Obama Biscuits and Emergency Cups

Both can be found at your neighborhood butiki and I can proudly say that I have purchased both as well. Malians LOVE Obama. If they know one thing about America and can say one thing in English, it's Barack Obama. His face is on belt buckles, cookie wrappers, t-shirts mostly, and posters on people's walls. It's crazy. And as far as emergency cups go, just use your imagination, but I'm pretty sure I've made it very clear how terrifying the cockroaches are at night in the nyegen. Don't judge me; It's Africa.

2/24/11

We got to go through Bamako on the way back to homestays – a Health Education sector field trip to the malnutrition center there, lunch at an American restaurant (veggie burger WITH CHEESE and a milkshake), and also purchased a few essentials at the toubab store! (Where toubabs: Americans/Europeans/pretty much all white people in general can shop.) We got our bikes last night! You would have thought it was Christmas in Mountugula the way all the kids followed in a procession to watch us receive them. We were all so excited to be able to have some means of transportation other than our own two feet. We’re painting a mural on the wall of the CSCOM (health center) in our village tomorrow morning. Excited about that. 4 of us are doing a pro-hand washing-themed advertisement. Looks good on paper. We’ll see. Off to class. Yippee. Can sarcasm transfer to print?

 3/2/11

So we hit the one month mark today. Proud of us for making it this far atleast. Haven’t killed anyone yet; only bugs. Point for me. Subtract a point for Africa (excessive cockroaches in the nyegen.) Walking back from Hannah’s tonight, after drinking delicious tea Sally (her sister) made for us, and chatting with Drisa & Shaka (Hannah's bro), and singing “Happy Birthday” to Shaka in English, I had this overwhelming, albeit fleeting, feeling of “I love this. I only want to be right here, right now.” We find out our permanent sites a week from today. Holy shit. Excuse my French.

I bought some sweet fabric today for my outfit for swear-in. It’s a deep purple with gold leaves and gold detailing. Should be interesting attempting to convey my style preferences in Bambara to Jasmin’s mom, who’s making our outfits for us. Need to get our teachers to help me translate, “make me look fresh to death” into Bambara. Pictures to follow.

I’m literally sweating to death under my mosquito net. It’s so unbelievably hot here. Today in class, Jasmin looked over at me as I was pulling my sports bra away from my chest to air it out: sexy. Read Ktal’s letter after my nap today (the first one I’ve gotten here so far. Hint: WRITE ME LETTERS!) It literally made my day. Love American/PTC gossip. Keep ‘em coming, Tal. Going running with Solo & Hannah tomorrow morning again at 6 after it’s light enough to see the dusty road in front of me. Cross my fingers to not get attacked by the crazy, wild dogs on the way. Goodnight, moon.