Farewell Trinh

Love this pict

Trinh and her fam (and yes, thats pc fabric on the kids)
The Belushis (minus jack)

Trinh and Madame
I met the newbies last week. It’s still surreal that a year has gone by, my friends are leaving, and new people are “replacing” them. It’s….refreshing? to know how much I have grown as an individual, just talking to the newbies. I’ve changed so much as an individual. Basically, my perspective of life has changed. I do believe I have changed more this past year than my 4 years of college. Maybe it’s just a different kind of change. Maybe you can’t even compare college and Mali. I don’t know. But, it’s neat reflecting and thinking, I’ve come a long way! Language, emotionally, and just how things that used to be such a BIG DEAL, just aren’t.

Last weekend, Trinh had her farewell party. It was fun. Lots of dancing, laughter, friends. I designated myself as the photographer because I would want someone to do that for me. Even though, I probably won’t have such a big bash next year.

I ended up going to Bamako for rectifying travel arrangements. It was such a huge relief getting everything taken care of.

I didn’t take pictures in Bamako because I would have been crying in most of them. But, it was fun hanging out with Trinh before she left. I sure am going to miss her, but I do thank God that our paths crossed in this craziness called life.

It’s funny how things work out. While I am sad that Trinh left, I did (FINALLY) receive the last 2 books of the Twilight Saga. So, I’ve been pretty busy this week.

Me with my 6.50 cedi bottle of dr.pepper (6.50 usd)

Best DR.PEPPER of MY LIFE

Ghana

me, Becky, and Anna at the border

Ghana was absolutely wonderful. I think we all decided that it wouldn’t have been nearly as impressive if we came from the states, but coming from Mali? Ghana is a little paradise in West Africa.

I unfortunately didn’t do a good job of journaling, so most of this is from memory. I know I will leave out things, so for 2 other points of view, check out Anna’s and Becky’s blog.

I was planning on leaving for Bamako on Sunday (July ?), but I woke up sick. I was the only one who got sick after our Mexican night. It was probably a good thing I didn’t leave on Sunday because I really wasn’t ready. So, I lounged for most of the day and then packed.

On Monday while I was on my way to Bamako, I got a call from Anna saying that they guy canceled our tickets because we didn’t pay 3 days after making our reservations. No one told us that. Sigh. So, over land we went!

We left Monday morning. It was fine, but the lady beside me, I thought, was a bit rude (Comes to find out she’s not Malian). We were rolling along nicely until we hit the Burkina Faso border. There were 3 check points. 1 and 2 were near each other, but the 3^rd was about 30 minutes from the 2^nd. To make a long story short, 2 guys (again, not Malians) put cocaine in milk bags and got caught. So, they put everybody on the bus (including the 2 smugglers) and we went back to check point 2. Apparently, we couldn’t take the bus we were on again, so we had to wait for another bus to pick us up. Sigh. This was at 8 pm, and I was getting really hungry, but so was everybody else. I don’t know what happened to those guys. There was no electricity at the 2^nd check point, so I really don’t know if there was a place to put them in or what.

I don’t know what day it is, but our first actual touristic stop was in Kamasi. Kamasi has this incredible market that even puts Bamako to shame. I had a delicious milkshake. After Kamasi, we went to Axim. That was actually a mistake because we thought The Green Turtle was near Kamasi. We thought wrong. We spent the night in Axim, and then went to The Safari Lodge the next day. SL was extremely nice, but left such a bitter taste. We paid for 2 nights. We weren’t sure how long we were going to stay before moving on. So, the morning of day 2, we decided that we were going to stay for a 3^rd night. We paid in front of the owner. Day 3, we were asked to leave because they gave our room to someone else because we weren’t “patronizing the hotel”. We couldn’t AFFORD the meals there! So, we ate at the GT. At the GT, I got an alcoholic drink, meal, and dessert for LESS THAN the price of one meal at the SL. I was so mad. It would have been one thing if they said that they were already booked, but to take our money? That’s low. And we were quiet, respectful guests. Some people only care about money. (The owner, an American, and I spoke for a good 15 minutes and knew that we are PC volunteers.) So, I recommend

Anna, Becky, me @ the Beach!

The Green Turtle. If you’re in Ghana, go to the Green Turtle. Good food, good people, good price. After getting booted from SL, the staff at GT was very kind and let us camp there.

Does anyone else find this picture funny?

After the GT, we went to Cape Coast. We toured a slave castle. I have become more aware of my sense of smell after living in Mali for a year (even though you aren’t suppose to smell things…sometimes you don’t want to smell people but you can), and I couldn’t stop thinking of the stench the slaves were living in before getting on a boat. 1 room housed 150 people. They used the bathroom there. Lots of people didn’t even make it out of the room alive because of illness.

beach at Cape CoastAt a national park (Anna, Becky, me)

After Cape Coast, we went to Accra (the capital of Ghana). All we did in Accra was eat and shop. I did get a hotdog, Dr. Pepper, and nachos. I paid an absurd amount of money for each of those items, but hey, it’s vacation!

Cheescake for breakfast?! YES PLEASE!

Ghana is 80% Christian, and we all had fun looking at signs. The top two signs were “Except God” and “How Great Thou Art” Store (art supply store).

Oh how I love sour cream!

