A Malian Adventure

Since I came back to Mali in January I have been at the Peace Corps training center in Bamako.  I am surrounded by other PCVol's.  Monday we went on a field trip!  I have always loved field trips!  We went to a village about 40k from our training site.  In the US frame of mind, one would think 40k is not very far- that it should only be about a 20min. car ride.  Well, I'm in Mali.  That 20minutes turned into 1 whole hour of sand hills, bouncing, cramped conditions, and sun.  The road was not paved.  It was sand.  It reminded me of the roads in Philly after a “snow storm”...horrible.  I could say at points the sand was about 4inches deep.  Enough complaining.  I basically got to go 4x4ing!  My stomach is paying the price right now.

On to my main event.  There were about 20 white people in my party, accompanied by 1 person each from our respective villages that are here for 1 week of training.  Upon our 2 hour late arrival there were drummers, dancing, and singing.  It was a grande celebration!  We went this village observe a shea nut formation.  Mali is the 2^nd largest grower of shea nuts. The shea nut can be used for many different things.  

To get back to my African moment;  after our festive greeting, we had to walk to the village chief’s house.  We gave our thanks and respect for letting us come to his village, and from there we paraded through the town.   We proceeded to the shaded mango grove to where the formation was to be held.  It was quite the experience, and sometime in the future I will write about Malian gatherings.  Goodnight for now.

This picture posted is how the Malian woman carries her baby.  They can do everything with the baby on their backs.  I admire Malian women for their strength.

Inauguration and Updates

We have a new president!! I have a new boss!  I couldn't be more happy about it!  65 excited PCV's went to the American club in Bamako to watch the swearing in ceremony.  I was really excited about the whole process, wondering where our international camera crew was.  Instead they just kept showing shots of cute little kids in Jakarta watching the event.  Come on, 100+ Americans in Mali (3rd poorest country in the world) piled into one small room to watch this event on the AFN?  I think we deserved one.  

Anyway, the event was going very nicely until the one full minute of Arlington Cemetery was showcased.  14 days after we buried my grandma, I just was not ready to see the graveyard.  I started crying on the spot.  I held myself together long enough to see Obama sworn in, but that was it.  I had to leave.  I called my best cousin, Mary and just lost it.  It felt good, and it helped.  I was depressed for the rest of what should have been such a fun night.  

Overall, things here have been good.  I've been practicing my Bambara for 1-2hours everyday and hopefully this coming week I will start on my French lessons.  I'm learning more about shea butter productions, how to graft trees so we can start planting more (and bare fruit faster), I've learned about better and more efficient farming techniques, how to make mud stoves en brousse,  as well as the importance of sustainability in our work.  We also went to a local school and taught them about irrigation systems.  They were freezing, it's in the 70's during the day. 

I am back in the habit of taking bucket baths, wiping dirt off my feet before I get into bed, having oatmeal for breakfast every morning, squatting over a hole in the ground to go to the bathroom, waiting to hear back from people at home, sleeping with a mosquito net around me, and always caring toilet paper with me wherever I go because there is 99% chance of there not being TP where I happen to squat.  I have 1 more week here in Bamako, my homolouge (person in  my village that looks after me) will be coming tomorrow to get side by side training with me.  I am really anxious to get back 'home.'  It will be about 3 months since I've been there.  I miss my hammock, my 20k bike rides, my morning tea, and the slowness of life.  I also miss sitting under the stars and dreaming.  

Our highlight of the day today was the Snake Guy!  Look for yourself, as I really don't want to know specifics, but Mali has a lot of different types of snakes.  Some even may be poisonous and deadly.... Today he showed them to us, caged up.  He had his little boys with him that were not afraid at all of them.  I was.  I hate snakes.  In Mali, we have vipers, cobras, and various others.  If I happen to see a snake this is what I do:  don't move.  If I get bit by one I am to not panic, don't try to suck the venom out, and don't drink coffee or alcohol.  I'm ready!  I must say Phoenix has their share of snakes.   Unfortunately Mali does not have the 911 service or ambulances, so getting bit is not a good option.  On the bright side we were told only 20 people a year die of snake bites, Africa wide! I think I'll be ok!

I've rambled enough.  If you get anything from this blog, know that:  I miss my grandma terribly, it's warmer here than where you are, I get to wear flip flops to work, the president of Mali is Amadou Toumani Troure (ATT)- hey, Malians all over were watching the inaug. of our Pres, I feel it's my duty to inform the masses.

My Favorite Malin Pics

Just a few pictures I thought I would post.  

Visiting a fellow PCV in her village, we came across a wedding! This little boy kept making faces at the camera!  Kids are kids everywhere in the world!

Shea nuts and Moringa leaves, two resources I will be working with here in Mali

Dnumba with the world in her hands, sweetest little girl ever

Limes and peppers in the market

My host lil'bro-cutest little Malian

Motivated!

So, today in training I heard a great speaker today.  He was a vol. here in Mali back in the 90's.  He started his own NGO- African Skies-check the site out!  I was reminded of 2 things today.  1-this is a job.  I am here to work.  I went through almost a 1yr app. process to come here, it is not a 2yr (semi-paid) vacation.  

2- I was reminded today why i joined PCorps: because I wanted to do something here in Africa.  It is encouraging to see my fellow vols. getting equally excited by this one mans enthusiasm.  One person really can make a difference.  

I will be posting links to projects that anyone can donate to.  Even if it's $10 it can really make a difference out here.  Wells need to be built, workshops to be held, sanitation and nutrition advances to make!  Even though the economy in the US is going pretty bad, just remember how good we still have it.  Each and every one of us has electricity, running water, heat/cooling in our houses, food, and education for males and females.  These basic rights that we Americans feel we deserve are not needs that are met all around the world.   Instead of spending $40 on a new purse, think of what $40 could do here in Mali:-)  

Thanks-Monica

 

Back in Mali, even more excited to be here!

I finally have slowed down.  The past few weeks have been unimaginable.  The day after we buried my grandma I began my journey back to Mali.  A red-eye flight to Paris and an extended layover in the freezing terminal, I made it to Mali in the middle of the night (the following night).  Now, after 5 days of traveling by car, airplane, bus, 10+miles of bicycling, and more buses I am back in Bamako for 3 weeks of training.  I had about 20 minutes to run to my village to tell them that I am back in the country, but I will be gone for another month or so.  I was asked how my family back home was and got some blessing for the soul of my grandma, and the healing of my mom.  Very nice. 

Overall, I am happy to be back here in Mali.  I really like my life out here and what I am doing.  I’ve met some really interesting people here, and I was happy to see that people were glad I came back. 

So, now that I’m living in Africa I have to get used to my realities here: checking my cloths/shoes for bugs before I put them on, using the hole in the ground to do my bathroom businesses, having little control of what I eat for my 3 squares, bargining for everything I buy, and washing my underwear by hand.  On the brighter side, the sun is shining here.  I’m guessing it’s been in the 70’s, maybe low 80’s.  It’s my perfect weather:  not hot, and not cold.  Just perfect, almost like Albany in early September. 

Not too much else to report.  My Bambara got tested and I was pleastantly surprised that after 2 months of not speaking a language, I tested into the intermediate level  I have a lot of extra language studying to do in the next 2 weeks, but it’s needed.  I now have 1.5years left here….how the time really does fly. 

 Thanks to everyone for your support during this really difficult time.  It really helps that I have friends and family that really care.