Letter to Tom + Miriam dated 18 Nov 06

Dear Tom + Miriam

Hey guys, how's it going? I know its been a while since I've written and I've been sitting on several letters meant for people in the states, but have been lazy about getting them posted.

The past few weeks have been busy and I'll give that as my main reason for not writing or posting on the blog. The last weekend of October I went to Ouaga to try get some last minute paperwork for a proposal finished and while I was in town I went to SIAO. SIAO is a french acronym for something artisan but try to give a brief description is better. Its an inter-Africa art show. From almost every country in Africa, artisans come and display, selling exchanging their local art, products, and jewelry. It’s a pretty big deal and only happens once every two years and always in Burkina. Why Burkina(?) no clue but its been here every edition and they actually do a pretty good job. The center its held at is impressive by Burkinabe standards. Its modern, its clean and the selection of various brochette stands is excellent. The array of items was initially boggling, but after a thorough run through, the duplicates items were everywhere. The prices were barterable + I don't think I got ripped off too heavily for what I bought. I've become too stingy w/ my money here, so I parted reluctantly w/ what I had, so there'll be no boxes of African art flooding American doorsteps anytime soon. Frankly, because the quality of items just wasn't that impressive. Nonetheless, if was neat to see the different countries + their items displayed. Some of the really real things, like sculptures, in brass were too impractical to send anyway.

I did decide to go to the adjacent site of the Burkinabe Artisan Village located next door to the SIAO site. Many of the same items at SIAO come from this adjacent site, but at the village they're cheaper. There were some Taureg artisans there that do some interesting work w/ leather covered boxes that a friend of mine is getting a rather large chest made from. Having [a] chest made, depending on the design + material, can go from $150 to $300 (and above). I figured why not have one made for my self + use it as checked baggage for my departure. So I ordered one to be made w/a drawer at the bottom + a flat top in case of need as a coffee table or such. It'll cost me about $200 and hopefully w/ come out well. I'll take a picture of it when its finished in about 2 weeks. The Artisan village will probably be where I go for things to bring back to the states w/ me next time. Well, I hope this letter found you both well + happy in Wisconsin. Have either [of] you gotton to sail w/ Mark + Joy yet?

I'm contemplating on trying to visit again next June, but it'll depend if I have enough vacation time saved.

Well, that's enough for now. Hope you're doing well + say to Jayne + Steve for me. Take care.

Hello, back again

Surprise, Surprise I'm back again, but just for some additional thanks and info on my ghana trip. Hopefully you all are having a blistery winter like we are here. ;-)Yep, it got all the way down to 60 last night and I had to put on a sheet AND a towel for cover to keep warm. Pretty frickin cold if you tell me. ;-)

Okay, I lucked out again and got another awesome package, this time from my folks who sent all sorts of goodies for Xmas. The real kicker that I've been showing off to everyone that I've seen(including the janitor) is the photo from the June wedding of my cousin, in which nearly everyone on my mom's side of the family attended. It's an awesome photo of everyone and I was really tickled to get it. Plenty of art supplies to keep me buzy, so I'll take the hint to get buzy. :-)
Oh, for those who recieved sketches this last batch, feel free to post them if you have the ability.

umm, kay. Today was super buzy and I'm still needing to do things tomorrow before heading back to village. But today dealt with doing alot of logistical things for our Ghana trip coming up. i.e. visas, transport, hotels, etc. Not everything is solid but in better condition than before. I also did some work that's been waiting for my village in regards of copying info and preparig letters and such. Pretty boring, really, but the necessary stuff for training.
I also picked up a chest that I ordered from a Taureg. It looks pretty good actually, except for a little change I want to do to the drawers. I think it'll be really pretty to have. I'll take a photo after it's all done and post it.

More on the Ghana trip. My intention in going in really pretty simple. Go the beach, relax, look at the water, eat some lobster as often as possible. Come home. Some of the other volunteers, a little more spry than me, are planning to explore the sites and really soak in the sites. I have to admit, this time around, I'm not too interested in doing that. I might grow some interest when I get down there, due to the historical signifigance of the area because of slavery, and I might just want a lobster. Who knows. From what I heard, Ghana is really pretty so I'll take photo's there too for you all. After those photo's of course you'll probably stop feeling sorry for me and stop sending me goodies, but I'll run the risk. :-)

Another update, I've been elected onto another committee, ironically, called the AIDS Task Force(ATF). It's being implemented to help reinforce activities agains AIDS throughout every sector of PeaceCorps Burkina. A fellow PCV, Jaime, is helping me set up the committee. The funny thing, for me, is that the name of the committee is so militaristic, I can't help to think we should all come up with ridiculous titles for our positions within the ATF. I'll call Jaime, all omnipotent chief general of the world, while my title is Master Commander of all that is kind and good. What do you think? Too much? Ah, well. I can always be a warlord in my village, when I get bored.

