11 months!!!

Another picture from Amandas birthday

So, last week, we passed our 11 month mark! Crazy huh?!? And what’s even crazier is that the new kids are coming in like 2 weeks!!
I really have nothing to report this week, so I’ll share a story and my present.
I eat breakfast at Fatimata’s every day (except the weekends). I’m a regular. She’s really sweet, and speaks Bambara, but if I look really confused (and I often do), she explains it to me in French. Today I sat down beside a 7 year old or so (I thought I was bad at guess ages in Ameriki…I’m even worse in Mali!), and she had a baby doll strapped to her back. Or so I thought. I took another look and it was a brand spanking new baby! Couldn’t have been more than a month old. I am often concerned about the lack of support of newborns necks here.
My friend, Julia, came to my work today. (She works at the hospital and wanted an American name, so I tried to use most of her letters and came up with Julia). She got back from China, and brought me back a bracelet. It was so sweet! The only problem is she is really thin. I’m not. She forced the bracelet on me…I don’t think it’s coming off until either I lose some weight, or I gain more weight and have to go to the hospital and get it removed.
The 4th of July is next week! Last year, I sat by the lake with my family and ate my heart out! (bbq ribs, potato salad…that’s all that I can remember). I still don’t know what I am doing this year. I’ll probably go where the big group is going. Afterwards, I am going to Bamako for my midservice medical exam. I’m a little nervous about going to the dentist because we are not in Ameriki anymore! But, I am excited about free internet and pizza!

Morning hair

Fun Times in Mali

Kids playing with the pasta wrappers

Last Thursday, I went to Amanda’s village. She is also from South Carolina (represent!), and just a great person. I wanted to leave at the crack of dawn, but I decided sleep was more important. But, I am happy to report that the transportation gods were smiling down on me. Instead of taking a bus or a bahshay, I rode in a truck! I felt a little guilty because I took a guys seat and he had to seat in the truck bed, but Malians, I feel, really look out for guests. I made it to Amanda’s site, but the only thing is, this was my first time there, and I didn’t know where to go. So, she got Meg to come and get me. In village, there are very little landmarks, but I know when I go back, I will know where to go.

Yes, this city girl pulls her own water!

Amanda had the right idea of doing pasta and meat. She invited a lot of Malians, and some PCVs came (Meg, Susie, and me). We really had a lovely time. She also had a cake! Complete with icing (butter+sugar…no joke)!

Hanging out

Carolina Girls...Best in the World!

Meg, Amanda, Susie, and me

On Friday morning, I woke up 6ish. Amanda lives in a concession with two other houses, and her host family gets up early! They have to start the fire to cook, pound millet, get water, etc. So needless to say, I didn’t get to sleep in! (It’s too hot to sleep inside) Susie, Meg, and I then went to Bla to catch a bus to San for the Anything Goes but Clothes party! I realized on the bus to Bla that it was Friday, which means mosque day and less transportation. I don’t know how long we waited in Bla, but I was a little…stubborn (keeping it G rated for the kids). The guy wanted us to buy our ticket, but I adamantly refused until I actually laid eyes on a bus. Another bus came, and we got on, even though right after, the guy who was “helping” us bus came. It was uncomfortably hot. No windows, no AC, and on the back row. But, we were moving! Susie is San Kaw (from San region), so she knew where to get off and where to go. It was fun seeing people I normally don’t get to see. That evening, we all got in our outfits. I was debating between my Auburn flag and my curtains, but I decided on wearing my Auburn flag. Some people are so creative! Some outfits included: toilet paper, magazines, soap wrappers, plastic bags, cards, bubble wrap, leaves…it was so much fun! There was dancing and chatting and laughing. I am glad I went.Breakfast Club sho (minus Susie, Mary, Kyle, Amy)t: sooo dusty
I had some corrections to make on the map, and Mary was at the party so we worked on it on Saturday. It looks so good! I played cards, napped, and just hung out. That night, we had spaghetti, salad, and cake. Delicious! I then hung out with Susie, Stephanie, and Rachel, all from my stage. It was just a good time.

I returned to Sikasso on Sunday. I think I sat on the MOST uncomfortable seat in my life from San to Kouctiala. The seat was too small, so I was basically sitting (1/2 way) on metal. But, on the second bahshay, I sat shot gun! I kept on falling asleep! My apartment was filthy (surprise), but as always, it’s good to be home.

Accomplishments

The architect and the recruiter


I truly lack artistic ability (minus the one semester in Mrs. West’s art class…but I still got a C). Sikasso doesn’t have a tourism map, so I recruited my friend Mary to draw one. So, this past week, she came to Sikasso. She is so talented! While I didn’t draw a thing, I feel like I accomplished something because of my amazing recruitment abilities. It looks exactly how I would want it to look like.

Check out that fine looking map!

Seydou (APCD for SED, which is my sector) called me on Monday. I got him to talk to my landlord about putting in a separate water counter for me. June 20^th is the date, but I’ll believe it when I see it.

Happy Birthday Calita!

On Wednesday, Sikasso Kaw (plus Mary) celebrated Calita’s birthday! She went to India a few weeks ago, and brought back spices! It was sooo good! Chicken, curry vegetables, and pitas. With chocolate cake and frosting! The power did go out, but it was back within an hour.

Trinh and me at the bday celebration

Adam (the volunteer I replaced) is leaving Mali in a few weeks, so he came down to Sikasso to say goodbye. We had a heart to heart chat. He gave me some great advice, and I am realizing the necessity of goals.

