This post is old! Just getting top put it up now!
So I am finally at my post. Sotouboua. I think I has an awesome set up here. I’m replacing a previous volunteer so the house is already furnished and is stocked with a bunch of random stuff. I have a big bed, a guest bed also, some nice seats, even a fridge. Its funny that in my interview I said I would be happy without electricity or running water. Now I have electricity, running water, a shower, a actual toilet, a fully stocked kitchen, and a fridge! The previous volunteer, Nikhil, has left me a bunch of stuff to read on all the work he had been up to while here, and in everything I need to know about this town. Some of the random stuff left behind for me are a box of cigarettes, bunch of books that includes Harry Potter (maybe I’ll finally read one), the fridge is full of empty water bottles, a bunch of notebooks and pens and pencils(thank you Nikhil!!), and a DVD of the first season of 90210.
I got here today at around 4pm. I met up with another volunteer, Meghan, who lives really close to me. She helped me move my stuff in and then we went on a short turn of the town. I checked out the post office, the petit market, and grabbed a coke at a bar. I’m so glad Meghan was there because I have so many questions. Since this is my first time here, I don’t even know where to begin with what to ask. For this first week I plan on mainly walking around and getting to know whats where in this town.
I live in a compound with another family. There are three sisters, two brothers, and the mom and dad. They’re really nice, and they actually cooked me diner today which was great. There are also a bunch of animals in this compound. Two rabbits, a dog, a couple chickens, and about six turkeys. The turkeys kinda creep me out. They just hang out by my porch and they’re faces look really gross with this weird droopy skin thing that dangles over their beak.
My kitchen is awesome too. I’ve got everything I need. All the utensils, tons of spices, and a gas stove. Now I just need to know how to cook. Tomorrow is the grand market day, so I plan on hopefully buying some good food, and practice my culinary skills.
Tomorrow I’m going to spend sometime rearranging some of the furniture here. I’ll also meet my homolog, which is the person who is my main contact here in Sotouboua. I’ll be working with him for the next two years, and he’ll introduce me to others in the community who I can work with.
I also met another foreigner today. She was from China, and is working with a NGO here for a few months. From what Meghan said, there seems to be a few foreigners coming through here every couple months. There is even apparently an American who has a house here…with a pool! He only comes here for two months a years though. But when he comes, he brings a bunch of stuff that he donates to local merchants, for them to sell for profit in the local marches.