Well, that's enough drivel from me. Hope you guys are doing well, and hopefully I'll get the rest of the letters out soon. Later
L

Happy Holidays!

Hey guys, I know it's been a while, but it's for a good reason. I've actually been buzy and that's good right? Well, I sent out some letters about 10 days ago, and some from a previous batch actually got returned for bad addresses(sorry dave). So, I'm trying to get a few more out before the holidays to wish you all good times and good spirits. I did get a few very pleasant surprised in the mail when I arrive a couple days ago. Some excellent friends and family sent some very welcome care packages. My dear sailing club friends Jen and Frank sent an awesome package filled with letters, mags and goodies. I received another thoughtful package from Dave, Elena and their friend Alex. A cool associate of Dave's who felt like joining in on the fun and generosity. Thanks so much! The chocolate covered blueberries were an incredible treat that I shared with many other volunteers(just too good to have alone). The hairpins are just what I need now that my hair has grown back! You guys are great!
I also received a package from my very thoughtful, cool, super sis, Kathy and her husband Donny. The books look great and arrived just in time as my reading list was getting low. The chocolate goodies made many a folk grown with envy, until I shared the little debbie treats. YUM.
It was an excellent way to start the month of December and the holiday season and I'm very grateful. I'm always humbled when I get the packages you all send, and more than once have people mentioned, "man, your family/friends love you!"
I usually tell them, that "I'm just soooo cool, of course." But, I really know I'm about the luckiest person around to have the friend and family that I do.

Okay, besides that, you might be wondering what the heck I've been doing for the past month or so. Well, I planned on saving the world by Thanksgiving but that got put on hold due to a hangnail and PMS. Soooo, I guess I'm going to have to reschedule that for next month after New Years, because of the required hangover. In between bouts of digestive caca(literally) and moments of motivation(figuratively). I really did get some work done.

I think last I blogged was during our mid-service training that was supposed to motivate and celebrate our successes. Wellll, unfortunately, it didn't quite do that for me, but thankfully wasn't the only one who felt that way(Misery looooves company). Realizing that I wasn't the only one who didn't think they were the PeaceCorps volunteer we all romanticize about, actually made me feel better about some of the situations I've had to deal with so far. Any way, I've gotten a little better perspective on my service so far and there's nothing left to do but continue on.
Sooo, what work have i been doing? Well, I have been showing a HIV/AIDS video and doing sensibiizations around my village, the schools, and the market. It's a video made for, by, and in Africa countries. It consists of small sketches that last about 4-8 minutes and each confront a different aspect of dealing with HIV/AIDS. It's a really good discussion tool and villagers love to watch whatever TV they can a chance at. I've gotten some local guys to lead the discussions who've I worked with before and it's been a decent experience, well, except for the guy I've had to rent the equipment from to use at all the locales. Having to wake him up at 1pm to go to work doesn't endear me to him at all.
I've also been training local literate villagers on how to do proposals themselves in order to search and carry out projects for their communities themselves. It's taking a little more time than I scheduled but it still has some good potential.

Work at the Clinic with the head nurse and pres of the health committee is status quo. No real change except they have started to make the mud bricks on which to repair my house that fell down. So that's progress. I should hopefully return to my original house by January.

Other good news, I have neighbors!!! the closest is now only 25k away and the next is 30k. Very cool. I'm excited to have these guys around and hopefully we'll be to get some really good collaboration within our village going. I met them all this last week and they all seem nice and good company.

Next thing going on is computer training for the villagers doing the proposals and finalizing the proposals for potential NGO's. After that I plan on going to Ghana for Xmas, no details on that yet. I'll write some more tomorrow hopefully, but it's late and I need sleep. Thankfully, another buzy day tomorrow too. Take care for now and Happy Holidays!!!!
L