Letter to Joy and Mark

Dear Joy and Mark,
Hey guys how's it going? Just received your very nice package of goodies, and I'm writing to say thank you. Thank you! It was really nice to get it. The book I have been reading by your recommendation, little by little. Its nice little pep talks to get me through the day are just what I need. Sometimes I read the short chapter a few times a day to help internalize it a little more. There are days I'll need it. :)

Your letter was nice and gave me a warm fuzzy, so thanks. The photos are great and make me very anxious to get back and join the fun as soon as I can. Sounds from the recent moves that there's a shift in immigration back to Wisconsin. I really like Wisconsin, so i may be part of that trend in the near future. There's a fellowship program that I'm interested in doing that's located in Milwaukee. I have to finish up my whole tenure here to get it, so we'll see how it goes. It sounds like you guys are loving it up there in Wisconsin. Do you get to visit the other ISC alumni very often?

Things here are going as usual. Today I didn't have much planned besides washing my undies and drying some tomatoes. Pretty exciting, I know, but it allows for time to write and read a lot.

Yesterday, I did kill a black scorpion that was hanging out in my bedroom. It's the first one I've found actually inside my house, so now I'm a little paranoid and on the look out for more. The black ones are the worst kind unfortunately. Supposedly not deadly, but they have the strongest venom that hurts like the dickens. Last night, even though I was tired, I didn't sleep too well, dreaming of scorpions in my bed. Good times. I guess I'm a chicken, but I get paranoid about things climbing around in my bed.

Right now Burkina is in the midst of what could be called an Indian summer. After or near the end of the rainy season, it gets really hot for about 3 weeks and finally cools off for November, December, and January. Cools off meaning it starts getting down in the 60s at night and stays in the 70s or 80s during the day. It's pretty funny to see folks wearing, literally, parkas in the morning and evening to keep warm. All the children and infants will be wearing wool hats, mittens, and scarves. It's pretty cute.

I'll be better acclimatized this year, so I'll probably bundle up a little too, but last year I was still wearing shorts at home to keep from sweating all day. Right now it's about 90 degrees and humid in the middle of October, and I'm hanging out in the shade to keep relatively cool. Just another day in Burkina.

That's it for now. Hope this letter finds you both happy and healthy. Take care of each other and hopefully see you soon.

Always, Laura

Oct. 9, 06

Dear Aunt Mary,
I just recieved you letter and got quite a chuckle from your episode w/the bread-maker. I hope you don't mind, i shared that paragraph w/a friend who also got a kick out of it.
I hope this letter finds you in good spirits and hearlth. My spirit is in...[missing rest of paragraph becuase of damaged letter.]
(I am) at the halfway mark in my service, I've been here for 13 months andif I leave in September, as I hope to, I have just over 12 to go. It's a nice thought, but at the same time perplexing. Mentally, I feel the furthest away from people in the U.S. There are feelings I don't feel able to express fully in letters and there are thoughts I'm unable to place in words, to even begin expressing. It's a boring spot to be in, a rather dull lull in thinking. But I'm working and doing things in my village to pass the time, but my thoughts are scattered.
Part of this, I believe is due to wanting and NOT wanting to come back to the States ASAP. Knowing I would love to see everyone again, but realizing I have no home of my own and the professional goals will have been compromised. Regret would immediately displace any satisfaction of my return and I'd want to come back. Not saying I plan on staing here foreve, heck no, I just waant to prove to myself I can make it now. But, saying and doing are of couse different things. Tomorrow, I would be convinced of an ealy departure or not. I do tend to talk to God at these times.
Saturday morinings are my hiking times. Time for myself, a little away, from village and time for myself to think and/or pray. I usually end up giving myself a pep talk or rationalizing my continued presence here. These mornings are sometimes...[next part is missing because of damaged letter.] (There are) 2 penticostal, and numerous mosques in my town. At the 3 Christian Churches the servon is in Moore(local language) where as the mosques are, of course, Arabic. I've gone to the Catholic one a few times when I'm in town, but have kept to myself. Because for me, Church has always been about me and God, not socializing. That's probably one of the reasons I didn't like any of the Protestant Churches in the States. Wveryone in each other's face before and after the service, never gave any personal time w/God. They annoyed me to say the least.
I really like the time to pray before Mass starts in a Catholic Church. It's like prep time for God. Despite a few differences I have w/the Church, I do prfer it's style of prayer.
Anyway, this Sunday I'm going to the pentacostal church to check it oul Some firends invited me. Should be lots of singing and such and absolutely no peace. Well, hopefully, I'll get some peace on my Satuday morning hike. That's it for now. Hope this finds you well. Take care.
Love,
Laura

Letter from 9/29/06 -- Visitors?

Mary and Jeff,
What do you think of bringing the kids to Africa? Ha! That would be a field trip they'd never forget. Just kidding about the trip. I would love to have visitors but I can't really envision anyone in particular coming despite all the fun facts I've posted on my blog. There have been quite a few volunteers have parents, siblings, and friends visit, and it'd be great to be able to share the real smells and sites of Burkina. However, I think I shot myself in the foot by bitching like a banshee over the difficult lifestyle here.

