So here is what I would have written as a separate post:

Well, today was another partly boringinteresting (just being an optimist here!) day in Ouaga. I wanted to buy some local arts and crafts (some presents for some people) before I leave, as this will be my last trip to Burkina during this field season. But the prices were just too much. My rule in bargaining here is that I offer half the price that the sellers quote when I first ask. If they agree or at least show flexibility around that price while bargaining, I might continue the process of bargaining and add a little to that “half-price”. If they just flatly refuse then I walk away. So, at one stall, I did buy an item, whereas on another where I was planning to spend a bit more on quite a few items (if the price was right), we couldn’t come to an agreement, so no purchase. And I probably spent only an hour or so in this shopping trip. Anyway, I’m back at my favourite internet cafe here, spending the last few minutes of the credit that I had purchased earlier today.

I’m going back to Tamale tomorrow, and will be busy the next week trying to wrap up my survey works.

Second week of December, I’m planning to make an overland trip to Benin via Togo (more updates later as things become clearer to myself). After I come back from Benin, I’ll have ten days or so to wrap everything up for this field season and go back to York. I’m actually really looking forward to going back after nearly seven months here; although it’ll take some getting used to in English winter, after half a year in this warm climate! I think I’m ready for that challenge though…