So what is life really like here?

So we have been here for 6 weeks, long enough to get some idea what life is really like in Burkina.  I'm sure that you want to learn a little about day to day life here, so I'll try to share what we have learned.

First, it has to be mentioned that Burkina is pretty diverse, so even though it's labeled as one of the poorest countries in the world, that doesn't mean that no one has any money.  But it does mean that we see some pretty crazy extremes.  The thing that strikes me the most is that the rich and the poor are literally next door in most neighborhoods.

This is a huge house being built not far from ours

The other thing that makes a great first impression is the trash... There are virtually no trash cans of any kind in the city.  Virtually everything is sold in little black plastic bags.  So, when you have eaten the veggies you just got in a little black plastic bag, what do you do with it?  Apparently, throw it in the gutter!  It can't be said that trash is literally everywhere, but it sure seems like it sometimes!  And empty lots often become garbage dumps.  What is done to keep these dumps from overflowing?  The garbage gets burned.... You can imagine how that smells!

An example of garbage dump

Now, don't think for a second that all Burkinabé are dirty.  Despite the lack of facilities, most people put a lot of effort into keeping their home clean.  If they have some money, they might have a nice tiled porch, which they wash every morning til it shines.  Most people live in houses that open onto a dirt courtyard, which they sweep every day.  Have you ever seen clean dirt?  We have!  Of course, there's more to it than just sweeping.  Things like laundry are a daily routine, all done by hand.  Then there is cooking, typically done outside over wood or charcoal.  The cooking itself may not take all day, but the women in a household will often spend much of the day sitting together preparing the vegetables.  Basically, the daily necessities take up most of the day for many Burkinabé.

A street view in one of the poorer areas of town.

Of course, like I said, not everyone is poor!  And it can't be said that Burkinabé aren't industrious.  Everywhere we go, there are little shops and businesses of one kind or another.  This can range from a small store selling cell phones, to a wooden shack selling shirts or bags, to women sitting on the side of the road with baskets of vegetables for sale.  Oh, don't forget the ever-present cafe!  They are called  "maquis" and are literally everywhere.  Some are just a guy with a grill selling beef or pork.  Others specialize in coffee or "expresso".... Still not sure what they mean by that!  Normally, the beverage choices are Lipton tea with ginger or lemon, or Nescafé powdered coffee.  Burkinabé love hanging out with their friends at a cafe (well the men do, seems like the women don't get the opportunity as much, due to the work at home).

A cafe in downtown Bobo.

The commercial area downtown, pictures really don't do justice.

Although I could continue all day long, I'll try to limit this post to just a few more details of life in Burkina.  First, you have never seen as many scooters as there are here!  Cars aren't really rare, but practically everyone has a scooter, they call them motos.  Did I happen to mention that no license is required to drive a moto?  Surprisingly, most people stick to the correct side of the road, and in general yield right of way when necessary.  But.... Compared to what we are used to, it's barely controlled chaos!  And into this mix, throw random goats, donkey carts, barely running taxis, trucks ranging from small to really really big, vans overloaded beyond all belief, and even an occasional camel!  Starting to get the picture?  Maybe a few pictures will help

Keep posted for more to come!