My Last 2 Weeks

Sorry I haven’t written, in two weeks…I’ve been out in the village. You know, the village where literally everyone knows your name. In my case my Malian name happens to be BaUmu, the ‘ba’ stands for mother or elder. Great. Really it is a sign of respect, so I am really not complaining. It’s just different.
In a quick paragraph or so, this is what has been going on in my world:
1. I have a cell phone. If you want my number, email me and I will give it to you. It doesn’t cost me anything if you call. It costs me to call the USofA.
2. My home stay village is complete with 400 people. 5 of us are the white ‘toubobs’ and there are many, many children. PC puts us in home stays so we can integrate with the society, learn the language, and for other governmental reasons…My family is really cool. My ‘dad’ is really caring and interested in me learning Bamanankan (language of the Bambara people). My family is Muslim. They are wonderful.
3. Bambara class. I am learning Bambara. My teacher is good. It’s a lot of info. for a short period of time but it needs to be this way. Bambara is a language widely spoken in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Cote D’Ivoire (Ivory Coast- learn it). So, when you all come out and visit me we can travel to those three countries and combined with my Francois skills you’ll have your own tour guide.
4. Weight: I’ve lost the 10fat lbs I put on before leaving!! Woot woot! I planned on that happening, which is why I pigged out before I left the US. I lost them the old fashion way: drinking a ton of water, walking-not driving everywhere, and yes, the inevitable Mr. D that travels with me always when I’m in a new country for more than 5 days. My cloths fit!
5. Friends. There is a big group of us out here: 75 more or less. I’m not the only one out here. I am getting to know all these new people that have similar interests as I do, going through the same fears as I am, and are all just as scared as I am. It’s nice. It’s also comforting to hear that pretty much everyone’s parent (mothers) was thoroughly upset at departure time.
6. Brief history: Mali is the 3rd poorest country in the WORD. Yep. WORLD. Sierra Leon and Niger are ahead of us. The infant mortality rate is really high, the literacy rate is low, the GDP is low, they only got their independence in ‘60’s from France, and the country is land locked. I had a lot more planned to educate the masses reading this blog about Mali, yet it’s really late and I don’t want to disturb my roommates. Wikipedia Mali. Timbuktu is here. Pretty interesting history we have here.
7. Funeral: I went to my 1st Muslim/African/Child funeral. I went to bed knowing something was wrong at my house, but didn’t think too much of it. The next morning my sister had my bucket bathing water ready for me like always. I bathed, had my breakfast with one of my moms (she said my sister went into town-that’s why I didn’t have my peanutbutter-sandwhich-breakfast with her like I normally did). Thought that was weird, but got ready to leave for class anyway. As I was leaving my mom #1 was crying. I stink at Bambara right now, and I was late for class, so I just went to class and figured I would ask my prof. what was going on in my house bc nobody was going tell me. I was told that my 1yr old bro. died over night. Sad. We don’t know why, but he was sick? Anyway, we went to the ‘funeral’ I stayed with the women, while the guys in my group went with the rest of the men and buried the little one- all by 10am.
8. Parties: this week in village we are having a wedding and a baptism. Should be more excitement and culture shock for me. They say there is a lot of dancing and drum beatings at weddings. I don’t know what to expect to the baby thing.
9. In conclusion: I am alive and doing well. Of course I have my ups and downs, but we all do. Some days are worse than others- but there are the nights when I just look up at the sky and see so many stars and thank God for this opportunity that I have. We are lucky living in the US. We don’t have to worry about Malaria, if our children will live past the age of 1, or hope for rain during the rainy season so our crops will grow. You all have washing machines and dryers, refrigerators to keep perishable food, access to good education, and knowing that you will live for a long time. Life here is hard, but it’s pure. People talk to each other and think of their neighbors. People discipline others children for the good of the community. I think this is about all I have to write for now. I will be away again for another week- incommunicado. In case you are wondering, it takes about 3 weeks for me to get any mail, so feel free to send me things: Letters, skittles, the Economist or Cosmo, DVD’s, or vanilla wafer cookies.