23 down, one month to go!

Hi all! So I'm down to my final month in Mali, and I've been scrambling to finish all the work I wanted to do and enjoy my life over here as much as possible before it's gone. After returning from Croatia, I've felt like I was back in track, running a long-distance race. I started to see the finish line, and I began sprinting hoping that my burst of energy wouldn't die out before I crossed it.

(a couple recent sunsets from my balcony -- I'm trying to soak up as many as I can!)

I have been working near-full days (which is pretty unheard of over here -- even for Malians who have office jobs). I've been working with Mme. Koumare to create a Web site for the CRPA (my counterpart organization). It's been fun, but I'm quickly realizing that I took on too much and won't finish it before I leave. Hopefully whoever replaces me will be able to finish it up -- it actually will make a great first project for them. Mme. Koumare and I have been traveling all over the city to various artisan associations -- jewelers, fabric dyers, bogolan makers, etc. -- and taking pictures and getting information for the site. It's been a fun way to wind up my service.

(women dying "bazin" fabric in the Niger)

(Mme. Koumare posing with some silver jewelry -- she's been modeling for lots of the Web site pics. I think she enjoys it!)

Sadly, I did run out of steam...or at least I ran into a hurdle. Last week I got sick (again...grrr!), and was out for two days with a fever. But it didn't slow me down too much, and now I'm back at work. I've also been spending some quality time with all my favorite Malians, drinking tea and having great conversations. My friend Mariam (she's the secretary at the CRPA) and I had a long talk about the differences in Malian and American culture in regard to family. I explained that, because we value being independent and self-reliant, parents don't typically let their children (or any other relative) live off them once they've reached a certain age. If a relative moves in and doesn't show any motivation to find work or earn money, but expects you to feed them and let them stay as long as they like, we'll eventually turn them out (or at least talk to them).

(Mariam)

Over here, families take in any and all relatives for as long as they want to stay. Even suggesting to the relative that they're a burden on you, or that they should get a job and provide for themselves rather than taking advantage of you makes everyone view you as a horrible, selfish person. It's such an interesting difference... Another fun conversation happened just yesterday during my English lesson at CARE. Rokia, the secretary there, was telling me about this crazy American girl who used to live here who had a cat. She couldn't believe how this girl treated her cat (keep in mind I have two cats that I adore over here!). The girl bought her cat MILK (even though she herself didn't drink it), and fed it better food than most kids over here get to eat. She let the cat sleep in her bed and treated it like it was her child. Both the Malian women I was talking to thought this was such strange behavior -- that the American woman would baby a cat but not have any actual children. They said that 1) women who like cats that much are usually viewed as witches/sorceresses; and 2) cats are for catching mice and such and should be able to find food on their own (or at least don't deserve better food than people eat).

(Jaba panting because of the heat...you know it's hot when your cats pant like dogs!)

I couldn't really argue with their logic. I also told them about the microchips that people now put in their pets to ID them in case they get lost. Justine, the admin assistant at CARE, said in reply, "I think that Europeans and Americans have so much money, they don't know what to do with it all. So they find strange ways to spend it." Again, I couldn't argue with the logic! Well, that's about it. I'm slowly but surely getting prepared for the next chapter in my life -- grad school. This week I've registered for classes, bought season football tickets (woohoo!), and potentially found an apartment. It's all making me excited to come home...but I'm also starting to get sad thinking about leaving my life over here! I'll finish this entry with a lightning picture taken a couple nights ago from the balcony of my house. I love thunderstorms over here!

(pretty cool, huh?!)