chicken pox

Yesterday we worked for just a little bit so that we could head home early. I also wanted to get home before Fatou’s driver, Francis went home for the day. Francis took me to my house, along with another servant to go get some more clothes. My neighbors were shocked to see me. One said she had assumed I had been scared off! I was also very nervous my apartment was going to smell like molding food, after being gone for so long but it wasn’t too bad. I was able to grab some more pants, the very ripe mangoes in my fridge and some sunscreen. Before he drove me home we were on the hunt for bottled water. We drive for 30 minutes stopping at every store asking for water but no one had any left. Also while driving around we passed the market where I normally go to buy my groceries and the front had been broken into and you could see the shelves had been torn down. Usually, there was a young boy in there who asked me to teach an English word every time I came in, and he was so sweet, I hope he wasn’t hurt. While driving we also passed people at the gas stations that were in lines for hours to fill up their bike. Gas station after gas station the lines were incredibly long!

After searching for a long time, we find one place to buy water.

Every night we watch the news hoping to hear good news but so far all I find is that there are more riots in other towns of Burkina. There was also a new prime minster appointed last night. He used to be the ambassador for Burkina in France, as well as the head of communications in Burkina, which means he has a lot of pull with the radio and television stations here. I don’t know if this is good or bad news.

Mirabelle came to pick me up today but when she came I saw that she had all these bumps all over her body, and had a fever. She told me she was going to the doctors. I think she has the chicken pox, and she says she saw a girl at the NGO who had bumps on her, so I think she might have gotten it from her. I’ve already had the chicken pox, which might be while I’m not bothered by it. So working from home today!

My mom also asked me to clear up what some of the acronyms mean.

IRD (institute of research development) this is where fatou works and I get some internet.

AEM (in French means help me to become a mother. The place where I interview women.)

NGO (Non-governmental organization)

ARV (antiretroviral drugs) drugs people can take who have HIV to keep their Health under control.