Burkina is my prom date*

Like prom, I had a lot of romantic ideas about what Burkina would be like: I'd be living in AFRICA teaching AFRICAN students about science; I'd have AFRICAN friends, who I'd chat with in an AFRICAN language. And, like prom, the reality wasn't so romantic.

After the initial Africa Awe wore off, I started complaining about things. First I complained about the flies. Who wouldn't? Flies suck. Then I complained about the food. No big deal, but I should probably make sure the cook's not around. Then I started complaining about the people. Uh oh.

Some Burkinabé traits are great. Like their ability to laugh at everything. Or the looks of unselfconscious amazement on my students' faces when I show them a picture of something they've never seen before like a sea cucumber or an amoeba. But sometimes these traits aren't so great. Like when they're staring and laughing at you. And I think some Burkinabé traits suck. Like their rigid gender roles and the still common practice of polygamy.

It would take a lot more than two years for me to really integrate into Burkinabé culture because I'd have to change. A lot. For instance, I don't cook. I don't like doing it and, more importantly, I suck at it. And this is a level of suck that can't be improved with practice. Markus, on the other hand, is a great cook. It doesn't seem fair to subject him to two years of burnt rice and crunchy noodles just so we can fit the traditional Burkinabé gender roles.

Since I can't be like a Burkinabé woman, maybe I could be like a Burkinabé man and drink tea and chat for hours and hours. This would be a lot easier for me to do than attempting to cook. But I spend at least as much time studying for the GRE, reading psychology books, and working on my grad school application essays as I do teaching, and I know that if I were to sit and get wired with friends all the time, I'd be preoccupied worrying about other things I could be doing. I know that developing the ability to relax and chat with friends even while caffeine is rushing to my head would be an asset, but it's just not me. Me is writing endless to do lists. (To do: Write to do list.)

So, I react to Burkina like I would a prom date with the wrong impression--by keeping it at arm's length. But just because I, an opinionated, type A feminist who's a terrible cook, don't really fit in here doesn't mean I can't appreciate the culture from the outside. Where else can I sit under a tree at my favorite bar on marché day, drinking cool beers, people watching, saying hello to friends, and being greeted by tiny elementary school students? You don't have to be just like a Burkinabé to appreciate things like that.

*Note to Keel: This doesn't apply to you. You were a great prom date!