Heading into the countryside

For the past weeks my schedule has been, quite pleasantly, unwavering: wake, yoga, baguette, work, water, rice, work, dance, water. Excitement comes in the form of a new sauce for the local couscous made of ground Palm seeds, or a visit to the tailors to get a dress and jacket (bien sûr!) made from local fabrics. So, needless to say, I’m feeling relaxed, happy and at ease here. There is, inevitably, the occasional bump in the road when cultural worldviews collide and I have to explain how ‘we do things’ in Europe/ Canada. In hindsight, it is humorous to explain that I a) am not available for marriage to any and all men, b) do indeed like to and will work all 8 hours of my work day, c) cannot bring you, your rabbits, or your baby back to Europe/ Canada with me, d) do not need an electronic scale, bag of lemons, or a door mat, but thanks for offering none the less.

But, like everything here, this is all going to change, as I am heading into the ‘field’ for the next 3 weeks: myself and 4 colleagues are off to the markets! Overcoming, hopefully, the language (local ethnic and not French)  differences, we  will be taking surveys about project impacts and talking to property owners already on the sites. Already some interesting questions about informal property rights and eligibility have arose.

We’ll be in two regions of Burkina, one in the drier North, the other in the lush South, staying in the bigger towns but visiting a new market each day in villages of less than 5000 people.  Accommodation and food will be rather basic, but I’ve been assured by my colleagues that the regions are lovely and there is lots to see and discover.. I just hope there is enough time to be a bit of a tourist 🙂

More stories to come…