Where do I even begin?

My sleeping arrangements in hot season

We still don’t have internet. I was managing just fine until we had a taste of the apple (internet in the old bureau for like 10 days), and we (Sikasso Kaw) are about to go crazy! I bet the IT guy at PC has my number blocked…

On 03/19/09 Ransom, Adele, Yacuba (cabbie), and Ransom’s counterpart went to go see Oumo Sangare. I was so underdressed. Malian women wore prom like outfits; I looked like I gardened all day. It was fun even though I only understood a word (okay 4 words). I had to leave at 12:30 am because I was exhausted.

Digging for installing the pipes for the faucet

The most important news is that the faucet was installed on March 24th. I’ve been reflecting a lot, and it’s so absurd how you can work on a project for a year and it’s done it a day. I am extremely happy that everything worked out, even with the few bumps. We will have our final faucet meeting on Sunday to discuss the future, strengths/weaknesses of the project, etc.

03/26/09 was a holiday. It was when Mali DECIDED that they were going to become independent (Mali’s Independence Day is September 22).

I am disappointed that the Worldwise School Program didn’t work out. I wrote to a school in South Carolina in December and have yet to hear from them. It would have been nice for the teacher to explain or just inform me that the relationship was terminating.

I started studying for the GMAT. It’s unfortunate that during the test, you can’t use paper. They give you “slabs” (dry erase boards) to do your scratch work and the actual exam is given on a computer. I guess I’m old fashion, but I would prefer the pencil/paper test.

I thought more was happening in my life, but I thought wrong.

The cyber cafe is SO SLOW today. It has taken me an hour for 2 pictures. More next time.

New Bureau, No internet

This week was fine. We had a lovely new bureau with no internet. I am the regional technical assistant so everybody has been texting me, "when are we going to get internet?" The thing is, I have no idea. So, I am being persistent (annoying the PC IT guy) but all I want is to stay in the loop.

The guy at the water place that needs to sign/stamp the paper is on vacation. We will go again this week.

It is starting to get hot, but I can still sleep at night so it's not full-fledge hot season.

Jumping through hoops

Makan and I went to the water company, the mayor's office, and the environment conservation office to get the right "documents" to begin the faucet project. I feel like they want to see us jumping through hoops. The question is how many hoops do we have to go through? It seems like a lot of stereotypical protocol. It seems like people want to feel important, give you a piece of paper with shoddy craftsmanship (nearly always has errors) that they made their secretary type, and then they stamp it with an official stamp. Then they sign next to the stamp. I once asked a Malian to sign on the line. He adamantly refused. He was going to sign beside the stamp, darn it! I have to go back to the mayor's office and the water company this afternoon. Good thing I'm good at waiting!

So, it's official: Sikasso is getting a new bureau! It's magnificent. But, there is so many things we need to get rid of before moving. Yesterday, I threw away a piece of paper from 2001!! (Unfortunately, there is no recycling center here. But, I always use the back of papers.)

Here's something you don't see everyday: I saw a dead donkey on the side of the road. Last night, he was real sick (laying down, diarrheaing...not a good sign). Today he was dead.

Schedule:
~Trying to get the official stamps so the work for the faucet can begin (enshallah)
~Going to Woroni with PC because I am at a dead end.
~Planning and organizing (with Laura) a regional meeting for the 1st year volunteers for the end of April
~Meeting a sorority sister in Paris in May!
~Close of Service conference midMay!
~Job searching/applying/trying to get resume ready; beginning to think about life post PC
~Attempting to finish Guns, Germs, and Steel (I started this book in October!)