Thousands of "aw bissimila" posters greeted us as we slowly got off the plane from France (Aw Bissimila means Ya'll are Welcome" in Bambara, which about 80% of the country speaks). I had spent most of the flight watching the streaming video of what we were flying over-- from the Mediterranean onto the never-ending Sahara desert. I was surprised as we arrived at the Bamako airport just how light and busy the city was, even at 9:30 pm at night. While I was in Kampala, Uganda, electricity shortages meant that lighting was questionable and usually every other night. Of course, Bamako is more likely to have consistent electricity than most other places because it is the capital.
The 77 Peace Corps trainees filled up a number of airconditioned Peace Corps SUVs and a bus with ourselves and our luggage-- each person with two huge bags at least. After a drive through the outskirts of the city, we got out at our training village. My glasses fogged up as if I were entering my house after playing outside in the snow, except this fog was humidity. There isn't even a word in Bambara for snow.
We've gone through sessions outlining health, safety, language and cross-cultural concerns. We've had interviews with our sector (mine is Small Enterprise Development) and language leaders. We've played and danced at the "cultural festival" organized at our training village. We've had so much fun-- it's great to be with a slew of such skilled and awesome people and at the same time that our time together as the big group will be limited.
My interview with our sector leader makes me believe that I will be placed in a smaller village to do my actual Peace Corps service. This was further confirmed by the fact that I will be focusing my language studies on Bambara for most of our pre-service training (PST). (Side note: I received an "Intermediate-mid" rating after my French test-- not quite sure how, but I think that I can make stuff up, even in French!!) Half-way through PST I'll also receive a lot of French lessons to insure that I will be able to speak when necessary.
I've had no trouble whatsoever sleeping in the heat-- it's actually quite comforting. Each night has been approximately 80ish degrees farenheit, plus humidity. We have a fan in our room that we have been using, and we sleep with the door open and a screen door shut. Maybe I'm just so exhausted from the long days or maybe this is good weather for me! Either way, I should be sleeping well for a while until the rainy season ends and the mini-hot season begins in Octoberish. Then, supposedly, most volunteers end up sleeping outside. I can't wait.
Animals seen so far include: awesome bugs and birds, lizards and salamanders, and more bugs. The training center is next to the Niger (the gorgeous river that flows through Mali). I might find some hippos soon :-)
I won't be able to write for a while as I get settled into my homestay, but know that I'm thinking of AW (ya'll in Bambara). Next time I'll come back with tons of new phrases to share with you-- my homestay family won't speak English and few will speak French.
We've learned the basics and tomorrow will be headed to our homestay villages to make ALL of the cultural mistakes possible. At least I'll be good at that.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Beautiful
Exactly one week from now I'll be on a plane making its way across the Atlantic Ocean that will separate me (geographically) from the country that I call my home. Hopefully my time in Mali will allow me to call another country my home, at least temporarily.
Feelings. Right now.
Okay. I'm nervous mostly because I really don't speak French yet. I know they say that immersion is the best way to learn, and I'm super excited to be immersed, but I've never done anything quite like this before. Spanish immersion camp didn't count-- we'd always cheat by speaking to our bunkmates completely in English. But this time I won't have English speaking bunkmates. For the first three (or so) months, I will live with a homestay family outside the city in a community that will host up to 15 other Peace Corps Volunteers. This is where I will put in to practice all of what I will learn at training. I hope that I'll have homestay siblings about my age who will demonstrate the dos and don'ts so I do shower twice daily and I don't smell a banana again (for those of you who missed out on my Uganda messages, smelling food is impolite in Uganda, but guess what I did even after I had learned this...)
The north country has been so gorgeous lately, I almost wish that I could stay a little longer to enjoy the tranquility that accompanies being in the middle of no where. As much as I despise north country winters and a general lack of action/motivation, the winds off the St. Lawrence immediately temper my mood and make me wonder why I chose to move away from this beautiful place. I'm excited, though, to add a new definition of "gorgeous" to my vocabulary as I make my way through the Sahel.
Feelings. Right now.
Okay. I'm nervous mostly because I really don't speak French yet. I know they say that immersion is the best way to learn, and I'm super excited to be immersed, but I've never done anything quite like this before. Spanish immersion camp didn't count-- we'd always cheat by speaking to our bunkmates completely in English. But this time I won't have English speaking bunkmates. For the first three (or so) months, I will live with a homestay family outside the city in a community that will host up to 15 other Peace Corps Volunteers. This is where I will put in to practice all of what I will learn at training. I hope that I'll have homestay siblings about my age who will demonstrate the dos and don'ts so I do shower twice daily and I don't smell a banana again (for those of you who missed out on my Uganda messages, smelling food is impolite in Uganda, but guess what I did even after I had learned this...)
