Well, I wish we had more time to provide an update, but we biked into Koudougou today, which is about 15 miles to use the internet for a few hours and do errands. We are happy at our new site and just adjusting to a new home... for the next 2 years.
We wanted to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Africa. And say, please don't hesitate to call. We're 8 hours ahead, and would love to hear from you, even if for only a few minutes.
In other news, check out this link http://ouagadougou.usembassy.gov/newpcvolunteers.html Can you find Ms. Sonia in the front row?
Love you all.
ryan and sonia
December 22, 2007
December 11, 2007
We're officially Peace Corps volunteers!!
Ryan and I had our 'swear in' ceremony on Dec. 7th at the US Ambassy, here in Burkina. We met the Ambassador, the Ministre d'Etat et de la Sante, etc. There were a couple hundred people invited. My host dad even came to the ceremony, which was really cool. I did a speach in Lyélé, the local language we'll be speaking in our village. On Saturday, we went shopping downtown Ouaga(the capital) to get some basis stuff for our house. We had the best time trying to find a taxi that would take a 2 place mattress, us, and the rest of our stuff across town to the PC office. It was quite the adventure, but we made it!
Ryan has been at our site since Sunday. I'll be joining him on Friday, after a 2 day workshop with my counterpart. I can't wait to see our house, meet our neighbors and tour the village. Maintenant en francais. After all, french is the national language in Burkina and all of our messages have been in english!
Ryan et moi avons prevu passer les Fetes dans notre village. Il y a une grande population de catholique au village, alors les gens célèbrent définitivement Noel. On a hate de voir et participer aux célébrations! Mais la buche de Noel, les Jos Louis mison, la tourtiere du lac St-Jean, la neige et les patés a la viande vont beaucoup nous manquer! Nous allons etre avec vous en penséés par contre!
Alors on souhaite un bon temps des Fetes a tout le monde, de la santé et de la joie dans vos coeurs!
Ryan has been at our site since Sunday. I'll be joining him on Friday, after a 2 day workshop with my counterpart. I can't wait to see our house, meet our neighbors and tour the village. Maintenant en francais. After all, french is the national language in Burkina and all of our messages have been in english!
Ryan et moi avons prevu passer les Fetes dans notre village. Il y a une grande population de catholique au village, alors les gens célèbrent définitivement Noel. On a hate de voir et participer aux célébrations! Mais la buche de Noel, les Jos Louis mison, la tourtiere du lac St-Jean, la neige et les patés a la viande vont beaucoup nous manquer! Nous allons etre avec vous en penséés par contre!
Alors on souhaite un bon temps des Fetes a tout le monde, de la santé et de la joie dans vos coeurs!
December 4, 2007
Sonia de Sissamba
After 2 months in village, Sonia has left her host family in Sissamba (or as I call it, Sissysamba). Training is almost over and we swear-in Friday. Then on to the next adventure... this time for 2 years. Stay tuned for more to come.
PS. it rained a little today.
PS. it rained a little today.
November 30, 2007
One week of training to go!
We are in week 8 of training and looking forward to our official swear in next week in Ouagadougou. Then we will be official volunteers in the Peace Corps (Dec 7th). It's amazing how fast time has gone by. In a couple of days we'll mark 2 months in country. And now that the explosive diarrhea and 110 degree temperatures have passed (at least until hte hot season comes in April), life here isn't that bad. We're pretty used to doing our business in a hole in the ground (the communal latrine) and taking our twice fdaily showers via a bucket. But really, the simple life is actually kind of refreshing. All the things we would normally take for granted are a pretty big deal here.
Food wise, there are pretty much 5-6 meals that most families eat. All consist of starchy foods like rice, pasta or potatoes. We don't eat a lot of meat in this region, but do get fish EVERY night. Which is gross. We'll be moving next week to a new region where there will be a lot of fruits, vegitables and pork! Also, our region is known for Dolo, the locally made beer (think homebrew, and warm). So that'll be nice.
