Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Language Training

Torrential rains have become my one longing while sitting here in West Africa. I can remember just not too long ago sitting at home in Michigan and almost freezing. Now I think thqt I'll never feel that way again. The temperature here ranges (lately) from high 80s to over 103. It's just rediculous. But that is just something that I will get used to I guess, like the whole living while being drenched in sweat.

But lately all I worry about is my language training. It's extremely difficult. And though my host mother constantly reassures me that I am getting better and am doing fine. It's still hard to believe her when I go to language class and don't understand him. All we have been doing lately is translations. But oh well I'm getting better I guess. lol.

Friday, June 26, 2009

My host family is great

I have a large family who take great care of me. Aminata, my psedo mom, is very patient with me as I'm learning french. (these french keyboards all need to go away though, they're awful). I've been sick for a while. I just now got better finally eating solids. The rainy season has started which is awesome, 100+ degree temps were torture. Now it's 80 and it actually feels cold.

Monday, June 15, 2009

My First Experience in an Internet Cafe

I was taken to a new fantastic place here in Ouahigoya, Burkina Faso. As I sweat over my keyboard (because I can plug in my computer which is amazing, and not have to use the AZERTY keyboard). Anyway, I have gotten used to sweating, we all have. It's hot, and it's the rainy season. But there isn't a lot of rain. It's a rather odd thing to think about. The sun isn't too brutal, though I am getting a little darker. But for now I've just been trying to learn, even though my head feels like it is going to explode with the amount of information I am having to learn.


By the way my address here in Burkina Faso is:

Kyle Hawk, PCT
01 BP 6031
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Niamey, Niger.

I am currently in a hotel in Niamey, Niger... and the reason being... well that is today's post:

I got into the Philadelphia last night at around midnight. In the morning I got up early. Ate breakfast and slowly began to become acquainted to the other volunteers that I am here with. Of which ALL ARE COMPLETELY AMAZING. I then finished some paperwork, got a yellow fever shot, and explored Philadelphia for a while, snapping some pictures of the Liberty Bell. We then went to the airport to jump a flight to Paris (which was delayed by an hour). After getting to Paris we then re-went through security and went to our gate. Where we waited some more. But that flight actually left on time. Where we then headed to Niamey, Niger to "make a quick stop to drop off some people" then on to Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. But alas with my luck (or by some unbeknown curse) one of the engines on the plane had some trouble. So we waited on the plane for 3 hours to find out that we were stuck in Niger. This at first was awful, it was HOT and they took our passports because we didn't have visas. But we ended up in a nice hotel on Air France's dime. So everything is all better and tomorrow we'll be on our way to Ouaga!

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

So I'm sitting here at the nice Pittsburgh airport waiting on a flight to Philadelphia. Total time today that has been spent not traveling to Philly is at 7 hours and counting (Neil and I have estimated 8.5 total will be spent delayed). By the way, Neil Lepsetz, is another Burkina bound Peace Corps member (who is also going to teach math as well, woot!) who by chance was on my flight to Philly that was delayed, and we by happen chance found each other in the hussle and bussle of trying to figure out "What was actually going to happen to us."

Today's Journey:
6:40 - Arrive at Kalamazoo International Airport.
8:13 - Left Kalamazoo for Detroit.
9:30 - Arrived at Detroit.
...
Where I then spent an hour delay. That then turned into a two hour delay.
12:00 (ish) - Finally took off from Detroit to Philadelphia.
Then our pilot proceeded to fly aimlessly around Philly for 30 minutes. Running out of fuel decided to land in Pittsburgh. Neil and I became aquainted and then proceeded to probe SATO (our Peace Corps travel agency for an hour). Having then the option to fly back to Detroit or take a Coach Bus. Both options leaving us very late in the evening. And frankly neither of us enjoying the service of the Delta Airline (though the stewardesses were very nice, and one let me use her cell phone, but overall helpful and I appreciated it.)

Finally though we came to the conclusion that Delta Airline is not the most friendly airline (as per our situation). So now we are both sitting here waiting for our new flight through U.S. Airlines which (was delayed as well, but still actually going), and is to be departing soon at 6:45PM.

So. I'm at the airport posting this. So that everyone at home can know. The moral to the story is: As Peace Corps volunteers. One must be very flexible.

Update:
I finally made it to Philadelpia to the Hampton Inn downtown. Though it was 12 hours behind schedule, missing all of the beginning introductions and group activities. Missed the opportunity to finish paperwork (Bummer). But now it's the early morning, the morning before the "long" flights.

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Getting Ready

Please bear with me as this is my first attempt at a blog. I am no expert. But I will learn how to most effieciently present information for you, the people who will be following my "Adventure in Burkina Faso". Thank you and enjoy.

I have been invited to serve in Burkina Faso through the Peace Corps. My mission that I have accepted is to teach mathematics (and being a french speaking country, teaching in french as well). At the bottom I have written what I receieved. So you don't have to do the math, that is 27 months total. 3 months of training, and 24 months (2 years) of service. I am very excited as of this moment to be able to serve in this fashion. I am nervous as well.

My Assignment
Country: Burkina Faso
(Burkina Faso is a combination of the two main African languages of Burkina Faso, Morré and Doula. Burkina is Morré for "Honorable Men" and Faso is Doula for "Land", so it is translated as "Land of Honorable Men" in English)
Program: Secondary Education
(High School, grades 6th to 12th)
Job Title: Math Teacher
(to teach all subjects, so far as I know; Algebra, Geometry, etc. And also class sizes that could range anywhere from 40 to 150 students, with nothing more than a chalkboard to teach with)
Dates of Service: August 28th, 2009 - August 27th, 2011

Orientation Dates: June 9th, 2009

Pre-Service Training: June 11th, 2009 - August 28th, 2009