Bittersweet

I gave up all my worlds
And got up and left
– Mon Frere
I’m leaving Burkina Faso and moving to Guinea to finish out my second year of service.
I don’t even know how to start explaining why I’m doing this or how I feel about moving. It’s all so complex. But in any case, my flight from Ouaga to Conakry leaves on September 15th.
I’m in the process of saying goodbye to my neighbors and friends in Koupéla, and my school here. Then I have to pack up all my stuff I want to take to Guinea, give away everything in my house that’s left, and finish up final paperwork at the office in Ouaga.
Why am I doing this? It seemed so clear when I was fighting the seemingly impossible administrative battle to get my transfer cleared. The program in Guinea is re-opening! I said, They need volunteers there! NO, the regional office said categorically, YOU ACCEPTED A PERMANENT TRANSFER TO BURKINA FASO. YOU CANNOT GO BACK. But after time, their tune changed. And now my ticket to Conakry is bought.
And then, when I started explaining to my site and to my fellow volunteers that I was moving, it started sounding awful. What, Burkina isn’t good enough for you? What, you’re dumping us? You don’t like Koupéla? What’s so great about Guinea? You said you’d stay another year, why are you choosing to leave?
No, I said. You’ve got it all wrong. I love Koupéla. I love Burkina. But I’m here first and foremost to work. And my school says that Koupéla has too many science teachers. And that the computer lab will now run fine without me. My work in Koupéla is done.
Why not move to another site in Burkina? some ask, At least that way you could stay in the country. True, I could do that. But the Peace Corps program in Guinea is in shambles. It would be more valuable for me to teach and help re-build there, rather than teach for another year in Burkina. It’s certainly not the normal Peace Corps experience, but then again, mine never really was.
So much is still unknown. Will I go back to Gueckedou, or get a new site? Don’t know. If I get a new site, where will it be? Don’t know. How long will I stay in Conakry before getting a site? Don’t know. Will I be at a middle school or a high school? Don’t know. What will I be teaching at site? Don’t know. Will violence again erupt in Guinea after the final round of presidential elections there, scheduled for 4 days after my arrival? Don’t know.
All I know for sure is that this experience is very bittersweet. It is bitter because I’m leaving Burkina so much earlier than planned. It is sweet because I know that Guinea really needs me.
Things I will miss from Koupéla
• The Waongo family. They have been excellent neighbors. Momma Sylvie and Poppa Pascal, their little boy Joel, their little girl Annick, their young brothers Sylvan and Dennis, their adopted daughter Clarice.
• My sitemate, Sara! She is about a cool as sitemates come.
• My friends at site: Sékou, Charles, and especially Jean.
• Grilled chicken (the good kind!) at Calypso la Joie.
• My cat, Sassy.
Things I will miss from Ouaga
• Dancing at Calypso.
• Bowling at the bowling alleys!
• Pizza from Pizza-lady Karen.
• Kicking it with volunteers at Rezoo or Fiesta.
• Pitchers at the Dolphin or Titi’s.
• My friend Ismael.
I will especially miss the volunteers in Burkina. Coming here as a direct transfer, one of my biggest fears was that I would forever be an odd man out, not belonging to any stage here. You have proven me wrong, welcoming me with open arms.
Wish me luck with my transition. My next post should be from Guinea.