Monday, November 15, 2010
Two Years in a Tropical Paradise
Written by
Tana
Voila! Here are our custom-tailored traditional Burkina outfits. That’s right, you guessed it. They’re shrimp themed.
Site announcements today. Looks like we’re headed to the lush southwest region of Burkina in mid-December. We’re replacing a third-year volunteer and JMU grad who, unbeknownst to both of them, shared her freshman dorm Hillside Hall with Chad in 2004. So we’ll be carrying on the JMU torch in our village for the third and fourth year. We’re now the proud caretakers of her dog Buddha.
We’ll be living in Banfora, known by tourists for its waterfalls, sugarcane fields, luxurious boutiques, and rock formations. The sugar cubes we put in our tea every morning come from this area.
We will be living in a five-room “mansion” in the chief’s compound. There is a market nearby, a cashew processing business, and a mango association that exports to Europe. That’s where Chad will be working to improve accounting, management, hygiene, and methods of production. Mangoes are a big deal here, and our village is apparently the place to be for its annual mango festival.
I will be working at the local health clinic, teaching young people about family planning, and exploring creative ways to market health information. We may be working jointly on projects in the community too.
Our closest neighbors from training will be Anne, Steven, and Lindsy, as well as some current volunteers. We may leave paradise occasionally and visit nearby Ghana or see our buddies living among the elephants in Eastern Burkina.
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4 comments:
I miss you both so much! The updates are continuing at a great pace and each one makes us smile. The shrimp themed outfits are great! And when is the mango festival? It sounds like a lot of fun!
Oh!!! I was reading oddee today...have you all seen the second statue? I am really curious to know!
http://www.oddee.com/item_97263.aspx
When is the mango festival? I'm going to have to start saving for those plane tickets. Love, Carson
Sup Carson, we're not sure when the mango festival is, but we will have more info once we get to site.
Olivia, I have saved that picture and I will not leave the country until I find where that statue is. Mark my words.
-Chad
Chad
Do they have like a Cashew festival? Cashews are my favorite thing in the world. That sorta makes up for the lack of FIJI-ness.
Love you guys - Dad (Ken)
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