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During the application process, I did a lot of research about peace corps to ensure this was the journey I wanted to take at this point in my life. I read about the people, history, politics, Health, and culture of Burkina Faso. I mentally prepared myself to live without electricity and running water and as a pescatarian, dietary limitations.
I was ready, so I thought. But things I never considered when I signed up to be a PCV…
Extreme heat and the burning sun
I knew Burkina was hot but 43 celsius was beyond my imagination. Thank goodness for faire la sieste from 12 noon to 3 pm. After spending my mornings at the health clinic, during Sieste all I could do is dip my wrapper in cold water, wrap myself and lie on the floor for three hours. The heat was so draining, I was too weak to swat the flies that covered me.
Cohabitating with bats!
Although I had a nice village house, the gaps between the roof of my house and the cement structure, allowed bats to live with me. Every night as I lay under my mosquito net reading by the light of my kerosene lamp, I would see red eyes flying around me. There were so many bats, the group of them made a faint sound of a helicopter. Somehow, each morning after the bats retreated back up in the ceiling rafters, I would be surprised by all the bat droppings along the sides of my living room walls. That lasted for about one month. I made a trip to the Peace Corps office in Ouagadougou to request for my house to be prepared or I would not return to Ghirgho.
Sharing a ride to Ouaga with un boeuf et poules (chickens) et chevres (goats)
On one trip to Ouaga, I had to endure riding in un camion (truck) with a huge boeuf. Of course, the boeuf entered the truck first and the men managed to tie its legs together to prevent it from standing. I was being directed to get inside and find a seat (the men placed the boeuf in the center of the back of the truck and two benches were placed inside for us humans to sit on). Naturally, I paused and had an internal “what in the world is this” dialogue with myself. After being coaxed, I obliged and found a seat. Next, were the poulets and chevres hoisted on top of the truck along with my bike and belongings of the other passengers. Every few minutes I would stiffen with fear as the boeuf would protest being in that peculiar position.
Showering under the stars
I had an indoor and outdoor douche (shower). At night after having a cup of tea with neighbors, I looked forward to taking a warm bucket bath under the opaque African sky with millions of bright stars that seemed to be so near and clear floating around. It was magical.
When I think about all the things I never considered when I signed up to be a PCV, I am thankful to God that I never had the opportunity to consider them. I may not have embarked on this journey. Things never considered made my experience extraordinary. Even today, I often smile reminiscing about my Peace Corps service in an African village. “The Toughest Job You Will Ever Love!”
