September 4, 2005: Headlines: COS - Burkina Faso: Third Goal: Rocky Mount Telegram: Cliches like "time is money" are the least of Roger and Stacy Askew's worries after spending 22 months on a Peace Corps assignment in the village of Sideradougou in Burkina Faso, Africa

Peace Corps Online: Directory: Burkina Faso: Peace Corps Burkina Faso : The Peace Corps in Burkina Faso: September 4, 2005: Headlines: COS - Burkina Faso: Third Goal: Rocky Mount Telegram: Cliches like "time is money" are the least of Roger and Stacy Askew's worries after spending 22 months on a Peace Corps assignment in the village of Sideradougou in Burkina Faso, Africa

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Cliches like "time is money" are the least of Roger and Stacy Askew's worries after spending 22 months on a Peace Corps assignment in the village of Sideradougou in Burkina Faso, Africa

 Cliches like time is money are the least of Roger and Stacy Askew's worries after spending 22 months on a Peace Corps assignment in the village of Sideradougou in Burkina Faso, Africa

As Peace Corps volunteers, the Askews were given the equivalent of $120 every three months, Roger Askew said. He also said they went through three months of intensive training, learning French and tribal languages, before going into the village. "I didn't speak all six tribal languages," Stacy Askew said. "I spoke Moore and Jula, which is the language most commonly used for trading. Communication wasn't the best. I mean, we were two hours away from the nearest post office, and it would take weeks or months for us to receive letters or packages. But all of the experience wasn't bad, there are some beautiful sites in Africa."

Cliches like "time is money" are the least of Roger and Stacy Askew's worries after spending 22 months on a Peace Corps assignment in the village of Sideradougou in Burkina Faso, Africa

Peace Corps volunteers share stories of Africa

By Natalie Jordan, Rocky Mount Telegram

Sunday, September 04, 2005

TARBORO — To Roger Askew, there's no such thing as wasting time.

"After taking two days to get there and really learning the value of an event without the time constraint while there, waiting an hour for a flight or 30 minutes on a bus doesn't bother me anymore," he said.

Cliches like "time is money" are the least of Roger and Stacy Askew's worries after spending 22 months on a Peace Corps assignment in the village of Sideradougou in Burkina Faso, Africa. The duo spoke to about 70 Early College High School students Friday about their experience in Africa.

"It's kind of weird when you think of all the differences between the people there and us in the U.S.," said Roger Askew, 41, as his wife held up artifacts they brought back. "It's eye-opening, and it was really incredible. I mean, I can't really describe it in one sentence."

The couple was invited as part of the high school's enrichment activities held every Friday, said Principal Marcia Edge. She said this month's theme is service, and other community organizations will be coming throughout the month.

"This gives the students perspective of other cultures," Edge said. "And hopefully, they'll realize how fortunate they really are."

Stacy Askew said the village, which had a population of about 4,000 people, had four sectors. She said she focused on sanitation education, along with other projects such as showing villagers how to correctly plant sesame and raise chickens.

The villagers, now able to export organic sesame, harvested two tons, which were picked by hand.

As Peace Corps volunteers, the Askews were given the equivalent of $120 every three months, Roger Askew said. He also said they went through three months of intensive training, learning French and tribal languages, before going into the village.

"I didn't speak all six tribal languages," Stacy Askew said. "I spoke Moore and Jula, which is the language most commonly used for trading. Communication wasn't the best. I mean, we were two hours away from the nearest post office, and it would take weeks or months for us to receive letters or packages. But all of the experience wasn't bad, there are some beautiful sites in Africa."

Stacy Askew, 33, said taking the trip was something she and her husband felt they wanted to do while they could. Although she said they probably will not go back for that extended amount of time, they would go back to visit.

"I enjoyed their presentation," said Early High School junior Katherine Boeck, 17. "I think it's beautiful, and interesting. Just everything they helped do, and the difference in culture. I've heard before from missionary groups things were different, but this shows how different it really is. I hope I can go one day."





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Story Source: Rocky Mount Telegram

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Burkina Faso; Third Goal

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