I am now an official PCV! I was sworn in on September 3rd @ the U.S. embassy in Bamako. It was one of the rainiest days I've seen. Everyone was dressed in their new Malian outfits, and when some people got wet the dye on their clothes began to run, so their skin turned all different colors. After the ceremony we were taken to the American Club where we had drinks, awesome food, and a few hours to lounge around in the pool. In the evening we got tranported to a hotel in Bamako. I went out with a few other volunteers to get some Asian food and it was really good. Then just about all 80 of us went to the club near the hotel for dancing and drinks, which was followed by a second club and more drinks. The night ended around 3:30.
Two days after swear in was installment day. I was lucky enough to get Peace Corps transport for me and all my stuff all the way to post. I spent a night in Sikasso and then the next morning I picked up the furniture I ordered and I was taken to my new home. I've gotten all my stuff moved in and I'm getting settled in nicely. It helped that when I got to Sikasso there was a package waiting for me at the post office sent by my parents. I waited to get to my house to open it and was delighted to find a couple boxes of Velveta Shells and Cheese, a bag of sourdough pretzel nuggets, four bags of gummy lifesavers and beef jerkey, and 5 bags of m&m's (3 peanut and 2 pretzel)! There was also a couple of magazines. Just a little taste of back home, and I really appreciate my parents for sending it. My neighbor Sharon also deserves a shout-out for the package she sent. She sent packages of spam, fish, trail mix, and peanut butter crackers!!
My job for the first three months is to integrate and further my language skills. I've been doing a good job on the first task, while my language skills seem to be at a standstill. A normal day basically goes like this: Wake up, eat bread, walk around and great my host dad, the chief of the village (dugu tiki), and some other folks. I go back to my house at about 10 a.m. and sit on the porch and read until it is time to make lunch (which is usually more bread with fish or spam until it runs out) then it is back to sitting/nappin on the porch until dinner (pasta and more bread). Then its bucket bath time, tea time, then bedtime. I did take a tour of all the wells in my village (26). I plan on starting a well-treating regiment on a monthly basis starting very soon.
In December I will be traveling back to Bamako for two weeks for In Service Training. After I return to post/site I plan to set up a WatSan committee staffed with people from the village. It will be their job to prioritize what the want to accomplish. My role is that of a project manager. I have to focus on sustainability. Ensuring that when I leave in two years there will still be people carrying on the task of water sanitation practices and improvements.
Since I have been in village there have been two major celebrations. One was the end of Ramadan blast that lasted for three days. There was tons of music and dancing, as well as tea drinking and animal slaughtering. I was gifted several animal products during this time. I reaceived huge chunks of beef, mystery sheep organ, and sheep intestine. They all came in black plastic bags with blood dripping out of the bottom of the bag. They also were drying cow hide in the sun which my house happened to be downwind from. Let me just say the smell was not as pleasant as one might imagine.
The other celebration was on the 22nd of Sept. Mali was celebrating its 50th year of independence from France. There was more crazy dancing and live music all night. I took some video and I need to post it sometime. The internet connection is so bad here that things that normally take ten minutes end up taking several hours. I have no patience for such things.
Until next time...PEACE
