back from the village

hey everyone!

i am leaving mali thurs eve for boston and returning to mali wed the 19th. my interview is mond the 17th -- wish me luck! seriously, i really wouldl ove to here your thoughts on the potential truman questions that i posted a couple entries ago! let me know what you think!

things have been cool lately, i have a lot to say but am nto really inthe mood right now; sorry.

1. the village stay was relaxing. there was quiet and alone time both of which were very nice. my bambara is unfortunatly not much better now, but i can pound millet and clap at the same time and also i made some pretty cool printed things in traditional art styles. there were lots of kids with dirty hands and they all want to touch the toubabous. luckily i am overall healthy despite a long lasting cold. i am developing an addition to pinapple sodas.

2. yesterday was international womens day. it was all over television and men and women everywhere were dressed in a special pagne or patterened outfit for the day. the theme was economique equality and there were specials on tv and packed concerts in the afternoon and evening. it is nice to see how big of a deal the day is here and it makes me wish the us did a better job of celebrating too.

3. yesterday i also went with all the women in my family to a baptême which is like a baptism ceremony i guess, but there were no babies involved at this part of the celebration/ceremony. there were five or six griots who sung the praises/histories of many women in attendence (the only men there were musicians and one griot and two little kids), and there was lots of enthusiastic exchanging of money and some dancing followed by great food. it was fun and interesting and a good way for me to bond with the women in my family since that has been harder than getting to know the men.

4. i have been clubbing twice. the music is great; the best mix of hiphop, afrocarribeanmusic, and just a little techno/house. the men are agressive though and its clearly an attraction based on the fact that we are white girls. dancing is a lot of fun though.

5. in general it is almost impossible to make friends here that are guys and have ti be just friendship. this is disapointing and difficult.

6. there are mangos everywhere. they are great. malian food thus far has been mangos and nongenetically modified oranges and bananas, bad chocolate; fried dough; icecream, fanta and other fruity sodas for snacks, baguettes with laughing cow cheese, butter, honey or nutella with tea and occassinally eggs for breakdfast, and for lunch and dinner rice with fish sauce, peanut sauce or another sauce, lots of fried plantains, french fries, and a little beef ontop lettuce and sometimes with mayo dressing, occassionally pasta, occasionally this really good chinese food dish my host mom makes, to -- a traditional dish that is pretty good with the gumbo sauce its served with, occasionally african couscous which is the only thing besides fish that i really dislike, and everything on a baguette. i am genreally a picky eater but this diet, despite being incredibly starchy, serves me pretty well. i need more excercise though.

sorry for the unorganized run on sentence.

7. i am taking sotoramas now which are gutted out green vans used for public transport. they are really cheap and incredibly crowded. when you are sure that no one eles can fit in, sure enough three more can.

8. my feet have sandal tan lines and are always dirty even tho my host mom makes me wash them frequently and vigorously.

xo