Forever-ever

I ate all my food, went to my last market day, said my goodbyes...and just like that three years in Tcheriba were over. I'm not sure where the time went, but I loved my job and life there. Someday I hope to be back, and even though my students will be grown up, new boutiques will be built, and the road will be paved (OK, that may be pushing it...), I hope it will still feel at least a little like the home it has become.

My last ten days in village were absolutely wonderful. I had plenty of time to do all my "lasts" and see all my friends. I visited two of my students in their village about 15km from Tcheriba; their village is off the main road and one of the smallest villages I've been to. It's also very green this time of year and quite nice. The following day I went out en brousse to visit one of my students in the field. As there hadn't been much rain yet, I found him hanging out under a tree "watching the fields". A little like watching paint dry. Hopefully the rains will come soon. We took a little bike trip together along my favorite path- there are lots of trees for shade, and the path passes through my favorite village. Good memories. I also got to do my last market day- pictures with the old guys, last time at my friend's mom's restaurant, one more visit to my favorite gateau lady. And of course, I played many last rounds of the card game whose rules seem to change on a minute-by-minute basis.

My last full day in village was spent going through all the stuff that has accumulated in my house. I've tried to be good, but I have a habit of amassing large quantities of crap. Luckily, two students spent most of the day with me. My crap turned into their treasure- especially popular were a big blue plastic poncho, a singing Halloween ghost toy, and blow-up punching balloons. I'm not exaggerating, we literally spent all day in my house digging through stuff. At least I know it's being put to good use. That evening the school administration and staff threw me a little party. Speeches, gifts, and chicken and beer- the traditional Burkinabe school function dinner. Delicious. I'm going to miss it.

When the day to leave finally came...man, it was tough. I had a committee of about 15 or 20 students who came over to the house around 6:30am. I know I'm not supposed to have "favorites", but I was glad that all my favorite students were able to be there. What I want more than anything is to hear from some of them. One year, five years, twenty years. I just want to know what happens to them, what they go on to do in life. I'm gong to miss them a ton.

Somehow- gifts, mainly- the two bags that I had managed to cram all of my stuff into ballooned into four bags, two boxes, branches of fruit, bags of peanuts, and a live chicken. So I was glad I had help getting to the bus station. I gave my keys to my landlord, and suddenly, way to quickly, the bus appeared chugging down the road. And that was it. A few tears, the last handshakes, and I was off.

Life in village was not luxurious. It was not comfortable. It was not convenient. It didn't come packaged in shiny plastic or served in ready-to-eat boxes. It was dusty. It was lonely. It was full of friends. It was hot. It was busy but there was always time to chat with the neighbors. It was morning classes, afternoon soccer matches, and weekend study sessions. It was Uno, Dominoes, and Connect Four. Solitary bike rides; crowded classrooms. Sunrises. Goats. Students. It was beautiful. And I wouldn't have wanted to change a day.