Kaya

Team Burkina unites! Finally we spent a weekend getting to know the other members of EWB here in Burkina. It was great to get a change of scene from Bobo and to see a different part of the country. It really felt like a different part of the country or even a different country as people speak Moore instead of Dioula, so I was unable to really connect with people in the town. We were in a smaller town called Kaya to the north of Ouaga, staying in a hotel that over looks a “big” lake of brown water, small lake by Canadian standards. Those that were brave or crazy went for a swim. Personally I’m a little hesitant for brown water especially when I can’t see my hand under the surface. We nearly lost a team member as he walked in the water and fell into a deep hole. Good thing there was nothing in the hole waiting for him! Kaya is known for it's meat and leather work. We treated ourselves to some of the best roasted chicken and beef kabobs I have eaten in a long time and a tour of the handicraft market (though I didn't buy anything)! It was also just great to get to know each other and to start to build a feeling friendship and as team.

During our sessions we had some unexpected guests that really wanted to be our friends, that or eat us! This is the first time in my life to be sitting a couple feet from a vulture that looms overhead. Having their shifty eyes on you is a strange feeling. We also had the squeaky interruptions of the passing Guinea fowl or the agreement or disagreement to what we had to say by the occasional goat. We discovered, though unfortunate for Simon, that there is a kind of insect that when it passes on your skin it deposits a strange acid like substance. Simon woke to discover that he had blisters on his neck. Not a pretty sight! But luckily it heals relatively fast. And during our problem solving session we tried to solve a tricky, fast and strange looking problem, unfortunately unsuccessfully. The commotion was caused by the weirdest looking bug I have seen. It’s kind of like a crayfish, out of water though, with lots of legs and a transparent brown colour. Maybe the acid depositing insect…I didn’t stick around to find out!

In the evenings we lounged down by the lake drinking tea and watching the stars. Life is pretty good!