Holidays

Its Christmas Eve. Tonight I will attend a Christian Mass with my host family. My host mother is going to play the Wambes (upside down giant dried gourds) and my little sister is promising lots of dancing! Tomorrow the other 32 trainees and I are going to have a small celebration together, and we will all part ways to different villages throughout Burkina Faso on the 26th of December.

I have officially sworn in as a Volunteer and I am excited to begin work in Karfiguela. We have met our host country counterparts, whom we will be working closely with for the next two years. Siaka is energetic and motivated. He will put me in contact with the Ministry of Tourism, the Banfora Guide Association, the 957 residents of Karfiguela, the Chef de Village, the Chef de Terre, the Mayor of Banfora, and many other organizations and people who are anticipating a small business advisor Peace Corps volunteer in the area! I am the first volunteer at the sight, so my biggest concern in the next week will be shopping in the bustling market place in Banfora for all of my household items -- from furniture to candlesticks.

Its hard to believe that there are places where it is snowing right now. If you are in one of them, I hope you enjoy your White Christmas. I'll be dreaming of one and enjoying my Sub-Saharan Christmas.