Anyways, I experienced rainy season last year but it has seemed like a novelty to me again, probably because it had been so long! And it was fun to experience the whole season in Bilanga and watch how the landscape changed as well as the people.
Starting in June, Bilanga's population decreased in half, if not more, due to everyone heading to the fields to start cultivating and growing corn, millet, beans, peanuts and other fun things to last the year. School gets out as well for rainy season so all the teachers and students who come in leave as well. Which leaves a very quiet village.
I had to leave often to help train the new volunteers but while I was around I enjoyed the beautiful scenery and down time just to hang out with folks. I also attempted cultivating some peanuts (see pictures) which was an experience.
Anyways, some pics to better explain rainy season. But once again, they are backwards.
One day my friend and I took a 13k trip out to see his fields and passed some beautiful baobob tress along the way. It was quite an adventure as we had to wade through water knee deep a couple times and go through some serious mud, but it was sure fun!
Here is my friend (mentioned above) and his sesame field.
Bestie/tutor standing next to some millet in september. Millet is probably the biggest crop grown in Burkina.
My peanuts up close. This is in early september. (planted in june)
Peanut field.
One day it rained so hard our courtyard started flooding. A little bit more and my neighbor's house would have been in trouble. Late July to early September, when it rains, it pours.
Just taking a bike ride around and enjoying how green things are looking.
This was back in July when I took this of my friend and same millet you see her next to up top. It grows fast!
My peanuts back in early august.
Hanging out at the dam.
Bilanga hosts one of the biggest dams in the regions and on rare occassions not even trucks can pass and people have to use the canoes you can see in the background.
Okay, just a little info on what's happening here.
my parents and brother will be here with me in 2 days which is quite incredible and will have a couple fun weeks hanging out with them, then back to school and programs, it should be a full year!
