We look like real burkinabè, don’t we ?
In fact, when my blouse was made, it was too fit to wear…
While other girls’ were fluffy…
I asked to make it looser although it was still very tight when it was redone…
So I wasn’t feeling great to wear it this morning.
But ・・・!?
The blouse wasn’t as tight as before!!!
Did I loose weight or the blouse became bigger?
I can’t gain weight though…
Twins!
Koro : village located about 10km from Bobo.
In the old days, Bobo and Dioula people built their village on a hill to protect themselves from enemies despite of inconvenience of daily goods’ transport (food, water, etc). Nowadays, there are construction sites nearby to get the material for concretewith dynamites.
From the top of the hill
Young/Adult villagers live next to their farms because they are usually 15km+ far from Koro or work in towns as trader.
They come back to the village only for the moments of traditional ceremonies like Masque or after harvest.
Many of the people are animists. But now they also believe in Islam or Christianity at the same time.
(although I didn’t hear exactly the explanation…) this is an animism altar. In this village, if twins are born, people believe that it is foreboding (ill-fated) or misfortune. So religious leader(s) sacrifice a rooster on the altar and put its blood on the pots. Furthermore, I am not sure but the one of the twin babies or both can be sacrificed…
My host father
the family's kids
It was a nice experience to have even though I had small difficulties. It was crazy hot. After sunset, it was a bit better but still the heat is always inside of house and it was very hard to sleep because I was sweating just being in a room without doing anything. Besides, no fresh cool water in villages. So I realized how much I am rich and how much water and electricity to keep cool drinks are important... Although, local people were very kind and I was treated very well : eating with other male family members which means treated well in a family, this made me a bit uncomfortable but well what I could do ? I am very stranger here.
Also I realized the importance of family relationships and greetings in burkinabè culture. On the way to somewhere or on the way back to home, people pass by at relatives houses and have some chat. We need to think 1-3 hours more before arriving at the final destination.
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I was lucky to see an annual traditional ceremony: Masque. It is a funeral ceremony when people who are initiated to put traditional masks dance with them to honor some well known ancestors’ death. It is a tradition of people Bobo. It lasts 3 days and poeple drink local beer (dolo) made with red sorghum. Passing by at each house, all most all families offered the beer and « tô » which the daily meal for people in village (during my stay, except 1st two morning, all meals were tô while some other volunteers got rice, spaghetti, juice etc…). That is the normal village family’s food.
Pot de make dolo
I liked the tô although certain volunteers couldn’t eat it because of its strong smell or its taste. I guess the taste is different at each family and I was maybe lucky. The tô is made with maïz (corn) or millet flour. Put it in boiled water and mix them until it get sticky like mochi (Japanese) or pudding. Eat it with okra and green veggies sauce and sometimes with porc or chiken.
making of Tô
Tô that we had at training center
It was already that day in Japan and here in Burkina, it was still 5th at 8 p.m.
My volunteers friends organized a surprising party for me !
I was going to have some beers or something with them on 6th but I didn’t expect something one day before so I was so surprised and also so happy !
By the way, there is a couple (Danish-Norwegian) with their 6 month cute, cute baby (Maika) at this training center till April 13th. The Danish guy studies Dioula for his PhD research in Côte d’Ivoire and his girl friend studies French. Then even they gave me a very cute necklace with beads.
Marlin, Jasper and Maika
Guys putting sands on a truck in front of our dorm
In April 1st, the Burkina group (12 volunteers) traveled from Ouaga to Bobo-Dioulasso where local language training center is located and actually I am going to work for 2 years. It took 5 hours by bus. I was worried about “bus” in Burkina because usually no reserved seats and people get on it as many as possible (of course more than the number of seats) but the bus was luxurious ! Seats are all reserved under AC well actually, we were not supposed to open windows.
What is great at the training center is that I have my own room with own washroom, fan on the ceilings and a double bed!
My classroom
First dinner at the center: Salad・Spaghetti・Banana
Many mango trees at the center’s yard！Can’t wait till they get ready☆ although I eat everyday a mango because it is the time, the happiest time!
