8/3/11: Day 3 of Ramadan
My 2nd day of fasting in village. I didn’t participate yesterday (because I wanted to run & knew I wouldn’t have any energy) & it’s been such the talk of the town. I wanted to try it so I could say I gave it a shot & like most things I do in my community, I was aiming to earn their respect. Fasting is yet another thing they can say that I did to be more like them. I’m proud to be doing it, to have a better picture of what their life is like. I woke up at 4am this morning to eat a literal ‘break.fast’, or rather a last meal before the fast – the typical rice & sauce & the breakfast porridge that I don’t really like. I felt even more a part of my community, fasting with them, being able to say, “yes, I’m fasting today” and seeing them nod with approval. I haven’t even snuck food in my house yet! Though I know I could. But I’m doing this for me as well, so I want to do it right. Fasting is really a mind game. Your mind saying, “You’re hungry!” though your stomach still growls. We’ll see how many more days I do this before the month is over. I’m going to Sikasso tomorrow so God knows I’ll be eating there. Friday, I’m heading to Koutiala for my friend’s birthday party – more feasting. I also need to be running daily so I can’t fast too much; the half marathon in Ghana is steadily approaching & to say that I’m out of shape is an extreme understatement. For those of you who thought I would lose weight while I was here: false. Malians get their fill of carbs, that’s for sure.
So yesterday was the 6th month mark and I would like to share some of what I’ve learned thus far:
1. Donald Trump is not the only man who can pull off a comb-over. Benefits of weekly anti-malaria meds: hair loss. Thank you, Mali.
2. I will never take for granted or get used to how beautiful the sky is all the time: sunrise, sunset, before a storm, in the middle of a storm, a starry night.
3. Beer bellies also come in the form of rice bellies.
4. Insects make the best & worst roommates: they’re quiet, but not too quiet. They listen, but don’t judge. They’re always around, yet they’re always lurking.
5. Phone credit is the best way to spend my monthly allowance, hands down. I would not survive this experience without blowing large amounts of money on Malitel phone credit. Thank you sweet baby Jesus.
6. Peace Corps Volunteers get just as excited for Harry Potter premiers and new seasons of Jersey Shore as anyone else I know.
7. When internet access is available, you don’t sleep.
8. Feeling attractive is relative.
9. Every child in my village of over 12,000 knows where I am at any given moment.
10. “What’s this?” is a question that never gets old, yet is becoming harder and harder to answer tactfully. Picture this: You’re a 6 year-old Malian child & you have never left your village. What would you think a tampon was? Protein powder? Face wash? Toilet paper?
11. Getting on Facebook only makes you sad.
12. Behavior change is a lofty, lofty goal.
13. Being on the radio makes you a celebrity. Introducing DJ Kadja Dumbia.
14. The word ‘hot’ has a whole, new meaning.
15. Diarrhea is now the most common topic of conversation & way less taboo than I ever thought it would be.
16. I swat flies in my sleep, reading outside, and while I’m in the nyegen trying to use the bathroom or shower, all like it’s second nature.
17. MacGyver’s got nothing on PCVs; we’re resourceful like you wouldn’t believe.
18. Being out of the loop with American entertainment – celebrity news, the latest music, box office movies, has only made me appreciate how great America is.
More to come…
