By the Pool

August 23rd, 2009

I felt like I was back in the states. The blue water of the swimming pool caught the strong rays from the sun, causing the surface to shimmer. Surrounding us where several multi-story buildings, blocking out the noise and smells of the street. On one wall was painted a mural of an African landscape – hippopotamuses, giraffes, elephants and oddly painted birds played in the sun. And in the middle of all of this we sat at one of the white poolside furniture sets, looking at the bounty set before us.

We were in Ouagadougou, or for short Ouaga (pronounced “wa-ga”), hanging out for a few days before swear in. We had some last few sessions going over the condensed rule book given to each of us and stocking up on some last minute medical supplies but besides that we were free to spend time together in what will be the last time we are all together until our COS events at the end of our service. In just a few days time we would all hop on a bus or Peace Corps car and leave for our sites. The image of the Peace Corps car leaving us and all of our stuff behind was something that we were all a little worried about and trying not to think about for the next few days.

Leslie had splurged and bought a meal that she would have had almost every day during her time in Italy - a decent bottle of red wine, high-quality, packaged European crackers, a generous cut of delicious looking brie cheese, and a bar of Swiss chocolate. She had been generous enough to share a little with me. I like food, and I appreciate good food, but never have I been so transformed or perhaps dislocated by the taste of food. I was back in the United States, hanging out by the pool with good friends. And that was a wonderful feeling.

The next few days were spent eating some amazing and expensive (by Burkina standards) American-style food, hanging out by the pool, relaxing and enjoying the end of a very successful stage (32 trainees were due to be sworn in out of the 32 that had arrived).