We're Not In Burkina Anymore Toto

I've found myself in Ouaga once again, this time for the all-too-fun Mid-Service Health Exam. (Sounds fun, doesn't it). This three-day thrillride of an event features favorites like: Mr. Dentist's FireHose WaterPick, the Brutal Breast Exam (featuring Floppy, the fake boob), Was I Supposed To Bleed That Much?, Hot Damn! I've Lost 15 Pounds and, of course, everyone's favorite The Poop-In-A-Cup Three-Day Relay! Yay!! No, it's not all that bad. Get to hang out a lot and say goodbye (sniff) to some volunteers near and dear to my group. The education group that came in a year before us is leaving in shifts and it's frankly breaking my heart to see them go. They are my group's big brothers and big sisters, despite having a group dynamic polar opposite of our own. So, farewell Jodi, Pei, Elizabeth, Anil, Ian, Kate and Tyeliah! Eat! Eat! Eat like you never have before!

We also got to meet Tyler's parents who are here visiting their lucky son. And HOLY MOLY, did they treat our group nicely. We had dinner at the nicest hotel in Burkina: Hotel Libya (I'll keep political comments to myself on this one). This place isn't just nice, it's CRAZY nice. It looks like nothing else in this country: 10 stories! And guess what? It has elevators!! I took my first elevator ride in 15 months. I felt like I was two again. The food was absolutely AMAZING. Better food than I'd ever get in America, that's for sure (the mushroom sauce on my chicken featured a Michigan favorite: morels!). Of course, I was late to the affair due to the oh so fun state of Burkina taxis (rode on a flat tire for about 15 minutes after getting lost). But I was quickly cheered up by the ambiance, food and of course, the company. Tyler's dad chatted it up with a few of us telling ME specifically how brilliantly my blog is written and asked if I'd ever considered writing as a career. I blushed as he gushed and gushed over my way with the English language, telling me of his conviction that embellishment is a writer's best friend. I couldn't agree more. It was a pleasure meeting you, Tyler's parents.

Next week I'm off to Ouahiguaya to help train the new arrivals (not-yet-volunteers). I'm not ready to be a big sister!! Wish me luck.

Summer Vacation

"School's out! Yay! Wait, that means I have no steady employment."

Welcome to Kara's conversations with herself in her head. It's just like a soap opera minus the kidnappings, romance, and mysterious evil twins, but still chock full of bad dialogue. Before I go any further though, I must profusely thank the future BF trainees that left comments. Not only was that an always welcome ego-booster, but it got me even more excited to meet the new crew! This, of course, is the only thing getting me through the excruciating Training Of Trainers conference I'm experiencing this week. But, it looks like I'll be working 3 weeks of the Stage (training), which'll give me something constructive to do this summer besides planting peanuts and I get to meet the new education volunteers.

In other news, I have declared war on Termite Terrorism. Any way you think I could get Halliburton in here to help me? Right before I was in Ouaga last time, they decided to make a meal out of my cook books. Not appreciated. Luckily, the recipes remained intact, but I was not a happy camper cleaning all that up with a fever well over 102 degrees. Yargh. Please cross your fingers for me that I will return to a termite-free house this week.

Life's been a little rough lately as I seem to be experiencing the infamous "one-year slump". I can't believe I'm actually saying this, but I really miss American culture (and bean burritos, of course). Who woulda thunk it? But, I know this is just a phase. Overall, things are going well here and I'm relieved to have a relatively full schedule this summer to save me from the utter boredom of last year. Thank god this year's trainees will only experience a very small taste of that as they will be placed at site only a month or so before school starts.

And my great "What the hell am I going to do when I get out of here?" search seems to be slowly clarifying itself (just as an emusion slowly separates -- gotta get that chemistry analogy in there). Medicine is very much in the forefront of my mind (yeah, that's news to me too) and I'm basically trying to decide between physician and physician's assistant at this point. Any non-insulting thoughts? All are welcome.