It is now Thursday and Mme. Drabo - the president - Just got back. And it is also 8:30pm at AVOH - I've been here since 7am - and we are still catching each other up on all the work we've been doing. Whils I was here getting printing suppliers, she was in Ghana getting packaging suppliers... C'est manifique!So everything is almost done... We have beautiful packaging, straight from Gahana (and MUCH cheaper and better than the stuff available in this country...) and new improved labels, logo and brochure, all ready for the printing press! What a great achievement. Talk about employment satisfaction. But it's not over 'till Afton gets on the plane - I have to hammer out more events - that AVOH can send representatives to - for the list in the Marketing Plan.
Also, Mme. Drabo had a bunch of work for me to do the minute she got back that couldn't wait - she managed to gain a few exporting partners while she was over there, and needed me to translate some contracts for her. I finished them (good thing I brought my lap top with the north american keyboard that I'm used to) a few hours ago and just took a break from going through the marketing plan with her. So far she loves it and is impressed with the amount of information and research I did... Afton=industrious!
Let's just hope my work.... works!I'm hoping to get a few things done before I leave... It's only two weeks away now! The first thing is, of course, to perfect the marketing plan... That is the crown jewel of this whole experience and I will undoubtedly keep it for future reference. As for the rest, well - I want to launch a website (very basic), get anti-virus for the computers, and refresh Mme. Drabo's IT knowlege... on Word, Exel and internet - before I leave.
Woops - I'll update more in a bit I have to get dropped off at home - they won't let me walk because it's after dark.
*** skip to one day later***
The same evening I wrote the last "mini-udate", I got dropped off at home around 9pm and literally got in, took a shower, changed, (ate leftovers), and went to bed. Systematic exhausted sleep mode. It felt good, to be honest. Today I sent off the contracts I translated as well as translated a few more documents - namely AVOH's list of production equipment needed (which they will send to various NGO's and organisations wanting to donate and help the association) and an e-mail Mme. Drabo wanted to send to an english exporter in Ghana.
We also bought the anti-virus today... We got a great deal considering Mme. Drabo knew the father of the owner of the IT boutique, and remembered him when he was a little "Bobolais" in the middle of our negotiations. On a non-work related note, my Canadian compatriots are in Bobo staying with Axelle and I for the weekend! Aski, Cat, Sarah, Joanie and Allassane are staying in the villa until Sunday, when they go back to Ouaga (and Sarah goes back to Yako)... it's definitely a packed house, but a fun one nonetheless! Tonight, on my walk, I decided to finally buy some food from the lady who sells it on the corner of our street (considering I walk by her every night and she asks me every night, "tu ne veut pas gouter mademoiselle?!", my pruchase was overdue...).
It turns out that for 200fcfa's (0.44$CAN), six people can eat incredibly well! She had made fried bananas (not plantains... so they were really sweet) and "beignets"... a doughnut-type thing. Tomorrow I will be tagging along with our guests to Banfora, an oasis outside of the oasis that is Bobo. a gorgeous clift, waterfall, beach, etc... (keeping in mind this is a land-locked country - thank you glaciers!). We leave at 6am (6 of us in the car, with Allassane, the chauffeur, driving - should be fun for 40 mins!!) and will be back in Bobo for 3pm, just in time for me to get to work for a few hours.
As I sit here at my desk at 1am in Bobo-Dioulasso, it is raining (armageddon) and somehow I find it so peaceful... Everyone in the house is asleep except for me, and Im having the greatest conversation with my sister in Bermuda via Facebook chat. "La vie est belle quand tu es en bonne sante", my taximan said to me today when I asked how he was. It means, "Life is good considering you are healthy"... Word.
So that's about it for this evening. I will surely update some more as this weekend progresses (I WILL be dancing tomorrow evening...) and as next week (my last full week in Bobo!) begins.
Until next time be good, be safe, and take care.
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