The north country has been so gorgeous lately, I almost wish that I could stay a little longer to enjoy the tranquility that accompanies being in the middle of no where. As much as I despise north country winters and a general lack of action/motivation, the winds off the St. Lawrence immediately temper my mood and make me wonder why I chose to move away from this beautiful place. I'm excited, though, to add a new definition of "gorgeous" to my vocabulary as I make my way through the Sahel.
Friday, June 20, 2008
College Graduate
I have survived the first month post-graduation!
Some days have been more difficult than others, as I find myself sitting at home with my dog watching old movies and making photo albums to take with me to Mali. The days that I wait anxiously for my gmail account to show a new message from friends actually doing things are bad day; the worst are the days of South Bend permacloud that I feel like doing nothing except turning on the classic sports channel and watch reruns of amazing football games.
I have to be honest-- I've been sleeping in way past the time anyone should be allowed to sleep in multiple days in a row. If catching up on sleep is possible, I must be close to being back to the normal average number of hours of sleep a night. Or maybe it's just that I realize I won't be getting a lot of sleep in the heat of the Sahel, so I'm storing it up.
Not much of interest going on. Packing is almost complete. This Saturday will be Paige's Afternoon Tea with the girls. Sunday is theatre in Canada and Monday I'm gone for my cross country road trip with Matt. Yee haw! I think that this is the longest we'll have been together in approximately 5 years. Maybe that's a lie. But regardless, it will be quite an adventure.
Some days have been more difficult than others, as I find myself sitting at home with my dog watching old movies and making photo albums to take with me to Mali. The days that I wait anxiously for my gmail account to show a new message from friends actually doing things are bad day; the worst are the days of South Bend permacloud that I feel like doing nothing except turning on the classic sports channel and watch reruns of amazing football games.
I have to be honest-- I've been sleeping in way past the time anyone should be allowed to sleep in multiple days in a row. If catching up on sleep is possible, I must be close to being back to the normal average number of hours of sleep a night. Or maybe it's just that I realize I won't be getting a lot of sleep in the heat of the Sahel, so I'm storing it up.
Not much of interest going on. Packing is almost complete. This Saturday will be Paige's Afternoon Tea with the girls. Sunday is theatre in Canada and Monday I'm gone for my cross country road trip with Matt. Yee haw! I think that this is the longest we'll have been together in approximately 5 years. Maybe that's a lie. But regardless, it will be quite an adventure.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
The Conspiracy
Let me make this clear:
My favorite color is blue. Usually a teal or dark turquoise color; never navy or royal or sky blue.
I like green, too. The gross color greens that no one else wants-- pea green or grey-green or the annoying bright green that isn't quite lime yet.
Yes, unless it is pig pink (which is the ONLY exception), I do not enjoy the color pink.
Well, it seems as though the only version available of every single item I need for Mali comes in pink. Magenta, hot pink or cotton candy... and I don't have a choice because I'm not going to special order or wait a week just so that I can get a blue camera case.
Does it really matter and do I really care? Of course not. I think that's the point. I don't care, I shouldn't care and here I am writing a blog about the conspiracy that I have only pink scissors with a matching pink iPod skin. The possibility of choosing has made me (allowed me) to expect to get exactly what I want (a teal cover for my portable speakers). Is it bad to have such choices? Obviously not. But the fact that I could even THINK about possibly not purchasing something because of such a superfluous detail seems (is) ridiculous. Rose or lilac, it's still going to do the same thing.
My favorite color is blue. Usually a teal or dark turquoise color; never navy or royal or sky blue.
I like green, too. The gross color greens that no one else wants-- pea green or grey-green or the annoying bright green that isn't quite lime yet.
Yes, unless it is pig pink (which is the ONLY exception), I do not enjoy the color pink.
Well, it seems as though the only version available of every single item I need for Mali comes in pink. Magenta, hot pink or cotton candy... and I don't have a choice because I'm not going to special order or wait a week just so that I can get a blue camera case.
Does it really matter and do I really care? Of course not. I think that's the point. I don't care, I shouldn't care and here I am writing a blog about the conspiracy that I have only pink scissors with a matching pink iPod skin. The possibility of choosing has made me (allowed me) to expect to get exactly what I want (a teal cover for my portable speakers). Is it bad to have such choices? Obviously not. But the fact that I could even THINK about possibly not purchasing something because of such a superfluous detail seems (is) ridiculous. Rose or lilac, it's still going to do the same thing.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Counting Down
It seems that a month away should be more than 35 short days.