I may go to a party next weekend. I just don’t know. There is also a concert in Bamako that I am going to try to go to, but I guess I’ll have to wait and see. But, in a few weeks, I will be going to Bamako for my mid service health exam. I spend so much money in Bamako, I’m going to have to limit myself to one pizza and one trip to the patisserie (for ice cream of course!).

These men walk miles and miles. A tough job

Why use your hands when you have a head?

My tutor Makan

Uneventful Week

Here are a few highlights.

People warn you again and again about the gossip in PC. But, I found out this past week it’s true. I was really angry but I have to let it go. I just thought my closest friends wouldn’t talk about me. False. But, I now know who I can trust. I have so many wonderful friends in Ameriki that are so amazing and trustworthy. But, those relationships took years to build, not 11 months. Anyway, I have to be more careful.

I went to an environmental meeting this past week. I was definitely slumping in my chair when they showed the graph of countries producing hazardous gases. America was in the lead at 30%. Africa came rolling in at 2%.

Which brings me to my next point. Gas here is 570 CFA per LITER. If I remember correctly, there are 3.78 liters in a gallon. You can do the conversion at www.xof.com . But, what’s even more critical than gas (Yes, there is something more important) is food prices are going up. I am even noticing it.

We had Mexican Night at Trinh’s house. It was fabulous!! And, next week, Calita is celebrating her birthday with Indian Night! (She just got back from India, so she brought spices back).

Tomorrow, Mary (another PCV) is coming to help me with the tourist map. She has an architectural background, so I know that it will look really professional when we are done with it.

On Saturday night, Linds and I hung out downtown. We had cokes, went shopping for fabric, and ended up eating at a Tubab restraurant downtown. It was lovely! Linds is really nice (I am not) and she let some guy show her all of the things he was selling. After he said that a pillowcase was 30,000 CFA (absolutely ludicrous!) I blessed him, and said goodbye. Unfortunately, he would not leave, so I got up (Linds followed) to another table.

Oh, Linds

I believe I decided I am not going to the 4^th of July. Instead, I am planning on going to a party in a few weeks and attend a concert in Bamako. I am also hoping I can get in on the group that is going to Ghana in August! But, the newbies are coming (What?!) to look at their sites in August, so I want to be here for that. I just still can’t believe next month with be my year mark in MALI!! And, the Belushi’s (group that came July 06) are leaving in the next few months. Some days feel sooo long, but then you look at a calendar and think, wait a minute! It’s June?!

I got Em beads for her bday!

Ups and Downs…Always

May 24 I was going to go on a bike trip with Trinh to the local tea plantation, but I wasn’t feeling well. I had a cold, and thought that biking 25 K to the plantation and 25 K back sounded like a terrible idea.

Last Tuesday, Trinh and I had dinner with the Ambassador and PR. It was so chill! He was so nice and so down to earth! I learned a lot about the foreign service. For example, some positions are appointed and other are career positions. The food was okay (so expensive!), but the care package was fantastic! Inside the care package….DORRITOS! It was fantastic!

Last Wednesday, I went to the bus stop with a coworker. We finished gathering the information about different departure times and locations. I wasn’t feeling great (I think it was the salad, but who really knows?)

On Thursday, Emily arrived! I still was feeling bad, but it was great catching up! That evening, we made macaroni (also in the care package, expired but it didn’t even matter!), and made brownies. Delicious!

Friday was Emily’s birthday! We had rice and sauce for lunch. I shared the dorritos, but unfortunately couldn’t pass the bag when it was my turn. Big mistake. That evening, I couldn’t eat dinner, and eventually, got sick off of the dorritos. I was so angry! I mean, when is the next time I am going to be able to snack on dorritos?! I was going to show Em the tourist sites of Sikasso, but I just wasn’t up to it.

Saturday morning, OMATHO and PC had a meeting. I just love Saturday morning meetings! Of course, it was suppose to be at 9:15ish, but my meeting got started at 10 am. Malians are very repetitive. So, I had to hear how bad my French was about 20 times. And, I actually understood it each and every time! But, what really frustrated me was when my supervisor chuckled at me because I was asking questions. He said to me, “You don’t understand.” But the thing is, I did! I just wanted further information! I am aware I need to grow thicker skin because I cried in front of 5 Malian men (Hello, faux pas!) Now granted, I was sick, tired, and frustrated. But, if they had a class of controlling emotions, I would be the first to sign up! We went to Waroni afterwards (Trinh came! She is such a life saver!). And, I got some questions answered. Waroni needs a motivator, and I believe OMATHO is in denial. Again, this is my opinion only. I’m just really frustrated right now. And, it’s only normal for me to question the sex card; would things be different if I were a guy? Would I get more respect? (I wonder if I would cry in public as a guy?) So many questions which have no answers.

I basically hung out Sunday (Em left.). I still was sick, so I didn’t even want to leave my apartment. I was being “Johnny Raincloud” (reference to that terrible Disney movie with Nicolas Cage). But, my aunt Donna called and I got to vent! I felt so much better (mentally) and even got out of the bed to shower! And, the song “Carolina Girls” always puts me in a good mood. So, I went to sleep happier than I had been the whole day.

On Monday, I decided that I should start taking medicine. I got my results back. I really thought I had amebas, but everything was negative. I gave my body plenty of time to fight whatever I had, but it was unsuccessful. So, with the intervention of medicine, I am feeling much better now.

Ups and downs: the story of life.