On the way back to Mali, we spent 2 nights in bus stations. Needless to say, I was delighted to get back home

At the end, all the bus stations ran together....and yes, that would be me asleep in the tent

Even though Ghana was visibly more developed than Mali, we still ran into obstacles. TISA. (This is STILL Africa)

Ghana...here i come

So, yesterday I woke up really sick. I was going to leave for Bamako, but it just wasnt happening. I left this morning, and about half way through, some guy in an army cowboy hat entered the bus. He was passing out traditionalle medicama. I thought it was hilarious how people were saving it, and even buying some! I dont see him being very successful on public transport in Ameriki.
Well, the airplane fell through....grrrr. So, im trying to mentally prep for a 40ish bus hour trip tomorrow...

Leaving for Ghana Next Week

This month has gone by soo fast! I can’t believe I am going to Ghana next week!

Really, nothing of interest happened this week.

Oh, I did go to a funeral last week. I forgot to put my friends blog link last time, so here it is http://chelseamali.blogspot.com. The men and women were seated separately. When we arrived, somebody was yelling blessings through an intercom. At 9 am, we had rice and pasta and delicious meat. Chelsea told me that they bought 20 Kilos of meat the day before! After eating, we greeted the 2 wives, the mother, and the village chief. Then we chilled.
Laura’s mom took Laura and me out to dinner. It was so sweet of her! I had such a fabulous time! She is a RPCV, so it was interesting hearing how different she pictured Mali.
I was sick yesterday. The 3rd book in the series still has not arrived. I am trying to be patient…AHHHHHHHHHHH.

I have to pack and clean this weekend to get ready to go on my trip!

1 Year Mark! Oh, yeah

This week, I’m hitting the one year mark! Some days, I can’t believe how fast this year has gone by. Other days, I feel like I’ve lived here for about a decade.

I had tutoring the other day. It’s been a while, and it’s so nice feeling like I’ve improved!

Trinh and I watched 27 Dresses yesterday. It is a stereotypical chick flick. I loved it! Drama, predictability, happy ending. What’s not to love? We ate popcorn, cookies, and drank soda.

I also began running again yesterday. I was annoyed that so many people would greet me while running, so I decided to listen to music and tune the world out. I mean, I really do appreciate people wanting to greet me, but when I’m running?! I don’t think they understand it’s like if I stopped their soccer game to greet. Nobody would do that. Running is my soccer. I wonder how many people I ignored yesterday.

I am going to my friend’s village this weekend for a funeral. There was a horrific well accident last month. Typically, you are put in the ground the day you die. Then, they have a funeral that day, 7 days later, and then again at 40 days. I am going to the 40^th day funeral, which is typically the largest because people can arrange for transportation and such. While it was such a tragedy for the whole community, I remain amazed at how strong my friend is and just how supportive her village is. Check out her Peace Corps experience at .

Flash back: Swear in day, September 9, 2007

Sikasso Kaw, The Breakfast Club: Still Going Strong!!

Pictures Galore!

View from my roof: Sikasso

The bat (it was WAY BIGGER when walking/hopping)


After the bat incident

Anna and me in Bamako...waiting for the BEST CHEESEBURGERS EVER


The 4th of July 08 in Manitali

Manitali is Beautiful!
Sikasso Kaw!
Our bus

View from walking up the side of the hill
me at the top of the hill

Getting back on the bus

Malian women who came over to greet us when we had a flat

I don't do rats, I don't do bats

Last Wednesday evening, I was packing for my upcoming trip to Manitali. I am excited, but also a bit anxious because I like to leave my house clean when I leave (thanks Mom). Well, I see in the corner of my eye a black, flog like thing and completely FREAK OUT! I can't remember the last time I screamed so loud. I told Linds she better come and deal with this "thing". After she moved the furniture, and it showed it's ugly face again, I realized it was a BAT! Linds went down stairs to get help. I have amazing neighbors and they were already at the back door! They came in a delt with it. I <3>

The next day, Linds and I went to Bamako together. We left earlier than the other group, but got in later.

We went out to eat at an amazing burger place! Cheeseburgers are delicious! The next day, we went to the bus station at 7 am. Our bus was suppose to leave at 9 am but we didn't roll out until 10:30 am. It ended up breaking down 2 K away from Kita, so we walked. From Kita, we waited, oh, 4 hours to get on a van. Sigh. But, we did get there! It made my heart smile when a boy was riding a bike with a trunk on the back of it (from what I understood, it was for a sick woman and her child) , and our driver let him put his bike on top of the car and ride with us. Nighttime was quickly approaching, and he still had a good 15 K in front of him.

When I saw Manitali in the day light, it was absolutely beautiful! I did see some monkeys, but unfortunately, the hippos weren't around when I was. The 4th of July was a lot of fun! Most of the people in the region didn't host, so it was a bit confusing. Nobody was really in charge. On the way back, there were 18 volunteers in the basche. We had to walk up the hill so the basche could make it. It was at an inclince...I kept on thanking God that I didn't have a backpack on my back!

I am in Bamako for my midservice health exam. Lots of people were talking trash about the dentist, but he said "Your teeth are very good." So, I didn't have any problems.

I went to the Ghana Embassy today. It's official! I'm going to Ghana! I am going with Becky and Anna. They are so sweet! I know we are going to have a blast!

I will try to add some pictures tomorrow. The video application is ridiculously slow.