Unfortunate Game 7...

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Heya everybody,
So I am in mourning like the rest of Canada today. Our Oilers couldn't pull it off in game 7. 😞 It's an unfortunate result, and my condolences go out to Krissy in particular who must live in Edmonton with what is surely a very sour group of citizens. Do you think Hallmark makes a "sorry your team choked" card?

Well that's the bad news. Now on to the good news!

Stuff in the field went well. All good things to report on that front. I got to check out a dry-season garden that we've been talking about here for some time, so I took tons of pics and the engineer there and I discussed some possible improvements. Also, I got to hang out with some Australians I met there, and took some evening walks with them which was nice. The best evening was spent on the top of a sand dune until 2 am just chatting (he's married, don't get excited). I really miss moments like that and having people to hang out with. It was definitely a highlight of my visit.

So yesterday I came back to town, and after only 3 days at camp I was already blown away by the difference in living conditions here. The food in Ouaga is fresh, we get salad and fruit and good veggies and yummy things that they don't get in camp. And of the camps I've been to, some are better (more developped let's say) than others, so I'm developing a bit of a hierarchy of places I stay. This definitely makes me believe that I will undergo some serious culture shock upon returning to Canada. I mean, even the best place here isn't quite as good as home, so compared to bush living, Canada is a place of unimaginable luxury.

To celebrate my return to city life, I decided to make the most of having the guest house to myself. I had a huge dinner, and ate cookies and other junk, drank half a bottle of Bordeaux and watched 8 episodes of Sex and the City in my pyjamas. It was sublime. It's nights like that where being alone is EXACTLY what you want, and including or considering anyone else seems impossible or annoying. I think it's right up there with the time The LK and I ordered in Thai food and watched the entire BBC Pride and Prejudice in one sitting. Single living at it's best. 😊

Today I had my first local language class, learning the main Burkinabe dialect (there are over 70 different ones) called Moore - pronounced "More-ay". I have been trying to flex my linguistic muscle a bit at the office, and the staff are definitely amused by my efforts. As long as I don't try to convince anyone there are condoms in their food, we should be ok!

**For those of you who haven't heard that story, ask the team**

I'm looking into buying some traditional fabric and making one typical Burkinabe outfit, just for posterity. I've made friends with a local girl (named Aicha) who has agreed to teach me how to tie my hair in a scarf like they do here, which is brilliant for keeping your hair off your neck in the heat! We've got plans to go out on Saturday night with some friends of hers, so I'm going to really get a chance to mingle with some locals for the first time. This is VERY exciting! 😊 I feel like it's important for me to try to immerse myself in the local culture as much as possible, and really learn about it. There's a lot of typical stuff around to buy, but I haven't really been interested in any of it to this point. There are the typical statues and bronzes and stuff like that, but I'm just not really feeling it. I don't want to buy "African stuff" just because I feel like I should, then come back to Canada with a house full of stuff I don't need. The one thing I found that I have fallen in love with and must look into buying is a CAMEL SADDLE CUSHION. I saw one at a restaurant here that doubles as a bit of a local gallery, and they had a chair with these huge leather cushions and I just loved them. I think it looks amazing and is something absolutely no one else will have. Unfortunately I'm sure it's pretty expensive. However, since I'm not really interested in bringing back loads of stuff, I think it's worth it to buy just a couple of nice pieces that I really like. I'll keep you posted on how much these things go for.

Congrats to the Scottish on the weekend win against the Indians. Woot! Sounds like Pub Golf was also a riot; definitely sorry to miss it. Possible to do a winter round at Christmas? Canal Golf maybe??? Or curling! Pretty much any excuse to hang out with the girls and drink beer is good with me. Sounds like Balchin is trying to take over my title as reigning Duchess. Just remember, Balchin, if there are no pics it didn't happen! 😊

Anyway, I hope you're all doing super. Much love to all of you and be sure to keep in touch!

xoxoxo
-Brownie

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Comments

[Hans/Frans]

Camels...I love camels!
Oh good gracious, I love to hear about the camels...even if it is just camel saddles that ur talking about. simply the word camel gets me all happy and excited! anyways, take care and enjoy that boxset. Love H/F xoxo.

[Balchin]

Brownie, It still amazes me that you get all the gosip all the way on the other side of the world.... as for pictures .... people did have cameras and apparently they will be posted on the website, after they have been screened of course, heavily screened i'm hoping haha. You'll get an idea of what pub golf was like. Wish you were there!!