Red Soil. When it hasn't rained in a while (which is usual during the hot season - March July 40 degree average), you see clouds of red dust all over the place... especially when you're on a busy, unpaved road.
I wore white all day on the 13th and so far, surprisingly, I've managed to keep it clean. Except for the massive red mark on my right pant leg... where did than come from??
The women in BF are absolutely beautiful. the women who works at the hotel has the nicest feet I've ever seen - prefectly painted toe nails and never dry... like she gets a pedicure every morning. African dresses are equally impressive... The most beautiful materials (most of them I couldn't wear - too many different colours, but they are still absolutely gorgeous) and they're all tailor made... two pieces seem to be the trend here.
The food. It is great. It's super cheap too. I bought izza - REAL ITALIAN PIZZA - for $1.70. and I had a half litre of french wine for $6. I love this place. I've budgeted myself $10,000cfa ($20 dollars) per day, since that's what WUSC gave me to spend... This is going to be easy!!
Tiolets. They don't have bowl covers. I don't mind. Makes things easier. The tile work is always really beautiful in the washrooms here too... small squares, lots of mosaics... Flushing the tiolet is impressive... Like a mini-waterfall... very efficient.
We also went to the Canadian embassy... it smells like Canada. Makes me miss it already... until I see the "wine for $6" sign... Then I'm happy again. Just kidding?
My first culture shock: When we were in the waiting room of the embassy, a Burkinabe came to the front counter and said hello to each and every one of us and shook all of our hands... I was waiting for him to say something like "follow me!"... but nothing. He really just wanted to say "bonjour!" to everyone... I find not enough of us do that in Canada... we're so cold if you think about it... So I'm going to do try to do it when I get back - probably won't work.
Jet lag is really getting to me.. although I tried to take precautions to avoid it, like making sure I slept and stayed awake on the right flights on the way here. I almost fell asleep while in a meeting with the "chef d'aide" of the Canadian Embassy... or maybe I was falling asleep because of his monotone-low-talker 4 hour speech about.... I forget. I miss Red Bull.
Today (the 14th), I went to get my feet measured to get some custom shoes made for a whopping $6... When the little Burkinabe shoe maker measured my foot on a piece of cardboard with a crayola, I almost had to pick his jaw up off the ground afterwards. I don't think he's ever seen a foot that big... especially on a girl. It made me feel really great. About my feet. They're cute though - I got them in beige leather... kind of like comfy gladiator sandals, and they'll last me forever... Hand made and all.
I'm still trying to figure out my cell phone. I'm keeping my Rogers SIM card out since I know they'll try to weasel out some "roaming charges" if I leave it in. I bought a chip here at "Telmob" but it won't work since my Blackberry needs to be unlocked. I'm working on getting a cell phone from my colleague's friend. He's got a few phones handy and is willing to give/sell them for cheap.. just something I can text with, since that's what everyone does here. It costs a whole 75 cfa ($0.15CAN)/text to Canada, and anytihng incoming is frreeeeeeeeee!!! I already bought a 5000cfa phone card so I'm not stuck when I get to Bobo-Dioulasso.
I went to a realy African restaurant today... So far we've had French, Italian, Chinese and Lebanese (if you call fries, chicken and gralic tomatoes wrapped up a "Chawarma"... yes - they spell it "Chawarma"...) so we decided to actually eat African... Burkinabe. So we went to "Gracias" and I had "Sauce au feuilles" with "To"(Pictures above)... Interesting. It tasted like plain Grits with spinach, except more tastless. It really is designed for hard-working Burkinabes who are looking for good cheap eats.
I would say, though, that everyone needs to try it. It really is a different kind of food - high in Iron and Fibre and calorie-dense corn. I still prefer my pizza:)
So that's all for now... Tomorrow the plan is to go to the pool at the American Club in the afternoon and soak in the sun since we have it off. Till then be safe and take care!
I wore white all day on the 13th and so far, surprisingly, I've managed to keep it clean. Except for the massive red mark on my right pant leg... where did than come from??
The women in BF are absolutely beautiful. the women who works at the hotel has the nicest feet I've ever seen - prefectly painted toe nails and never dry... like she gets a pedicure every morning. African dresses are equally impressive... The most beautiful materials (most of them I couldn't wear - too many different colours, but they are still absolutely gorgeous) and they're all tailor made... two pieces seem to be the trend here.
The food. It is great. It's super cheap too. I bought izza - REAL ITALIAN PIZZA - for $1.70. and I had a half litre of french wine for $6. I love this place. I've budgeted myself $10,000cfa ($20 dollars) per day, since that's what WUSC gave me to spend... This is going to be easy!!
Tiolets. They don't have bowl covers. I don't mind. Makes things easier. The tile work is always really beautiful in the washrooms here too... small squares, lots of mosaics... Flushing the tiolet is impressive... Like a mini-waterfall... very efficient.
We also went to the Canadian embassy... it smells like Canada. Makes me miss it already... until I see the "wine for $6" sign... Then I'm happy again. Just kidding?
My first culture shock: When we were in the waiting room of the embassy, a Burkinabe came to the front counter and said hello to each and every one of us and shook all of our hands... I was waiting for him to say something like "follow me!"... but nothing. He really just wanted to say "bonjour!" to everyone... I find not enough of us do that in Canada... we're so cold if you think about it... So I'm going to do try to do it when I get back - probably won't work.
Jet lag is really getting to me.. although I tried to take precautions to avoid it, like making sure I slept and stayed awake on the right flights on the way here. I almost fell asleep while in a meeting with the "chef d'aide" of the Canadian Embassy... or maybe I was falling asleep because of his monotone-low-talker 4 hour speech about.... I forget. I miss Red Bull.
Today (the 14th), I went to get my feet measured to get some custom shoes made for a whopping $6... When the little Burkinabe shoe maker measured my foot on a piece of cardboard with a crayola, I almost had to pick his jaw up off the ground afterwards. I don't think he's ever seen a foot that big... especially on a girl. It made me feel really great. About my feet. They're cute though - I got them in beige leather... kind of like comfy gladiator sandals, and they'll last me forever... Hand made and all.
I'm still trying to figure out my cell phone. I'm keeping my Rogers SIM card out since I know they'll try to weasel out some "roaming charges" if I leave it in. I bought a chip here at "Telmob" but it won't work since my Blackberry needs to be unlocked. I'm working on getting a cell phone from my colleague's friend. He's got a few phones handy and is willing to give/sell them for cheap.. just something I can text with, since that's what everyone does here. It costs a whole 75 cfa ($0.15CAN)/text to Canada, and anytihng incoming is frreeeeeeeeee!!! I already bought a 5000cfa phone card so I'm not stuck when I get to Bobo-Dioulasso.
I went to a realy African restaurant today... So far we've had French, Italian, Chinese and Lebanese (if you call fries, chicken and gralic tomatoes wrapped up a "Chawarma"... yes - they spell it "Chawarma"...) so we decided to actually eat African... Burkinabe. So we went to "Gracias" and I had "Sauce au feuilles" with "To"(Pictures above)... Interesting. It tasted like plain Grits with spinach, except more tastless. It really is designed for hard-working Burkinabes who are looking for good cheap eats.
I would say, though, that everyone needs to try it. It really is a different kind of food - high in Iron and Fibre and calorie-dense corn. I still prefer my pizza:)
So that's all for now... Tomorrow the plan is to go to the pool at the American Club in the afternoon and soak in the sun since we have it off. Till then be safe and take care!
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