Oh Happy Days

Welcome Esa! I am such a happy PCV right now!

Last week, I went to 2 baptisms. As previously stated, “naming ceremony” would probably be a better term. One of the baptisms I went to, I didn’t even know the family! But, I brought a gift (soap), and this particular family spent a lot of money and slaughtered a lamb. This lamb was so tasty! It reminded me of Greece!

Esa

I knew the family of the other baptism I went to. It was Diane’s guards’ (Moussa) wife’s (Mye) baby. His name is Esa. So cute! He is such a big baby, which means he’s healthy. Laura told me most Malian children at her health clinic at her village weigh about 2 Kilos after birth. Esa weighted in at like 4 Kilos!

This week, I am finishing the paperwork for the faucet project. I HOPE to turn in the paperwork by Monday….but it is West Africa and we are on WAIT.

We have a few meetings at work these next coming weeks, and I want to organize my thoughts (and then translate them to French). This is my time to give my opinions and ideas.

Thanksgiving is next week!!! And my family is coming next month!!! It’s crazy that the time has finally arrived!

A few random sightings-

A few weeks ago, I was biking by and saw a really cute little girl on a tire. Normally, children use bike tires as toys and run and hit the wheel with a stick to get the wheel moving. One little girl put her tire on a cut down tree and sat on it like a tire swing.

I saw an 18 wheeler carrying dried sheep skins. And, there were 3 poor sheep sitting in front of it. I’m having a hard time describing this, but it was really funny and I wished I had my camera near by!

I have seen so many wrecks within the past month! The most tragic wreck was an 18 wheeler that ran off the side of the road. People were sitting on top (pretty typical), but they were thrown from the truck and sweet potatoes (what the truck was carrying) feel and killed 4 individuals. People were picking up sweet potatoes 2 days after the wreck.

Chillin in potato scraps

Lala and Esa

Happy mom, Mye and Esa

proud daddy, Moussa

Who's ready for some futbol?

Fast, Fun Week

My dinner; gorgeous isnt it?

It seems like every time I am about to Bamako, I get sick. 2 weekends ago (November 1st & 2nd), I went home that night, feeling real puny. I was running a fever, took some Motrin, and finally went to sleep. The next morning, my fever rose. Anyway, also how it seems to happen to me, when I go to the doctor, I don’t look as bad as I did when I was at home. Anyway, I was not feeling great the whole time I was in Bamako. But, I did go to an expats house for an election party. I felt so young and broke! It was a potluck. I brought candy…the expats brought nice wines, lamb, chicken, etc. Anyway, hopefully they understand that we are living 2 different lives here and we don’t have money. The house was phenomenal! I didn’t see a pool, but I did see the tennis courts and the “game house” (which I do believe is bigger than my apartment). And, I saw my first washing machine and dryer! I was a bit disappointed I didn’t see more ice cream in the freezer. The election party was fun, especially because we were all pulling for the same candidate. I left at 3:30 am because it was basically done (the whole time change couldn’t have come at a better time…just kidding).
The next day, I left with Chelsea to go back to Sikasso. I really do prefer the morning bus, but I overslept for the morning buses. On the taxi ride over, these guys hang on the cab. It is so annoying because if they bring you to a shady bus, they get a cut of money. (When I say shady, I mean unreliable…the 6 hour trip could take 11 hours). I wasn’t feeling great, and they were REALLY ANNOYING, and I did something I probably should not have done. I threw water on one of them. He was totally taunting me (no excuse). Anyway, he caught it with his mouth and spit it at me. Guess I deserved what I got. Anyway, he was either cussing me out in Bambara or cursing me, but I couldn’t understand him. And, what really stinks is I don’t think I deterred him from harassing the next “tubabs”.
Sadly, the mayors’ son (in Sikasso) got hit by a bus, so the mayor put out an order that NO BUS stop in the city, and should go straight to the bus station. If they are caught, it’s a 50 dollar fine. This was irritating because formerly, I would get dropped off literally at my front door. I am sad for the mayor, but I don’t think this is the solution because now the buses fly through town (believe me, I’m on my bike) along with the 18 wheelers. Ideally, they would implement speed limits, install speed bumps, and have designated bus stops. Sigh. So I had to walk 20-30 minutes home, but that beats going to the bus station. I passed several of the people I regularly greet, and they were congratulating me, giving me high fives, as if I personally got Obama elected. Everybody was really excited.
This past weekend, it was the annual Balafon Festival. It was so much more organized last year, but we all had a good time. Burkina Faso press asked me if they could interview me…I directed them to Lindsay. Lindsay was able to give a shout out to her village. Unsurprisingly, Burkina won. They totally deserved it. I wish I could look at the sheet that they are judged on.
I started taking medicine yesterday and am already feeling better.
“My e” (Dianes guards’ wife) had a baby boy last Thursday! The baptism is on Wednesday, so I should have some adorable pictures of the new baby!
I am trying very hard to get the paperwork finished for the faucet project, but things move real slow here. Hopefully, it will be up by December. When it is posted, I will put instructions on how to help!
I have this great idea that I am going to make a Where's Lala Calendar? Can you find me:)

Halloween

I need to start doing a better job journaling! This week was fine. Fairly uneventful (probably because I didn't write anything down).
On Friday night, Laura, Adelle, Katy, and I made cheesburgers! (Actually, Vascure burgers...vascure is fake cheese...doesn't need refrigeration). It was marvelous!
On Saturday, PC called. They came into town to check out the new bureau. At the same time, I was suppose to meet with Babemba. Sigh. I was late to the Babemba meeting, but it wasn't a big deal because it's Mali. I'm feeling pretty good that the village is going to get a robinet by March!
Halloween, celebrated in Sikasso on November 1st, was fun. Only Laura, Ben, and I dressed up. Ben made these amazing masks. I'll see if I take his picture. I went home that night, not feeling great. I had a fever, and all afternoon and night, green stuff was coming out of my eye. The next morning, I was feeling sick, my fever rose, and it was just not fun. I went to Bamako, and was able to stay in the medical unit. I got check out this morning. It wasn't pink eye, the fever is gone, and it's not strep throat. I'm not 100%, but I'm feeling much better.