Axelle and I were in Ouaga this weekend (we left on Saturday at 7am to come back on Sunday at 3pm), and we stayed at a hotel downtown that her friend manages... He is Burkinabe but went to school with Axelle in Quebec, where they became very good friends. He let us stay there for free (Thank you Omar!!), and insisted on us coming back to stay this week for my last week in Burkina. What a great guy. We will surely be taking him out to dinner this weekend to thank him.
About a block away from the Continental hotel (where we were staying), is the big Marina Market in Ouaga. A grocery store!! I was so excited that I insisted that Axelle and i go inside to take a peek. At this point, my willpower is fully charged and ready to fight the urge to spend.
This grocery store must be the largest I've ever seen in Burkina... it is two stories, with a third storey not in use... they're probably waiting to expand their product line. It took me a good 30 minutes of browsing (with a big huge smile on my face, might I add...) just to finish window shoppng the first floor, which is all food and drink.
The second floor is full of housewares, from pool tables to dishes to cooking toys (I call them "toys" because they are to me what Barbies are to a 10 year-old).
An hour later, we emerged from Marina Market in euphoria, with m&m peanuts and at-home waxing kits in tow. how I miss big box stores like Loblaws and Wal-Mart!
After returning to the hotel room, waxing like there's no tomorrow and eating m&m peanuts, Axelle went out for the night and i decided to stay in and rest. I'm glad I did, because I wouldn't have survived the next day... A 4-hour car ride which included me working on my final report the entire time... What a weekend! After finally getting home at 10:30pm, Axelle plopped into bed (she had slept an entire 5 hours in three days), and I kept working until about midnight...
This week is incredinly important:
Monday I have to finish the Marketing plan and perfect it with Mme. Drabo (no, she still hasn't been able to sit down with me and go through the entire final product. Very annoying - she's spread herself too thin). I will also be sending the final report to my organisation (which I finished Sunday evening).
Tuesday we prepare for the meeting on Wednesday all day. Documenting any and all the contributions I've made suring this internship, making sure all ends are tied tightly. This is when I will reinforce any suggestions I've already made regarding developing or improving the organisation... One of them being the fact that Mme. Drabo needs an assistant of some sort...
Wednesday morning at 9am (5am Ottawa time), I have my final internship meeting with the regional director for WUSC in Burkina, with Mme. Drabo, her advisor, the administration and other executives from AVOH. It will be good. I can't wait.
Wednesday night I will surely be preparing for my departure on Thursday... I've already sold my cell phone to Nathalie (with the two SIM cards) for 10,000 Fcfa's, and I've also given her a few pairs of shoes and pieces of clothing that I know i will never wear in Canada. She was very happy when I gave them to her and I know she will use them much more than I, or any of my friends in Canada would.
Thursday we leave Bobo for good. I have to admit i will really miss this place: it is like Ottawa... In comparison, Ouaga is like Toronto, and funny enough, the distance between Bobo and Ouaga is the same between Ottawa and Toronto - 375km's. Bobo is clean, quiet, and beautiful. Lots of green and gorgeous landscapes, as well as enough people and businesses to keep it interesting, entertainment-wise.
Anyways, I could write pages and pages on how wonderful Bobo is (perfect climate, great people, etc...) but I'll save that for when I see you all. Not even 10 days!
Wish me luck for the meeting on Wednesday!!
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