Attack of the 'Pondre'!

I really wish I could post pictures, (unfortunately it takes about 20 min. to upload one, so don't hold your breath) because this week my hut was invaded by toads! I come home evening to find no less than 5 hopping around my latrine, under my bed, behind my back pack... I let out a shriek and the 9 year old kid (Mussah) who does everything for me comes running in. I point, and he says, "What? They don't do anything." I was like, "Well yeah, I know that, but eeewwwww!" So he shows me how to pick them up with out getting peed on (cause thats what they do when they're scared, they pee, I thought of Daisy) and we set about like some weird, twisted easter egg hunt, going around my room picking up objects and seeing if we get lucky. When we find them, we take them out to my courtyard and fling them over the wall, much to the suprise of the kids who play on the other side. After we've found a good half dozen, I thank Mussah and go to put my shoes on to go running, when I got a suprise of my own. One little guy just did not want to leave, but he was flung the farthest of them all. They all make their way back though...
Lately it seems as though everyone has been interested in my room, or more importantly what I have in my room and then ideally what I'm giong to leave behind when I leave this Wednesday. Yes, it's true, our training is coming to a close and so are our homestays. The last week and a half of training will be spent in Ouaigouya as we will have plenty to do to get ready to move to our new homes. We swear in as volunteers November 30th, and promptly leave the next day with as much furniture and worldly goods as we can stuff into the peace corps van. It will be a glorious week in civilization (aka ouaigouya), of non stop electricity (until there's and outage), running water (until they turn it off at night), and cold drinks (until I spend all my money :) But back in village us small town volunteers are certainly feeling the pressure.
Apparently there is the misconception in Rikou that when we leave village we will be going back to the US and donating the majority of our things when we depart. This mentality has been illustrated throughout the week by various encounters with family members, neighbors, and random men working in the fields. One of my many host sisters came into my room one morning while I was eating breakfast to pick up one of my sandals, tell me how she likes them, and then in case I didn't get the hint, told me she wanted them. Not being the first time someone has pointblank asked for something of mine, I responded with a smile, "Thank you, I want them too." She sighed and left, and I attributed her huffiness to the fact that she was 13, going on impossible, and went on with my day. (Love you 'raidy, I know you'll be the exception to that rule!) That night my uncle came into my courtyard to compliment me on my headlamp, and then follow up with, "So, what are you going to give me when you go back to America?" Somewhat more shocked that a grown man just asked me that, I said, "Nothing!" Then followed with, "What are you going to give me?" He just laughed. These random requests were not even limited to family members as Andrea found out on her way home. A man across a field yelled out to her in passing something she couldn't understand in Moore. To be sure his message was heard he followed up in french with, "Hey Whitey! Give me money!" Now it was Andrea's turn to laugh and keep riding.
We have seen this cultural phenomenon throughout our stay here, and while I am sure it is justified from years of experiencing NGOs and various European organizations bring exorbitant sums for misguided doantions, it never stops striking me as completely bizarre. This mentality of expected generosity combined with 'white = rich' makes us instant targets for some absurd requests. From asking for my watch, to a sip of my coffee, to demanding that I bring them back to the US, we have heard a lot. But from their point of view there is nothing wrong, or impolite with asking someone for something they have. Not only is it a great way to get new things, it is also a way of complimenting what someone has. Among each other I see it as an expression of their already heavily socialist culture. There is a saying in Burkina, "Si il y a assez pour un, il y a assez pour deux." Translation: "If there's enough for one, there's enough for two." Our LCF explained that people actually set aside money to give out because it is just expected that if you gain something new you will share it equally among everyone you know. But in relation to food, if you ever sit down to eat and someone walks by your courtyard, it is customary, if not necessary, to say "Vous etes invites" "You are invited [to eat]" really no matter what or how much you have. Now, normally this is considered a formality and the typical response will be, "Merci, bon appetit." I say normally, because in village it is also perfectly acceptable as we have witnessed, for that person to pull up a chair and help himself to half of your meal. Then if someone new walks by, it starts all over again. Moral of this story, eat inside.
Add our 'nasara' status to the mix and everything gets shifted around. On the one hand I can chow down without inviting a single person to come eat with me, because they assume I don't know any better. But on the other hand, I get people screaming, 'Whitey, give me money!' because they don't know any better. Sometimes I yell back, "I'm a volunteer, I have no money!" But usually I just keep on keepin' on.
Well I have spent an exorbitantly long time at the internet today, hope you all enjoy, and if you do, let me know! But as I said I will be back again on Wednesday for one glorious week so run out and buy those calling cards, or turn on your computer and send me some love. I hope to be back before the big day but just in case, "Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!" And be sure to eat and extra helping of turkey for the recently turned carnivore who will be for the first time really missing that portion of the meal.
And I can't leave without a big shout out to the best big sissy in the world who gets the prize for sending me my first care package, yaaaaayyy! And in first place you win... my love and eternal devotion, tadaaaa! :) Thanks again darling, you are amazing, don't forget it.
Aaaaand I would like to send some extra long distance kisses to Tom, for keeping up his well earned nickname as "the man", and posting my pictures on the web that I sneakily sent him through snail mail. If you want to see Caitlin looking extra sweaty and gross just go to, http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r267/caitlininburkina/
and enjoy! I hope that works, if not let me know but I just don't have time to upload them to my site just yet.
OK y'all, have a great week, I'll be back soon, take care until then, love and hugs to everyone, mwah!
Yours truly, Caitlin