Frickin' Africa

Ok, the honeymoon is officially over. I've had a rough few days and I really don't want to go into the details. It's time to see what Nanette is made of. I have learned that when all else fails it's safe to turn to humor. It is hard to explain to anyone who has not spent any amount of time in a foreign country where a foreign language is spoken the pressure and stress that is ever-present on a day-to-day basis. I'm not always aware of it, but it is there nonetheless and sometimes it builds to a point where a release of the pressure is necessary. It is frickin' hard day in and day out to wake up to a rooster crowing and people speaking a foreign language (it's Jula here in Bobo), to take bucket baths, to constantly be stared at like a circus clown, to be yelled at and called le blanc or nasara or toubabou (that's the new one in Jula, has less of an appealing ring to it than nasara), to use the restroom in a hole in the ground, to eat food that makes you sick every other day, to have to bike anywhere you want to go (I actually enjoy it mostly, but to have to is sometimes a pain), to be harrassed everywhere to buy something because you're white and so must have plenty of money, to be proposed to daily. Just for the record, it's hard. And I knew it would be when I signed up for this gig, but sometimes it builds up. So I have found that daily, on average, something sends me over the edge and I have to shake my head and say, "frickin' Africa." It just makes me feel better - not sure why. Yesterday it was the lady taking her finger out of her nose long enough to greet me and shake my hand (because it is common and not rude to pick your nose anytime anywhere, they just do it). This is the first habit I plan on not picking (no pun intended) up while I'm here. I have also gone through 5 bottles of hand sanitizer in part because of this. This morning it was Mdm O belchng mid-sentence while talking to me (also not considered rude here, and actually considered complimentary to the chef). Not exactly sure if she noticed the look of shock on my face - pretty sure she didn't. The second habit I plan on not picking up here. Frickin' Africa. Come on, work with me people!
Bobo is ok. The kids aren't quite as cute, the people aren't quite as nice and my host family doesn't live here - but Bobo is ok. I have a lot to be thankful for here and do not want to focus on the negative. So I will just say "frickin' Africa" for now. I love you all and miss you terribly. I hope everyone is great.