les cascades (waterfalls)

This past weekend I took a little trip to the waterfalls that are situated about an hour (by bus) south of Bobo. There is a chapter in the book I read today (The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants – I generally don’t like fiction, but I needed something entertaining that I could read in one day like watching a movie…man I miss movies…) that starts off with a sentence that exactly conveys what I felt sitting at the top of the falls…”The sunset was too beautiful. It almost made her feel panicked because she couldn’t save it.” She’s talking about a sunset, but I felt the same way listening to the water rushing by me and staring out over the West African horizon. It was B-E-A-U-tiful and so relaxing and I wanted to bottle it up and take it with me to have some everyday and share it with my friends and family. I have felt this way before when I go on trips and see or experience something so spectacular and I want to turn to Steph or Dad or Amber and say “isn’t this beautiful?” Don’t get me wrong, I love doing all these things, I just like to share it with those I love. So the pics will have to do it for you for now…until you come visit me:)
We (me and Leslie, the other volunteer in my waterfalls pictures) took a bus to Banfora and stayed the night, then got up the next morning and biked to the waterfalls located in Karfigula – about 15km away according to the people around these parts, but we are convinced it wasn’t that far. It was a hot day and the water was sooo cold. We spent the day frolicking around the waterfalls, biked back to Banfora, and then I caught a bus back to Bobo. Short trip, but sooooo wonderful.
Couldn't get the pics to upload, so I'll try again Saturday...stay tuned;)
Miss you all! Be home in 40 days and 40 nights:)

Feb pics

1. Here's my little problem child. I was spying on him having breakfast. He can be so cute when he's not being a devil! Right after this pic he chased the chickens around the courtyard.
2. Muslims praying by a building. They have calls to prayer 4 or 5 times everyday. They just stop, drop and pray - sometimes RIGHT on the side of the street.
3. Me and Leslie last weekend.


Steph - I'm working on getting some good shots of Bobo. It's difficult because as soon as the camera comes out people get crazy and I lose my status as a volunteer and drop right back into the category of "typical American" or "tourist" that I've been trying to hard to shake. I gotta do it on the down low! Stay tuned...

Hello stranger

Sorry I've been away for a while - just a little sick, but doing better now.
Gotta give it up for those Colts! That made me happy, so happy. I wasn't even able to watch the game and didn't find out about the win until the following afternoon, but it put a smile on my face that lasted a long time - even being sick. Mo, I would love to stick up for you right now sweetheart, but I think you got what you deserved. Gotta be careful when you talk all that smack about a team that was surely not going to win;) Stick with soccer, it's better for you. Ok, I'm done with the football talk.
Steph - yes the kids here are UNBELIEVABELY adorable with all their "s'il vous plaits" and "mercis", but when I have a neighborhood full of them on my doorsteph constantly it kinda takes away that burning desire to start spitting out my own. I am happy just trying to make a positive impact on the ones who are already here. I'll take more pics of them since you like them so much;)
I hope everyone is fantastic! I miss you much. Be home in 53 days...not that I'm counting or anything:)

Question of the day…

Why is it so much harder for a rich man to give than it is for a poor man?

The other day I saw this lady give a bowl of rice to a beggar. And he turned around and split it with another guy. Here is a guy whose possessions consist of the clothes on his back and he gladly gave half of his meal to someone else. HALF! Yet there is a man wearing a $1,500 suit and $200 shoes who lives in a $500,000 house and has 3 cars and a boat walking down the street with $300 cash in his pocket and cannot manage to give the change in his pocket (not half his cash, not half of the food in his house, not 1 of his 3 cars, just the dimes weighing his pockets down) to a homeless man on the street. Why is that?

What the....?

I came out of my house yesterday to find this little Miss Sunshine on my front porch. No doubt some relative of Mo's sent to taunt me until Sunday (because after that the Colts will be Superbowl champs!!!!!!). Can't you just hear her..."But Nanette??? Why can't I have a bonbon???? I don't understand!" I know darling. You just can't. You see my girls in the background coming to teach her a lesson (just like the Colts are going to do to the Bears). Get outta here with that mess!
And here are my little Colts fans - notice who isn't in the picture? That's right - we had to have her taken care of!

Ok, these are just jokes!