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!)