But that's the count down until I'm in Mali. It's time to get packing... or ordering from online considering the severe lack of appropriate shopping places within a decent drive (and considering current gas prices that have me wanting to ride my bike that 77 miles). When I get back from Mali, maybe that bike ride won't be so bad...
I've been going through all of my old documents, memories, and class notes that I've always kept in my desk (until my parents hijacked the desk and put the papers in a plastic tub). Refreshing and exhausting at the same time. It's a mixture of emotions and thoughts and doodles and notes and poetry and trying to be poetic. Some of the most challenging messages are those from Uganda and those developing my beliefs about development theory. I have my notes from the very first time I met with Development Ethicist, Denis Goulet, at his office in Flanner Hall. I had absolutely no idea what I was talking about. I'm still not sure that I do.
After returning from Uganda, I was pretty sure that I didn't want to return there (or to Africa in general) for a long time. Anyway, my program in Development Studies, I thought, had taught me that my place in development was on the American side of things-- where I believe that I have more influence and at least more power to make a difference considering my background. So much needs to be changed in America before development abroad (and domestic!) can occur. And is it really my place to be directing or trying to decide what development should look like? Probably not. And yet, I'm headed to Mali with the Peace Corps to do Small Enterprise Development. Let's just say that I'm trying to figure some things out and balance the desire to make the difference here and the desire to make relationships and a difference. I'm not sure that the balance exists, but I'm going to try this out!
Although I don't want to do development, per se, I want to do something related to the "positive outcomes" of "development" work. There are four critical thinkers currently pushing (or have pushed) the envelope to the brink; these people make me truly happy because I know that challengers are out there who can't be satisfied with the current situation of development thought and the harmful status quo:
- Herman Daly, who champions sustainable development that includes thoughts about the environment
- Amartya Sen, of the International Development Ethics Association, author of Development as Freedom
- Joseph Stiglitz, author of Fair Trade for All and Making Globalization Work
- the late Denis Goulet (did anyone question this!?), author of The Cruel Choice and The Uncertain Promise, among other fantastic articles on development ethics
On we go. Perhaps it's dangerous for me to be reanalyzing my development theory before landing in a completely different environment with a project and goals and AH! responsibility! I'll be back, with new authors/people to add to my list of favorites (hopefully some Malians, some women, some youth...) Now, back to packing.
But that's the count down until I'm in Mali. It's time to get packing... or ordering from online considering the severe lack of appropriate shopping places within a decent drive (and considering current gas prices that have me wanting to ride my bike that 77 miles). When I get back from Mali, maybe that bike ride won't be so bad...
I've been going through all of my old documents, memories, and class notes that I've always kept in my desk (until my parents hijacked the desk and put the papers in a plastic tub). Refreshing and exhausting at the same time. It's a mixture of emotions and thoughts and doodles and notes and poetry and trying to be poetic. Some of the most challenging messages are those from Uganda and those developing my beliefs about development theory. I have my notes from the very first time I met with Development Ethicist, Denis Goulet, at his office in Flanner Hall. I had absolutely no idea what I was talking about. I'm still not sure that I do.
After returning from Uganda, I was pretty sure that I didn't want to return there (or to Africa in general) for a long time. Anyway, my program in Development Studies, I thought, had taught me that my place in development was on the American side of things-- where I believe that I have more influence and at least more power to make a difference considering my background. So much needs to be changed in America before development abroad (and domestic!) can occur. And is it really my place to be directing or trying to decide what development should look like? Probably not. And yet, I'm headed to Mali with the Peace Corps to do Small Enterprise Development. Let's just say that I'm trying to figure some things out and balance the desire to make the difference here and the desire to make relationships and a difference. I'm not sure that the balance exists, but I'm going to try this out!
Although I don't want to do development, per se, I want to do something related to the "positive outcomes" of "development" work. There are four critical thinkers currently pushing (or have pushed) the envelope to the brink; these people make me truly happy because I know that challengers are out there who can't be satisfied with the current situation of development thought and the harmful status quo:
- Herman Daly, who champions sustainable development that includes thoughts about the environment
- Amartya Sen, of the International Development Ethics Association, author of Development as Freedom
- Joseph Stiglitz, author of Fair Trade for All and Making Globalization Work
- the late Denis Goulet (did anyone question this!?), author of The Cruel Choice and The Uncertain Promise, among other fantastic articles on development ethics
On we go. Perhaps it's dangerous for me to be reanalyzing my development theory before landing in a completely different environment with a project and goals and AH! responsibility! I'll be back, with new authors/people to add to my list of favorites (hopefully some Malians, some women, some youth...) Now, back to packing.
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