Sissamba, just another suburb (kinda)

During training with Peace Corps, I will be living in Sissamba. Sissamba is an 8,000 person village about 8 km from Ouihigouya (the 4th largest city in Burkina Faso). When I first arrived, I was nervous about the unfamiliarity of everything but now I think it is kinda like any other suburb.

Sissamba is a community made up of different neighborhoods, usually divided by families. I live in Southeast Sissamba with my host dad, host mom, and five siblings. The surrounding compounds are inhabited by aunts, uncles, and many cousins.

Those who can afford to live in luxury, here that means running water and electricity, live in the cities. Those who cannot, typically farmers and herders, live in villages. Villages have no electricity, running water, and the homes are typically made of mud. (Its much better than I imagined though.)

In downtown Sissamba, there is a pharmacy health center and maternity center. There is also an area we have labeled “the men’s club” where popular men come to chat and relax. (All of our host dads are apart of the club). Adjacent to downtown area is the grade school. Most of the students attend grade school. There is even an APE (America’s PTA/PTSA) which some of the host dad’s head. On the main road there is a market. The market occurs once every three days but sells almost anything (think neighborhood plaza, in BK think Fulton Street, except it is an open air market). Food, cloth/cloth, household goods, hardware, electronics, bike repair, its all there. After each marchè (market), there is a discotech (nightclub) where teenagers go to dance and mingle.

Just like in the states, your housing is dependent on your income. So even though we all live in mud homes, sizes and courtyards (think porch/outdoor space) depends on how much money you have available. Most farmers and herders tend to have simpler homes. I don’t have my own courtyard, I share with my entire family. My family’s place is my house (one room place), my host mom and children’s house, my father’s two-room house, the kitchen area and two latrines (outdoor bathroom and shower area).

Another trainee’s host dad is Sissamba’s pharmacist. He is the only pharmacist in 11 neighboring villages so therefore has more money and power than others. His outfits are always pressed, clean and well-tailored. (Because most people are farmers and know their job is to get dirty, they wear the same clothes daily. I actually only see my father in clean clothes when he goes to prayer). The pharmacist’s neighborhood is right next to the market. He owns the sole store and telecenter in the neighborhood. So Sarah’s, my friend, house is larger. She even has her own courtyard with a hanger (shade).

Because of its unfamiliar traits- APE (PTA), limited hour market, small neighborhoods, only a couple of meeting places- adapting has not been that difficult. Though the living here is simple- no running water or electricity- we have all began to like our village much more than the city.