HIV/AIDS Training

Phew, busy week. Last weekend we had our school's New Year's party (better late than never, right). It was kind of bizarre in that it was a party to celebrate the new year (in February) but it was focussed on wishing our proviseur a happy new year and was referred to as his party. But we had a good time: chicken, beer, and speeches. What else can you ask for?

Monday morning we got the permission for the other teachers to come to Djibo with us for the AIDS training. The training has been really interesting so far. First off, it is being done in three languages which slows things down considerably. There are 11 volunteers and 42 Burkinabe participating. Most of it is being run by local members of a group called Actione Sociale so we are just playing a supporting role. In an effort to feel important, we have endowed ourselves with specific job titles. I am the chef des salutations. I have decided that this means I greet everyone and make sure everyone's happy.

Actually, the only unhappy campers I have encountered have been the teachers that I brought. We've found it to be a lot different when you talk money with fonctionaires (civil servants) and the villagois (regular villagers). It seems that somewhere in the transition between social classes a concept of greed is developed that we don't see as often with villagers. For example, when we first told the teachers about the conference their only questions were: will it be in English? and how will we be reimbursed? This second question came with many follow-up inquiries and seemed to be the deciding factor for them. And once here, the attitudes towards money hasn't changed. They are given plenty of money for the three days here but told me they don't want to use their motos to get to the sessions tomorrow morning if they aren't given gas money as well. It is a little frustrating. However, that being said, I have found that they have been some of the best participants of the group, asking really good questions and staying really involved.

Overall, I think the training was good. One of our translators cried at the end and the group from Titao seemed interested in organising something in our village. We had our fair share of unexpected hang-ups but it all worked out in the end. My favorite example of this is with the hotel rooms. Some of the hotel rooms we booked were rented out to other people before we arrived. Our friend, Emilie, brought a man from her village to the conference and he was a little upset when he was told the first night that he would have to share a bed (not just a room, a bed) with another man because there were no more rooms. The next day they had sorted out the trouble and had a room ready for him. So he calls Emilie over and tells her that he doesn't want to be moved to a room by himself because he gets along really well with this other guy and they are friends. Meanwhile, the other guy is talking to the volunteer from his village about how sad he is that his new friend will be moving to his own room. They shared a bed all week.

We finally got our new camera last week. It was truly a group effort as it had to change hands 5 times before we finally saw it - good work team. We are really excited, so be ready for lots of new pictures over the next few months.