Leaving for Homestay

I leave bright and early tomorrow morning for my homestay village of...NGabacoro Droit, a village of 4,000 people about half an hour from Bamako. I'll be there with three other PCTs (or trainees), though there will be about 15 more within 10 minutes by bike. There I will focusing on learning French with a little Bambara thrown in.

It was kind of exciting getting our homestay assignments today. Most of us are learning French and Bambara, meaning we could really be sent anywhere in the country. Still it was fun to learn who will be in the same village with us for the next few months. Those individuals who are going to be living in a more remote part of the country found that out, as they're learning languages such as Tamasheq and Dogon.

Training is fine, with nothing new to really report. The three legged cat just had kittens. They'll be old enough for me to take one to my site when I get my assignment. Definitely a possibility. Besides that things are the same. I got pictures onto my computer, but the internet wouldn't let me put them up online. I'll try again tonight if I have time. Otherwise it will be a few weeks. I get back to Tubaniso (and a computer) in just under two weeks (ish).

K'an b'u fo!

Tubaniso

We've been in Tubaniso (or "House of the Doves") for a few days now while taking crash courses in Bambara, Malian culture and life in the heat. We are relearning everything from how to eat, shower, use the restroom...that's right people, no toilets... and speak. At the moment I share a hut with a fellow volunteer that contains beds, mosquito nets and our massive luggage. Tubaniso also has three village pets, including a gazelle, a three legged cat and a giant tortoise.

Bambara is my favorite class thus far, and though I'll mainly be learning French, I plan on continuing with a Bambara tutor throughout my service. It will be super useful here, and is simply a fun language to speak.

On Wednesday we will all move out of Tubaniso for our homestay villages somewhere within 120 kms from Bamako. That's where we'll be training for the next eight weeks with occasional stops back here. Internet usage will come and go over the coming months as I move in and out of Tubaniso. I'm not sure what's going on with mail, but no one has gotten any yet. Someone says it comes in once a week or so, but I'll only get it when here, and not at my homestay village. I'll update when I can (and hopefully more detailed when there aren't people waiting for the computers or wireless is back up). Pictures to come when I can use my laptop.

Hope to talk to you all soon (in one form or another). Until then, k'an ben!

Staging

I've been at staging for a few days, which has gone really well. The people here are incredible. It's wonderful to be around a huge group of people who all have similar ideals, goals and worried parents. There are over 80 volunteers going to Mali with me tomorrow, as well as another 30 or 40 in our hotel who are going to Benin. From what I understand, we'll all be on the same plane to Paris tomorrow evening...should be fun.

Staging is crazy. Yesterday was mainly introductions, getting to know everyone and reminders of all kinds of crap we already knew. This morning we were up at 6:30 for shots and our first malaria pills, and this afternoon is full of seminars of safety, Peace Corps protocols and whatnot. We have more staging events tomorrow morning before leaving for the airport at 1.

Anyways, I thought I'd just let everyone know I'm doing well and having a fantastic time. Send letters!

Thank you.

This has been a great weekend; my last here in Santa Rosa. I want to thank everyone who has made it do special. My plane leaves in about 12 hours, and I feel lucky to have a great support system behind me. I'll be in Philadelphia for a few days before heading to Mali. I will have my cell phone until I leave for Africa, so feel free to give me a call before Thursdayish. And check out the pictures link, there are some new good ones!

What is the Harmattan?

The Harmattan is a dry, dusty wind that blows south off of the Sahara during the winter. When it blows strongly, it creates a haze that reduces visibility like San Francisco fog. It can blow sand and dust as far south as South America. The wind, however, does bring relief from the insane summer heat.

The first real post.

I feel the need to write a post as Caroline wrote the first one...and just to get things moving.

I leave California on Monday, and am completely unprepared as of right now. Packing is not going well, and probably won't be finished until right before I leave Monday morning. I feel that I should be able to fully enjoy my last few days here, which does not include packing; so it should just magically happen. Until that happens, all my Peace Corps possessions are scattered all over my old bedroom. And yes, I mean ALL over.

Just a reminder that there's a goodbye party on Saturday at 4ish at my house. There will be food. And tears.

hi

hello my name is jamie