soon.

Hello again...sorry for the massive delay in bloggage. Jessi had a blog ready in early Feb but we kept forgetting to post it! Life has been busy and every evolving, so lets fill you in a little (photos to come?).

One day in mid february we woke up and discovered the much dreaded and discussed hot season had begun. Everyone here says it started early this year (usually early-mid March), but the real heat will come in April. Its about 108F during the days, with no AC to escape to. Up until the beginning of March the water we drank was at that same temperature, and was anything but refreshing (I don't care if 'warm' water is better for you, it isn't very appetizing). We bought this big clay pot that we fill with water and with a little help from evaporation our water magically cools by 35 degrees. Just like a refrigerator, except the refrigerator usually is taking food from a pleasant 72 down around 37. Sleeping outside most nights on army cots because the mattress just traps too much heat. Overall, despite it being hot we don't actually feel all that warm most of the day. We've become suprisingly accustomed already.

I just wrapped up the second trimester of the school year with lots of test to grade, grades to calculate, and report cards to fill in (it is so much easier back in the states). About 50% of my 375 students are passing, which is pretty good for Burkina. The second trimester went a lot better than the first, which most first year teachers would say. Classroom management can be a real challenge though, and strategies that worked back home don't seem to work here. The last trimester is only a month and a half long, followed by a four month vacation (so people can work the fields). Hopefully I'll have some side projects (tree planting, community gardens, world map painting) to keep me occupied.

Jessi's work has really taken form the past couple of months two, with three girls clubs in full swing amidst other community activities. Last weekend we celebrated International Women's Day (March 8th) which is a really big deal in Burkina and throughout Africa. Jessi's dance club performed in the cultural night and marched in the parade, along with her leadership club. It was a lot of fun to see her girls dance for culture night and to see just how much they enjoy working with Jessi. The parade was typical burkina style with hundreds of people marching behind signs, but they all had to stand under the sun for nearly six hours until the parade started. Yikes! Her work (particularly organizing everything) can be very frustrating and tiring at times, and most people here don't realize it. But she's doing a good job and I know that her actual activities with the girls are rewarding.

Have enjoyed cooking with potatoes for the past two months. I guess we really are midwesterners! Mashed potatoes, roasted potatoes, fried, everything. Its a nice changeup, but it's already coming to an end. The first wave of the mango season has arrived. Mangos are everywhere and cheap (about 8 cents for a nice one), which is good news for me but a lot less exciting to Jessi. Our taste buds have evolved in Burkina, and we find now that we don't eat tô (the staple starch of Burkina) once a week that we authentically crave it (though not at the same level as Mabe's around the garden pizza or a burrito de chicharones).

Burkina is preparing for their elections in November. There are 13 candidates on the ballot I believe, though the incumbant is expected to win. Burkina politics are pretty stable, though a bit slanted (ie the incumbant's party limited presidents to two five year terms, but granted the two term president another two terms since the rule wasn't in place when he ran). Elections here happen the date they are scheduled and are generally seen as fair, with voter turnout compareble to the US, all of which is rare for West Africa (see millitary coup in Niger, etc.), so we have to give them credit for that.

Have enjoyed emails, letters and packages. Last week's delivery of Linda's sugar cookies was particularly wonderful! Thank you all. We just marked 9 months in country, which means 18 to go. The whole experience is very challenging but we are trying to make the most out of it for us and the people here. Thank you all for your support and prayers.