Djenne and Girls Education

Happy belated Easter to everyone!

I've had a crazy week...I spent Easter Sunday at church in the morning, then I hopped on a bus and went up to San. I met up with Yuri and Mary Virginia and caught transport to Djenne early Monday morning. Djenne is an old city here in Mali (dating back to the times of the original Bambara kingdom), and is home to the largest mud structure in the world -- the Grande Mosquee (big mosque).

(the mosque)

(me, Yuri and Mary Virg)

It's also a cool city -- very different from other cities here in Mali. Djenne has narrow streets that curve and wind around the city, and the buildings are taller than most (it actually reminds me more of urban America than Segou or Bamako, because it seems like apartment buildings with roofs that people hang clothes on and such).

(the roofs of Djenne -- notice the satellite)

We only spent a few hours there, because it's a big tourist town and we weren't in the mood to be followed and hasselled all day long. It also was market day there, so it was extra crowded and busy. But I'm glad I finally ventured out there and saw the famous city (probably the second most famous city here, next to Timbuktu).

(a loaded bachee at market)

(the market next to the mosque)

After Djenne, Mary Virginia and I hopped on a bachee and went to Christy's village, Kamona (where I spent Christmas this past year). Christy was putting on a day retreat for girls in her village. They did presentations on condoms, birth control and women's education, and had the girls make soap.

(during the training)

The guest speaker was my homologue, Madame Koumare. She was a rock star! I had no idea she was so passionate about girls education, but she basically took the wheel throughout the day and inspired all the girls. And the girls listened to her much more intently than to us. It was great to see them so interested in these topics.

(Mme. Koumare talking about the importance of girls education)

We also painted maps of Africa on the walls of two classrooms in their schools (they have a primary school and secondary school). It was tedious, but fun. It was a great experience to help Christy make her project a reality, and Mme. Koumare had a blast in her village.

(Louie and Christy painting the first map)

(Christy, Mary Virg, me, Mme. Koumare and Madiaratu Koumare (another guest speaker) in front of the banner. The banner says: Women in school: education opens the mind)

I just got back from that yesterday, and now I'm back in chaosland trying to figure out which grad school to go to, whether I should go visit them before I decide, and how I'm going to finish all my own projects in the next four months!

"Kathy in Mali" Quiz Answers...

1. My original Malian name was: Kadijatu Traoré. It was the name of the grandma in my first host family. I was originally sent to a small village, Tamala, to learn Bambara during training. But in the middle of the second day, Peace Corps showed up to tell me that they'd mistakenly placed me there and I'd have to move villages to Banankoro. That was probably my worst day in Peace Corps (I cried...I'd only been in Mali for a week and was pondering going home. Glad I didn't! Thanks to Mom and Dad for talking some courage into me over the phone!). So I moved to Banankoro and joined the Samaké family, and got the name Djeneba after my kid sister.
2. My favorite fruit here in Mali is: Guavas. I love guavas! They are only here for a month or so in the rainy season, but they're so good. Mangos are good, too (mango season's just beginning here -- it coincides with hot season).
3. I've eaten all the following in Mali EXCEPT: dog. There are some communities that eat dogs and cats, but fortunately I don't live in one of those! Although I might now choose dog over sheep brains (did I mention it was cold sheep brains?? Yuck).
4. Malians have shouted out the following names at me EXCEPT: "Red Chinese!" That actually was a name that my friend Louie was called by his villagers last hot season. Apparently there were a lot of Chinese workers building a road or something near his village, so all foreigners became "Chinese!" (despite the fact that Louie is a blue-eyed farm boy from South Dakota). I think the "Red" part was added because he either was sunburned or had heat rash (or both). My favorite name so far has definitely been "Bicycle Chief" (or "Négaso Tigi" as they yell it in Bambara). I get it quite a bit, and it always makes me laugh.
5. I was once stopped by the police while biking because of: going the wrong way down a one-way street. Of course, I was the only one stopped (there were guys on motos doing the same...road rules aren't exactly followed over here). So I guess I was also stopped in part because of my skin color. Luckily, I talked my way out of a bribe.
6. When a baby peed on me, the women told me it was a sign that: I would get married soon. But they also bring up marriage as often as they can, so I'm not sure if that's a common belief. I also had one friend who was told, after a lizard fell out of a tree and landed on her head, it was a sign she was pregnant!

That's all for now! Take care! :-)

Take the "Kathy in Mali" Quiz!

So I got this idea from another PCV's blog, and I thought it looked fun. Let's see how well you do.... (I'll post my answers up in a week, so check back)

1. My original Malian name was:
1. Djeneba Samaké
2. Fatumata Dembelé
3. Aissata Coulibaly
4. Kadijatu Traoré
5. Maïmouna Koumaré
2. My favorite fruit here in Mali is:
1. bananas
2. mangos
3. guavas
4. papayas
5. pomengranates
3. I have eaten all the following in Mali EXCEPT:
1. intestines
2. fish eyes
3. sheep brains
4. pigeons
5. dogs
4. Malians have shouted out the following names at me EXCEPT:
1. "The White!"
2. "Black Girl!"
3. "Red Chinese!"
4. "Bicycle Chief!"
5. "Peace Corps!"
5. I was once stopped by the police while biking because of:
1. being a foreigner
2. biking in a skirt
3. wearing a helmet
4. not wearing a helmet
5. going the wrong way down a one-way street
6. When a baby peed on me, the women told me it was a sign that:
1. I would get married soon
2. I would adopt the baby
3. I needed a bath
4. It would rain the next day
5. I had to stay in Mali forever

Good luck and enjoy!