Happy Independence Day!

This is my second post in 5 days! Not sure if that will ever happen again, but make sure to check out my previous post--it's a long one.

Today's the 4th of July, and it is our (the trainees') plan to have a fête tonight. Supposedly there are going to be hamburgers--sans cheese because it's so expensive when you can find it, lamb on a stick (or brochettes), pasta salad, other vegetables, beer and COKE! Ah Coke, I may have 4 of them. I'm so excited that I might even take another bucket bath before I go. There will also be dancing (Dance with me, Remus!) and other performances from the trainees. It should be entertaining and delicious.

The wedding we all went to on Thursday was a fun cultural experience. I was sick (some gastro-intestinal issues) and so I couldn't eat the food, but mayhaps I will taste the goodness at another Burkinabé wedding some other time in the next two years. The actual ceremony was very official and business-like. No romance, flowers, music, bridesmaids, etc. Just the mayor of Ouahigouya and the bride and groom sitting at a desk at the front of the room, and the guests sitting behind them. The ceremony was in French so I didn't catch all of it, but vows and rings were exchanged, and even a chaste kiss. It was actually kind of cute, sort of like an impromptu wedding at City Hall, except there were at least 100 guests.

The ceremony was held at a nice venue with a small garden (though it was mostly dirt). Pictures were taken, including one of yours truly with the rest of the PC trainees! Then a man (I'd like to call him the Best Man though I don't think that's accurate) recited the bride and groom's love story, and then we ate. Or we watched people eat. I had cold water and Sprite so I was happy. I can't say for sure whether this Burkinabé wedding was sort of "Americanized" because of the groom. I'd like to attend another wedding where both parties are Burkina nationals, just to see if there's more of a difference in ceremony.

Aside from that, not much else is going on. I'm about to go have lunch--a nice omelet sandwich. Hopefully I'll be able to keep les mouches away. There are so many more flies here than in the US! What's the frequency, Kenneth?

Next week we get our site announcements!