DAY 79: Yay!! I Got my hair cut! And not a moment too soon.

As a North-American, there are little that I took for granted in the west, that I definately will not take for granted once I get back... if I ever do get back that is :

• Washing Machines
• Microwaves
• Ovens
• Hamburgers
• High Speed Internet
• Telephones that work all the time.
• Electricity
• Hot water / clean water
• Feeling Safe 24 hours a day no matter where I am.
• Voting, even if the choice always seems to be for the least evil of the bunch
• Salon Odette Coiffeur (my Hair salon in montreal, and yes, where i got all my manscaping needs taken care off)

1. Washing Machines.

If you doubt this, grab all the clothes you own, and start washing them by hand, using nothing more than a bucket of water and some OMO soap. OH MY GOD IT SUCKS. And there is so much dust here, everthing gets dirty faster than you can wash it.  Now for an extra challenge, wash your bedding. And no cheating, I know you all have giant beds with king and queen sized sheets, so no cheating.

2. Microwaves.

Given the situation I am in, I find it incredibly aweful to throw out food. There are people starving all around me, there is no way in hell I am going throw out food. So, all my leftovers are either donated to my neighbors or I have to reheat them... on a gas stove. with no oven. It takes 25 minutes to reheat rice in a Double Boiler-steamer contraption my cook showed me how to do.  sauces are usually pretty quick, but everything else is a nightmare and usually ends up in a burned out pot that needs to be scrubbed out. 

3. Ovens. Yup. Cannot bake, broil or roast... not a big deal you think? WRONG! I am dying for a lasagna. I was actually thinking of setting up a fire pit in my yard so that i can cook outdoors. Using my skills i learned in scouts, I could create an oven in a fire pit and then... ah no too much work.

4. Hamburgers.

Oh dear god I miss hamburgers. Oh.. they have hamburgers, here... BUT ITS NOT THE SAME. *sigh* Well... in Ouaga, they have hamburgers, good ones. I had hamburgers for diner 3 nights in a row. With french fries. Happiness is in a burger patty. No really, it is.

5. High Speed Internet.

Do i really need to explain this one again. 6 weeks i have been waiting for my internet installation at home. SIX WEEKS!!!!!!!!

6. Telephones that work all the time.

Sometimes, the networks go down. You can't make any phone calls, or receive any txt messages. Or, you are in the middle of a conversation, and the call drops. Out of nowhere. Or you want to call someone, but you can't, because "all the circuits are busy now". Never mind how expensive it is.  I spend 45$ today on telephone calls. Granted half of that was to my mom in Canada, the other half was here, LOCAL.

7. Electricity.

My co-worker asked me once, how many times we lost power in canada. I told him, in  montreal. the last power outtage I recalled, was in 1998, and that was because of a natural disaster. (We all survived the Ice-Storm. good times.) He accused me of lying.  See, here, the power goes out everyday. sometimes for hours at a time.  Try working as a computer specialist without electricity from 8am to 4pm. Try.  See how well that works out for you. 

8. Water 

Hot water, is the best way to get clean. It just is, i don`t care if its 40 degrees outside, sometimes, i need to feel clean. And cold water... it just makes me feel like... what was it they called on Seinfeld... oh yeah : SHRINKAGE!

And filtered water tastes like chalk. Yes, it does. 

9. Feeling Safe

When the city has no electricity. And you are walking around alone at night. And you are not sure if you need to turn left or right to go home, and the people on the right look mean, so you go left... Because paranoia is a powerful thing.

10. Voting, even if it is for morons.

Here, you vote... sort of. Less than a million people have registered for the next elections. People know its a useless election. It is rigged. and President Fuckup will be reelected again. Never mind that he is a murderer and should be tried in court and tarred and feathered, he will be re-elected. Mark my words. Yes, a murderer.  Kumbaya my lord... kumbabya...

11.Salon Odette Coiffure.

The salon I went to get my hair cut for the 13 years previous to my departure. I also go various things waxed while i was there. Here... well, they cut your hair in a chair on the side of the road. Some guy with giant blade and some cream shaves your head. If your lucky, you can get a guy with clippers who will just shave some of it off.  But in Ouagadougou, there is a European (SIC) salon. Its called New Black Coiffure. Its is ran by Suzanne a half French half Burkinabè lady, who is very skilled at what she does.  10$ got my hair cut and washed. And she did a great job. even though there was a power outage in the middle of my cut, and she had to put the clippers down, and finish the job by hand. So now i know, there is a decent hair place 5 hours away from my house. YAY!

And she did a great job :)