It was Elli’s day to do field work today, so she left early this morning with Helena, another Swedish student who is here to visit us. I stayed in all day, transcribing my notes and transferring GPS points and reading scientific articles and knitting a little. The sun went down in an orange haze. ElliContinue reading “an orange sunset”
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exciting landscapes (November 4)
Today, I did transect walks in a village called Rallo. Things look kind of the same everywhere here, at first glance, and I’m starting to feel like I’m an old record player stuck on repeat, asking the same questions over and over. The answers rarely suprise me, because I’ve already asked someone else, in someContinue reading “exciting landscapes (November 4)”
if anyone ever thought I wasn’t hardcore (November 3)
Today, we got up at 5.30 again, left the guesthouse before sunrise, and stayed out working until the sun went down. Elli did evaporation measurements, and then I (and Elli and Desiré) did four transect walks à approximately two kilometers each together with villagers. Almost ten kilometers walked in heat and sun. Sunrise and aContinue reading “if anyone ever thought I wasn’t hardcore (November 3)”
relapse
This afternoon, the streets in Ouagadougou became unsafe again. The opposition isn’t happy with the transition leader being a military man, and has called for more protests. Guns were shot at protesters outside the national TV station by soldiers. “The UN has condemned the military takeover and threatened sanctions”, says the BBC. The Swedish embassy, thatContinue reading “relapse”
the fieldworker’s mansion
During a study break today, I decided to take some photos of our room. So here you go, a tour of where we read and eat and sleep. Where Elli and I sleep. With my wardrobe on the floor. Our kitchen, in one of the corners of the room. We do drink a lotContinue reading “the fieldworker’s mansion”
here’s to hoping we don’t get malaria
One of the big things that anyone going to tropical or subtropical Africa is warned about, is to avoid the malaria infested mosquitos. We take pills, wear covering clothes at night, insect repellent and sleep under mosquito nets. People here, though, don’t seem to care very much. And since we’re living in a place forContinue reading “here’s to hoping we don’t get malaria”
Sunday, reading day (earlier today)
I decided to stay at the hotel today. Weird, really, considering how feverently I wished to be allowed to leave the hotel just two days ago, during the period of house arrest that we experienced here. But now that I know that I can leave whenever I want again (not the country, though, the airportContinue reading “Sunday, reading day (earlier today)”
back to normal – hopefully
This morning, we received the news that now it was OK to leave the hotel and use the car again. So, I went to two new villages to ask them if they were willing to help me and it felt amazing to be working again. In the car, we listened to the radio. I couldn’tContinue reading “back to normal – hopefully”
cooped up and crazy
The news of the day have been: The president went out and said that the government was dissolved, but not the parliament, and that the military wasn’t in power at all. Then he offered to lead a new interim government until November next year, when the elections should be held as previously planned. This wasContinue reading “cooped up and crazy”
where the action is (and where it isn’t)
The afternoon is uncommonly calm here. I can barely even hear any cars, only the sound of small birds and the odd scream of a donkey. There is no TV and no radio. I think everyone is waiting for an announcement. This is what has happened: The parliament was supposed to hold the vote onContinue reading “where the action is (and where it isn’t)”
Katja Malmborg 