The community we'll be moving to and living in is primarily Christian/Catholic region, so they will have a big Noel (Christmas) celebration. So while we'll miss the Peppermint Mochas and last minute shopping, we'll still get to exchange gifts and have a grand feast. Should be an interesting experience to say the least. We'll take lots of photos.
We'll tell you more about our new home when we get there. It's not sounding like we are going to have electricity or running water, but that won't be too bad. Most people rig up a car battery to run a light and charge small electronics... and with my solar panel, I should be able to run a small city.
That's all for now. Wishing you all the best.For those thinking about calling us or sending something in the mail, we have posted the info to the right of the screen. Phone calls are expensive without calling cards, so be forewarned. And packages take 6-8 weeks to get here. So if you are thinking of sending us something (small) maybe try a padded envelope. It's much faster and cheaper.
Takoane (which is Lyele for "until next time")
Ryan and Sonia
Or Abubacar and Amnantou (our Burkina names)
Food wise, there are pretty much 5-6 meals that most families eat. All consist of starchy foods like rice, pasta or potatoes. We don't eat a lot of meat in this region, but do get fish EVERY night. Which is gross. We'll be moving next week to a new region where there will be a lot of fruits, vegitables and pork! Also, our region is known for Dolo, the locally made beer (think homebrew, and warm). So that'll be nice.
The community we'll be moving to and living in is primarily Christian/Catholic region, so they will have a big Noel (Christmas) celebration. So while we'll miss the Peppermint Mochas and last minute shopping, we'll still get to exchange gifts and have a grand feast. Should be an interesting experience to say the least. We'll take lots of photos.
We'll tell you more about our new home when we get there. It's not sounding like we are going to have electricity or running water, but that won't be too bad. Most people rig up a car battery to run a light and charge small electronics... and with my solar panel, I should be able to run a small city.
That's all for now. Wishing you all the best.For those thinking about calling us or sending something in the mail, we have posted the info to the right of the screen. Phone calls are expensive without calling cards, so be forewarned. And packages take 6-8 weeks to get here. So if you are thinking of sending us something (small) maybe try a padded envelope. It's much faster and cheaper.
Takoane (which is Lyele for "until next time")
Ryan and Sonia
Or Abubacar and Amnantou (our Burkina names)
November 22, 2007
Nda Yu! Za Thanksgiving Kimsi... (in Lyélé)
Happy Thanksgiving from us to all of you. We won't be watching any football games today or playing in the rain.... but we will be eating TURKEY! It's about 100F here today in Ouahigouya, Burkina Faso. We're getting ready to prepare an America-style meal tonight. Sonia and I are bringing the garlic mashed potatoes.
Definitely a lot to be thankful for. We're thankful for each other, our families, our friends and to be having this experience in AFRICA! When you live in one of the poorest countries in the world and see what it is really like to live without very much (and still be content), it makes you appreciate everything WE have in America/Canada.
Give each other all a big hug for us. And please watch A LOT of football for me (Ryan).
November 4, 2007
Bon Dimanche!
Hello everyone. the temperture is actually cooling off a bit. Last night I actually felt a little chilly for the first time, if you can believe that.
Things are going well. We're about half way through training at this point. This week on Thursday, we travel to Ouagadougou to find out or official site placement. We are both pretty anxious to find out where we are going to be spending the next two years.
Otherwise, not a lot to report. We have classes for language, technical training, health and culture 6 days a week. Sonia has been learning Moore, while I have been working on the French. All seems to be going well. Depending on where we get placed in the country, we could have to learn yet another language for the local village.
We actually had a Halloween party last week for a much needed moment of US reality.
That's all this week from Burkia Faso. Hope all is well back home whereever that might be.
Things are going well. We're about half way through training at this point. This week on Thursday, we travel to Ouagadougou to find out or official site placement. We are both pretty anxious to find out where we are going to be spending the next two years.
Otherwise, not a lot to report. We have classes for language, technical training, health and culture 6 days a week. Sonia has been learning Moore, while I have been working on the French. All seems to be going well. Depending on where we get placed in the country, we could have to learn yet another language for the local village.
We actually had a Halloween party last week for a much needed moment of US reality.
