Tourists to start

So, yesterday was interesting. We were definitely treated as tourists, and taken out to see the sight of Ouagadougou . This was in and of itself an odd experience. We went to visit the Canadian embassy, which more or less makes sense, as the idea was that we could then register with them, which we did. Then we went to visit the American embassy, or, more precisely, the Rec center of the American embassy. We were shown a pool and a gym and tennis courts and a library and a video collection…it was awkward, I'm not sure what we were supposed to get from that, except that there are some people living here with a lot of money. We then went to see an artisans village, again clearly for tourists, where they had beautiful leather, cloth, wood, and metal works. Looked around there for a good while; interesting but again awkward.

Then we were taken to see Ouaga2000, which is the part of town with giant houses, and where the president either lives or works (more likely both) in the hugest building ever. Enormous. Tatania, who was with us in the car, said that we should take pictures, but the driver responded immediately that we couldn't, as he didn't want to get shot today. So that says something. Ouaga2000 was not a large area, but there were clearly large amounts of money there, with giant houses behind walls. These houses would be enormous at home, but put in the context of the other houses in the city, are completely impossible.

Then we bought some water and phone cards (I've got a phone number now, which for reference sake I'll write here: country code 226, then 76393899), it should receive text messages, and I'll learn how to send them). (and a p.s. for home: I'll phone and hang up after 1 ring, and then if you're around you can call me back. so be slow at answering the phone.)

30 degrees feels almost the same as 40, as in, both are very hot. It was up to 41 yesterday afternoon at 3:30, which seemed insane, I can't imagine what it must have been earlier around noon! Fortunately, it seems that Tatiana and the driver both found it to be a little bit hot as well (probably relative to our 27 degrees).

I can't decide if it is actually humid here or not. It feels humid, hot and sticky, but outside is dry and dusty. We are told that it will likely rain sometime while we are here in Ouaga (as it is the wet season, not that I could tell otherwise), not clear if the rain is something that lasts for a few hours or a full day, but we will find out. We constantly feel as if we put on clothes right after swimming; we are always wet and appreciate even the slightest breezes enough to talk about them all as special events. My dad wrote a very helpful comment in an email; which I am pasting here: "When I have been uncomfortbly hot, I have coped by simply relaxing and accepting the heat-humidity. I say to myself, 'Yes its hot, but that is just my brain's interpretation of signals from my skin. It is really not hot enoough to bedisabling, since other people can accept these temperatures." All I can say to that is that maybe Dan will appreciate the biology side, and that I am hot regardless, maybe that is a self)control I lack. But it will be fine.

We've been rather isolated so far, sticking with Tatania. Not sure how appropriate it is for us to go wandering around here on our own, it seems like it would be fine safety wise but culturally we aren't sure. Also, we are hoping that we can convince the lady cooking for us that we want to learn to cook, which would be fun if it works out.

Ps to Ghana crew: welcome to heat! Hope you are managing it better than we are.

Ps to Vietnam: how hot is it there?

(can you tell that weather is on the brain?)

Ps to Bhutan, what on earth are you up to over there?

Ps to Ecuador, I'm sure our heat is nothing compared to yours, so hopefully you won't read this until we are better adjusted and can stop complaining J

Ps to Slovenia, have you explored a castle yet? Cause I think you should

Ps to Scotland, how's Amanda?

Ps to Italy, Bridget, how is farming?

Ps to Ottawa, Bryn, how is that working, and how long until we don't feel like we are roasting? (we are optimistic that it won't last forever, so if it will, don't tell us)

Later on the same day:

I have been reduced to two finger typing on this different keyboard, so apologies for spelling mistakes. We did get to help in the kitchen a bit with lunch today, which was good, and interesting. Conversations with Abbas were very limited between her limited knowledge of French, my limited knowlegde of cooking in French and in Arfrica, and trying to help Emily understand what I could. Weùve been trying to work through newspaper articles, which leads us to realize that we should have made definitive efforts to be more up to date on recent political events in France and Africa, as we are sometimes struggling to put things in context.

Talked again with Daniel; and are sorting out the details of our schedule for the comming weeks, which is a bit complicated right now because of transportation and Em and I wanting to stick together especially at the beginning. We will however work it out, I am sure.

Off to grab some water, take care!