The biggest thing to me is how very different this country is from the States (which shouldn't have been that much of a surprise - really). One of the things that has captured my attention and interest more than anything is that Ouagadougou is a city of commerce. While in just about everything (other than extreme poverty) I had no idea what to expect, the fact that the people here conduct business somewhere around 16 hours a day was absolutely NOT something I expected. For some reason, my expectation of poverty and commerce didn't align. How wrong I was. The little shops that sit crammed together along the city streets and the people who sell their wares without a store front are literally everywhere! And there is no limit to their creativity in where they will set up shop and how they will display their goods. I love looking at them as i walk or drive by and can't get enough of them.
This is a roadside nursery and one of the biggest i've seen. All the plants are in plastic bags and are watered daily - which is saying A LOT seeing as how all the water has to be carried to the site. Somehow.
Sals Coiffure is a beauty shop where women can get their hair done. not sure what the guy is selling next door to the left. might be a mechanic. the blue plastic jugs out front may be used to carry water. any number of different containers are used for that purpose. indoor plumbing is not anywhere close to being universal in Burkina Faso so they have to go to where the water is and bring it back to their homes and businesses for all their cooking, drinking and cleaning needs. They will walk or ride bikes or drive their moto to the nearest well or outdoor spigot, but that could be one, two miles away. Maybe more. I cannot imagine how deep the tree roots go to find water. The rainy season only lasts three months. I hope to be here for part of it. right now it is so dry out, my hair is straight - no waves or curls, no hair-dryer needed!!
Children's bicycles, a fan, and produce are available outside. you can see people shopping inside. no telling what is for sale in there today. the blue, corrugated metal shop to the right in the background is a separate business. the multi-story brown building in the background upper right is some kind of an office building. there are no regulations about where someone can set up shop.
In this pic of the same nursery, you can get a better view of the plastic bags that the plants are housed in. they line a little walk-way through the nursery.
And THIS would be a corner gas station!!!!! All those wine and whiskey bottles are filled with gasoline! People on motos stop, buy a bottle of fuel, pour it in the tank and they are off and on their way! no EPA to contend with in this operation!!! gotta love it!
This vendor is selling mobile phone minutes. They stand on the side of the road or in the median at or near traffic lights and walk up to every car that is stopped and hold up their card holder for the driver to see. cards at the bottom have fewer minutes than the cards in the middle and at the top. Very creative people. And he'll be out there about 12 hours, in the sun, conducting business.
This fuzzy picture (at which i excel!) is of a boutique that sells men's and women's clothing, some new, often much of it used. All sales are final!
The trailer is being towed by a moto. They can be stacked to overflowing and somehow or another, the moto will pull that trailer.
Roadside restaurant. The blinds help keep out the sun. they open at various times during the morning. the food can be cooked either inside or over a fire outside in large metal pots.
The Pelican is a neat, relatively new lebanese owned store that sells many goods used by europeans and americans and expats from other countries. it is just a few blocks from missie's home, which means walking distance for me!!! Vendors are often situated outside all traditional storefront businesses. Or across the street, around the corner, everywhere.
HAHAHHA!!! a reverse selfie! All the homes and businesses have bars on their doors and windows. It's cultural. And for protection although the crime rate is very low.
There is a small restaurant behind that blue wall and gate. the building behind it is someone's home.
The Burkina Faso version of Rack Room Shoes.
Meanwhile, I visited Sydaleigh and Marvelly's school several times. These pictures loaded in the reverse order I placed them in so bear with me! There was a parent teacher organization night celebrating Africa. There was artwork displayed that the children created and there was music and food. I don't know who did the shark but I thought it was really cool!
I LOVE kid-art! There is something so originally creative about it that is very unlike adult works of art. I generally prefer it. these pictures were created by students in grades 6, 7 & 8.
One of these is Sydaleigh's. Second graders made these. Love 'em!!
This cool lady is made all out of plastic: plastic bottles, bags and anything else plastic. One of the neatest things I've ever seen! and there were 2 of them. don't know who made them.
The school they attend covers kindergarten through 12th and is a large, multi-building campus. It is quite lovely. Had these pictures loaded up the way I intended, these would be last. They are two tortoises that roam the campus, eating grass.
Something fell on its back and Melissa knocked it off. didn't seem to bother him though!
This man was making a carving for the school and agreed to let me photograph him. It is beautiful. on the other side is nailed multiple strips of colored metal, but he wasn't done with it yet. in the background is the soccer field.
Chickens also live on part of the property. Chickens are kept all over the city.
This is one of the play areas. The man carving is to the right of this play house. it is big enough for adults to walk inside. A miniature replica of a village home.
There is also a huge outdoor pool that we swam in several times after the girls got out of school.
There are several playgrounds for the kids to play on.
This is the high school.
This is the primary school where both girls attend. Their cubby's are on the outside of the building.
One of these is the library and another is classrooms. It is a lovely facility.
ISO. Kids from all over the world attend here. They are taught in English but also have French classes. Sydaleigh is speaking it better and better and is helping me learn new words. I really like the school. It is very family oriented. they also allow groups from the community to come in and use the facility, such as the marines at the embassy who regularly play on the basketball court. I tried to post something Missie videotaped from the PTA night but it failed. I will try to get it up on F/B.
Sydaleigh and her best friend and the other plastic lady!
So this is the end of part one of week-two. Week-two, part two will include the safari and I will try to get that up in the next couple of days. it takes a while to upload pics and it is particularly frustrating to wait a long time to get them loaded only to have something go wrong! THANK GOD I have missie and isaak!!!! To be continued...............................................
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