That's all this week from Burkia Faso. Hope all is well back home whereever that might be.
October 16, 2007
News from Ouahigouya
Things are going well. It has been almost 2 weeks now since we arrived. We are slowly adjusting to the heat and food. I stress, SLOWLY. Sonia and I are each staying in different cities for the next two month, but we get to see each other each week. I am staying with a fairly well to do businessman in the city while she is roughing it out in the local village 10KM from here. I visited here this past weekend and can confirm that she is in good hands.
Not much else to report at the moment. I can't stress that despite the extreme poverty, the Burkinabe people are very nice and welcoming. The heat here is pretty brutal at around 100 - 105 everyday, and it stays pretty warm throughout the night.
More updates to come and evertually pictures.
Here is our running wish list is internested in sending a care package, as a lot of things are really hard to come by here: (with a few updates)
Purell
Instant packets of anything (especially the instance Crystal Light, Gatorade and Teas)
Magazines
Postcards
Dried fruit packs from Trader Joes
Small jams from restaurants
Small ketchup, mustard or Taco Bell sauce packets
Instant oatmeal packets
Ground coffee
Flavored mini non refridgerated coffee creamers
Seasoning packets (taco, sauces, etc.)
Spices
Little fly paper rolls
Pictures of you, us, people, etc.
Good thoughts
Ryan Gallagher, PCT
c/o Corps de la Paix Americain
01 B.P. 6031 Ouagadougou 01
Burkina Faso
(West Africa)
Not much else to report at the moment. I can't stress that despite the extreme poverty, the Burkinabe people are very nice and welcoming. The heat here is pretty brutal at around 100 - 105 everyday, and it stays pretty warm throughout the night.
More updates to come and evertually pictures.
Here is our running wish list is internested in sending a care package, as a lot of things are really hard to come by here: (with a few updates)
Purell
Instant packets of anything (especially the instance Crystal Light, Gatorade and Teas)
Magazines
Postcards
Dried fruit packs from Trader Joes
Small jams from restaurants
Small ketchup, mustard or Taco Bell sauce packets
Instant oatmeal packets
Ground coffee
Flavored mini non refridgerated coffee creamers
Seasoning packets (taco, sauces, etc.)
Spices
Little fly paper rolls
Pictures of you, us, people, etc.
Good thoughts
Ryan Gallagher, PCT
c/o Corps de la Paix Americain
01 B.P. 6031 Ouagadougou 01
Burkina Faso
(West Africa)
October 6, 2007
on a arrivée
just a quite note to let you know that we have made it to Burkina Faso! After almost 2 days of travel, we got in yesterday at 3:30pm... we are staying at a cool compound in Ouagadougou. Much more to come, just the connection is slow and their keyboard has the letters in a different place so it is hard to write a lot right now.
All I have to say is that we are very happy to finally be here. It's like to place you could ever imagine. We'll send pictures soon, so stay tuned.
Signing off from Africa...
All I have to say is that we are very happy to finally be here. It's like to place you could ever imagine. We'll send pictures soon, so stay tuned.
Signing off from Africa...
October 1, 2007
The Adventure Begins!
We are packed and ready to go. First stop, Philadelphia? Hey wait, that's not in Africa. Is it?
We're headed to Philly first to get immunized to the gills and the orientation scoop. Then we're taking the train to New York to catch our flight(s) to Burkina Faso (via Paris and Niger). With any luck we should touch town in HOT Ouagadougou on October 5th. We won't likely have Internet access right away, but will sneak away to the Internet cafe as soon as we can to let you now we've made it.
Who knows what the next 2 1/2 years will have in store? Africa, here we come!
We're headed to Philly first to get immunized to the gills and the orientation scoop. Then we're taking the train to New York to catch our flight(s) to Burkina Faso (via Paris and Niger). With any luck we should touch town in HOT Ouagadougou on October 5th. We won't likely have Internet access right away, but will sneak away to the Internet cafe as soon as we can to let you now we've made it.
Who knows what the next 2 1/2 years will have in store? Africa, here we come!
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