First Class in Two Months!

Yes that is exactly right. Monday was the first time I had a math class since February 17. In between my last class and my first class of April the world has seen the fall of Gaddafi’s government in Libya, an astronomical earthquake in Japan, and the escalation of the crisis in the Ivory Coast (but authorities have arrested Laurent Gbagbo so hopefully we will see that situation end). Amazing really how our singular planet can change so match in such relatively little time.

If you have noticed (or have not), I have not mentioned at all on my blog why I have not been teaching since February. Burkina Faso too has seen its fair share of…change? After the softball tournament I was forced to stay in the Peace Corps medical unit and the day I returned was the first day of student led strikes in an effort to support a fellow student who was mistreated by authorities but the cause was blamed on something different (I won’t go into details but I encourage everyone to read up on it). Since those strikes started there has been a whirlwind of activity.

Schools were closed nationwide for weeks with marches flaring up in every major town throughout the country. Tenkodogo was relatively untouched by the demonstrations for weeks until last week.

The last week of March signaled my close of service conference, or the conference for those volunteers who will be finishing in a short period of time (my official day is July 29). During the conference, tempers in Tenkodogo flared up and as a I result I stayed in Ouaga for an extra week.

During the week in Ouaga other Volunteers and I decided to at least make the most of our situation by doing something in Ouaga. We visited an orphanage, helped our medical team with inventory, and planted moringa trees. Volunteers who are stuck in Ouaga often choose to stay very inactive. There is always work to do in Burkina Faso, no matter where you are, and the four of us (coined the M-Team for our medical inventory work) made the most of our respective situations.

Country wide situations have calmed, and finally we are back in school. Students are very happy to be back, especially those who have major tests at the end of the year. Teachers as well are happy to be back because now we have something to do again! Tenkodogo as a whole is calm and life is returning to normal.

So what has happened the last 7-8 weeks? I’m not really sure. I don’t wish to disclose any more than I have. There is clearly much more that has happened, but I tried to write the dullest, detail-lacking blog entry as possible for two reasons: 1) to encourage you to read up on what has passed here and 2) to let people know that I have not been a ghost the last month. Things happened out of my control and my blog suffered for it