It is difficult, different and strange compared to the U.S., but definitely a worthwhile experience. At the very least, to appreciate things at home even more. Only so much can be explained and conveyed with words and photos. The smells and sounds pervade the experience. The cacophony of multiple languages being spoken, mixed and understood. The smell of the market and food being prepared in someone's home. The scenes being played out at the clinic daily. The drawn faces of hard work and loss due to death. The beautific smiles and laughter that are no way clearly conveyed with a photo.

Ultimately the feeling of being a foreigner. Being misunderstood. Unable to communicate. Being stared at constantly, being watched and being the center of attention despite your attempt not to. Being harrassed, hasseled and harangued because you're white, all in a joking manner. Those feelings can't be fully communicated and understood until you've been there and felt it for yourself.

So I guess that would be the ultimate challenge. Someone to UPS their ass here to visit. I can envision someone actually putting a barcode on their butt, and stuffing themselves in a care package filled with goodies to last them the two week expedited delivery to Africa. Make sure you put breathing holes in the box. Customs might be a bitch, but just label yourself as "mouthwash" and you should be clear and free. It works for everything else : )

I can't really expect anyone to come here, actually. Ticket prices usually range from $1600-$2600 and that's a tad steep. The incredible amount of care packages I've already received has made me count my blessings several times over already and I couldn't be more ingratiated to all my family and friends. I feel I'm quite wealthy in life indeed, despite my current paycheck.

Anyway, I'm still waiting on the Chinese Buffet to be delivered before I expect anyone to pop up out of a care package : )
Looking forward to the sweet and sour chicken! Hope this finds you all well!
Take care!
Laura

LCupdates

LCupdates
Letter from Laura written 09/29/06
Dear Susan
Hey Suzy, how's it going? Sorry I missed your call the other day. I figured I'd better start writing letter more anyway, be it those phone calls can add up pretty fast. Thanks for calling back by the way. Not too much has changed since we talked last, except a few funny things with my villagers friends.
The other night I was sitting outside at the telecenter with a few locals who've had a little schooling in French & English. We're chatting randomly and they're trying different phrases in English out on me, when all of a sudden one starts belting out in garbled Ebglish the lyrics to "We are the World". The congruity of him singing that song in Africa, and not knowing the meaning of the lyrics, struck me so funny. I kept asking him to keep singing, giggling the whole time., he thought I was laughing at his voice. I couldn't explain my gigglesexactly, but it struck me silly. We moved onto music of Bob Marley and shooting sherifs, which was entertaining also.
Today, anothergoofy Burkinabe offering, I was scheduled to do a sensibilization to a cartier named Teberou. Ususally when I program these I have a friendwho works at the localgovernment office send an official message with starting the time & date that I'll be arriving, so as to facilitate the families/cartier's reception.
Well this morning all was set except the family chief. He had been drinking dolo (locally made wine) for the past two days and has to be coherent enough to attend and organize his cartierr. Thus, the sensibilization was cancelled due to a drunk family chief. Times like these, you can't plan around a nd all you can do is laugh and roll your eyes.
Last Sunday was the beginning of Ramadan. The big Islamic fasting that lasts 30 days. They can only eat before light (4:30 am) and after dark (6:30 pm). What makes this especially difficult, is that this fasting is smack dab in the middle of harvest time. These folks will be working their asses off while going on little or no food. They can only drink water throughout the day. Near the end of the day they walk around in a slight daze, then they get to eat. Immediately after this there is a service in their mosque that usually lasts for 2 hours, then straight to bed where they sleep until 4:00 am. Eat their fill and try to make it through the next day. It's really tough for some.
I'm glad I'm not muslim, but I have a volunteer friend who's village told her they would give her a bull if she would convert. She's still thinking about it.
Well thta's all for now. Hope this finds you in marathon shape and ready yo kick butt.
Good luck and have fun! Talk to you soon.
Love Laura

My friend Aminata

So, if you scroll back a month or so, I wrote about this forced marriage of a friend of mine if village. She's about twenty years old and very smart. She was originally friends with the previous volunteer and somewhat by defact became my friend. This last June, she just finished secondary education and is hoping to take an exam that will allow here to continue onto her equivalent of a high school diploma and possibly going onto university. I know that sounds odd for her to be 20 and still trying to get her diploma, but the way the school system works here, that's the regular age for finishing secondary school(which is about equivalent to our junior high up to about 10th grade). Anyhoo, She was forced to marry a man in her extended "family" or ethnic group, and become his 3rd wife. Which for many women in her close family was a tragic event. Usually, such marriages forces the women to quit school and be relegated to tons of manuel labor and birthing bunches of babies.

Well, after talking to the families, there was a side agreement for the marriage, that if she can continue her studies, then the marriage was approved. Which is cool, not perfect, but better than otherwise. This little tidbit wasn't well known, so I used my Nasara-ish pull and spread that fact wide and quickly to make sure everyone knew and that the family would be shamed if they didn't follow through on this agreement. I hope it works.

