woww... two in one day

I was checking my phone for missed calls since it has been dead for a day. I wasn't expecting too many. A few because I was supposed to see some friends in Koulikoro, but those plans fell through because we got stuck at Tubaniso for awhile. I never did make it to Koulikoro, but I will just have to see them some other weekend. Well, I was checking my messages and I saw that MY FAMILY CALLED. No... not the Respet's from Minnesota... but the Diarra's from my site. I was so excited.

So I called back. The phone rang... once... twice... third time I hear someone pick up:

"I ni ce... I ka kene"
"BAGAYOKO! Kan jumen be"

It was my host brother Tidian...Speaking in his coolest voice.. but you could still tell in his voice I was excited to call. We chatted it up a little and then he told me that my sister Mawa was there. I told him to hand her the phone. She picked it up and quietly said hi. I am pretty sure I screamed into the phone receiver in excitement and she just laughed at me. Her daughter Alimatou was right next to her. I could here her giggling and she even got on the phone saying BAGAYOKO.. and then giggling. It was super cute. My adopted son as I like to call him unfortunately wasn't around, but I will have to call them again sometime.

I love them so much... I am already homesick for site... and unfortunately it has only been a week. Maybe if we get some stuff done early next week I can make a quick visit to see them.

This is what I mean about how hard it is going to leave Mali. :(

We have been really busy here in Bamako and at the training center getting lesson plans ready for the new trainees coming. It was a lot of hard work, and there is still plenty to be done. It was different being at the training center this time around. When you first get to Tubani so... you are scared... and constantly in session. This time around, while we were constantly working, I stopped looking at the LCFs like teachers that I need to watch out for, they have now turned into fun colleagues and great friends. The LCF I had for my training was great. He is an older man, retired school teacher. He was tough, but seemed to enjoy my sarcasm in class when I would make up silly sentences in Bambara. After a year in Mali culture, I realized I can still have even more fun. I respect him, greatly. Not only because he was my teacher and a man of the older generation, but I respect him for all the hard work he does and all of the motivation he has given me. The other night a few of us volunteers were feeling a little bored and probably just missing everyone at site. Yeah, I miss the states, but let's be honest. I am in Mali... I gotta cherish every second I have until I leave. We took the opportunity to chat it up with our Malian colleagues. It was nice. Most of the conversation was in French. I was sitting silently mostly, just listening... occasionally talking to the environmental assistant trainer about my projects. One of the LCFs turned and looked at me and asked me if I understood french. I told him I was listening. I understood the whole conversation... but unfortunately I can only speak in the cherished Frambara because Bambara is my language of choice these days. I dream in it... I am constantly throwing the words even in English conversation... definitely hard to get over. That is another cool thing about hanging out with the staff. There are conversations in French, English, local language... and all of them together.

We did this activity the other day about stereotypes. The malian staff had to write stereotypes they had about Americans. One of our favorites is that they think Americans are gossipers. No, I won't deny that, but I do have to add that most of the gossiping I do in Mali is WITH other Malians.... funny how that works! and in fact we were gossiping the other night when we were all hanging out.... OHHH MALI

Us environment kids were discussing lesson plans with the LCFs and we finished up early... so once again we decided to start talking about... well... we started gossiping. Then, somehow, Kelly quickly mentioned that there may or may not be some gorkos (fulani/peuhl for husband) in my life. I tried to quickly shoot it down, but the LCFs were already on top of that gossip. quickly questions were being shot "What's his name" "Where did you meet him"

Nah... I don't have a husband yet... I tried to stop the gossip... but the wheel was already turning. Now.. I'm the girl that is going to marry a Malian... or so they think...

Sam and Mark just got into town... so I gotta say hi to them. This means I'm out

So my friend Kelly found this article in the Huffington post about Senator Dodd's bill to reform the Peace Corps. It is a great article, but what really struck me the most was the last paragraph of the article

"Today the public galleries were largely empty. The media gallery was quiet. There were few other Senators on the floor. But this was a great moment in American politics. As Dodd spoke, it was not a sixty-five-year old Senator rich in gravitas standing there. It was a twenty-three-year old young man in shorts, a t-short and flip-flops sitting around with a bunch of kids, laughing and joking in Spanish, probably as happy as he had ever been, and if he is like many volunteers, as happy as he ever would be. "

Kelly and I had both discussed how sad that it would be if we could not bring our happiness back home to the states. I am not going to lie, some of my happiest moments here have been with my great Malian friends, sitting around, joking, being PEOPLE... I hope to continue these experiences back in the states. Sure, we may not necessarily be making some Arywane... but, the happiness can't stop.

Leaving my friends to come here to Mali was hard. But, I always have this feeling in my mind, that I will see them again. Maybe not right when I get home, but, there is a great possibility. Leaving Mali may end up being one of the hardest parts of my entire service. Yes, I know, it has only been a year. But I cringe at the idea of leaving some of the most wonderful people in my life. The people that have helped me through everything. The people that adopted me into their families, adopted me as a friend. I just got a text message from a friend that I hang out with at market. He heard through the grapevine that I was sick and was hoping that I was ok. I see this guy once a week, and he cares enough for me to check up on me.

The stories don't stop there, but we are going to wander the streets of Bamako a bit.

Quick heads up: I'm in Bamako for awhile to help with training the new trainees. It will be exciting and has already had it's great moments. Many humorous moments given by Kelly... and a lot of them dealing with Alkalifa. Thanks for those.