However I asked why did he want to marry her if she's going to be going off to school anyway, and he said that he knew that if he didn't marry her, she would go to school and get a job and never come back to that village. So instead, if she was married, she'd have to come back sometimes. He really does like this girl and in a very sweet but rather aggressive move, he wanted to make sure she didn't leave his life. Anything like that in the states would seem crazy, but here it was kinda cute. Thankfully after the wedding I went to visit the couple in his courtyard a few weeks later, and it was nice. I could tell they genuinely liked each other, and openly flirted with one another still. It was a relief to what her life could have been otherwise, so I can't say I'm upset for her. At least not until she takes her exam to continue school. Kind of odd, but totally Burkinabe.

A month later, a slight scary twist occured when Aminata came down with Malaria, a serious case, that threatened her life. I went to visit her during this bout and was genuinely scared for her. The women I saw battling Malaria in it's heightened state, was not the same one I saw the day before. She was bent at odd angles as her body was rigid with pain from the illness. Luckily, she arrived at the CSPS in time and was given the needed treatment. She went home the next day, exhausted but alive. Not all cases like that end up as well. I was pretty relieved.

She takes the exam to continue on with her schooling at the end of this month. Hopefully she's prepared.

Well, that's it for now, hope this finds you all in good spirits and health. Hope you all have a great upcoming holiday season. Take care, and I'll be back in ouaga in about two weeks, probably around the time you guys start recieving the letters.
Later!

L

Hey Happy Days

Hey guys, how's it going? Just about finished with my medical check up in Ouaga and I'll be going back to village tomorrow. In case you were wondering everything looks good, at least in the eyes of the peacecorps. For the first time I have no digestive bacteria at this check up. I'm pretty psyched(just kidding). Um, got my teeth cleaned by a Brazilian dentist who speaks impeccable french(Thank god, i could understand him despite it), so my teeth are temporarily lint free. woo hoo.

Just sent out my lastest batch of letters and hopefully they'll all arrive in good condition with all intended articles. Cross your fingers. I also recieved some kick ass packages in the mail just this week. The first to arrive came from Joy and Mark, so I think the only thing wrong with your address was '6013' instead of needed '6031' as part of the address. The protein bars are perfect and the book sounds pretty good. I started reading the first couple pages and the author sounds like someone I would talk to instead of rolling my eyes at. Thanks, I think I'll enjoy it. It was really nice to hear how you guys are doing. Hopefully you can start ice boat racing this winter to set off the withdrawal of sailing.

A couple days later I recieved two more from my parents and Jayne and Steve. I was really pumped to get both. The books my folks sent arrived just in time. The pickings in our library were getting pretty slim from what books I haven't as of yet read. I'm really stoked to get the orange marmalade too, yum yum yum. The fish filets are a welcome, welcome treat. I've been eating village food for the past few months and the choices of rice or goat meat get a little old after a while. I know I should practice my culinary muscles and figure something out to make with goat meat. But no matter how you try to make it. It's still goat meat and it can be like leather sometimes.
Jayne and steve's package was by all intensive purposes, awesome. The first thing I said when I opened the box was, 'Holyshit!' and then proceeded to cackle with glee. The summer sausage, I'll keep for Thanksgiving or Christmas gatherings here. Wow. There's too much to mention all the little goodies you literally poured in there, but you made such a great effort, I'll almost forgive you for putting my motorcycle in a hoist and trying to make it fly. ;-)~ I looked at the photo's before I read your letter and I was like, what the f***! You and my dad would get along famously, trying odd stunts like that with big toys like yours. (Please don't take that out of context) :-D I'm happy to hear my baby made it through her virgin flight unharmed, thanks taking care of her. Yes, it's a her.
The "Listerine" also made me cackle outrageously, in part, due to the coded packaging, but also due to Dave's recent contribution that arrived not long ago. So now in the transit house, all the volunteers know that my offer of Listerine is usually more than just for mouthwash. Thank you, guys, so much. Thank you.

All you guys have been great and I'm really ready to get this second year started and hopefully have a more productive year. I hope to truly pay you all back with either backrubs or foodstamps. Take your pick. ;-)

Quick responses to comments

Hey guys just got back in ouaga and checked your comments, I'll just post responses to those for now.

Dave, It was a great package, feel free to try other things too! The creamy chicken soup was good, the other one was mostly just water. Um, I'm always game for peanut butter and anything with a substantial bit of protein. If you send beef jerky, DO NOT send Alberto's, please. Jack's Links is good. Thanks sooooo much. I love the pics of Sophia, gorgeous.

Adi, Um I guess the last bunch of envelopes I used are shat, so I'll try to re-enforce the next bunch with tape. I've got 13 letters written and ready to go. Now I just need to tape them. Thanks for letting me know. I just recieved the remains of a returned envelope that I wrote to Jayne and Steve.

Joy, nope same address. You might need to talk to your local post and ensure they've heard of Burkina to begin with. I'll repost the address just in case.

Laura Curvey PCV
S/C: Corps de la Paix
01 BP 6031
Ouagadougou 01
Burkina Faso

Maybe you need to put Africa at the bottom;

Good luck, I'll post more later!
Thanks and miss you guys!