Hey everyone,
I’ve adjusted quickly to being back in Mali which is a relief though I’m sad to say that hot season has already started to rear its ugly head. It’s 104 degrees today and hot season doesn’t even start until March…
My first week back at site brought with it wonderful news that my bag was finally located and sent to Bamako and my boss hand delivered it to me at my site when he came to visit. The site visit went so well. My homologue, Bah, was so excited about the work we’ve done and truly feels that we are making some progress, albeit slowly. It felt really good to be appreciated for not giving out money but sharing information and teaching. One of my biggest pet peeves as a development worker is that donor companies and unfortunately many volunteers use money as their primary means as development. I have managed to start my animal raising cooperation not using outside funds and it’s so rewarding. It means that the men really wanted to start the business and will work hard to keep it going once I leave. That is the dream of volunteers that their projects will last once they return home.
Peace Corps volunteers have the unique opportunity to really know their villages and their needs and I see now just how valuable that can be. An NGO from a Western country came to Segou to help a women’s group who was sewing everything (clothes, blankets, purses, etc) by hand in a mud hut to sell at market. This NGO with great intentions came and completely furnished a room with electricity and most modern connivances so the women now use electric machines. Sounds great right? Well, now they have to work longer hours to try to sell their products which are no longer affordable to their previous market because they have to pay all these electric and water bills. They are in worse financial shape than ever and will likely not be able to continue their business. All this resulted from an NGO wanting to do good, but not understanding just how basic the needs are. We can’t skip steps as tempting as it is.
The weeks passed quickly, as I’m preparing for the GRE on February 12 which is rapidly approaching. It’s nice because everyone at site understands that I have a test to take in order to continue school so they’ve been wishing me well for the past few days as I prepared to go. Today was a girl’s only day full of manicure’s, pedicure’s, chick flicks and desserts. It’s been such a fun day and great way to celebrate two girlfriends’ birthdays (both 27). Tomorrow several friends from all over (about 20 of us) are coming to San. It will be the first time I’ve seen all of my san friends since before I left for Christmas so I’m looking forward to catching up with everyone. Afterwards, I’m headed down to Bamako to pick up the 60 new volunteers from the airport, they get in on the night of the second. Then Justin and I are staying in Segou for four days to attend the Segou Music Festival. It hosts the best of the Malian musicians which are known for some of the earliest music known to man. They are certainly well respected through all of Africa.
Everyday seems to be passing with increasing awareness that I have suddenly one less. It’s pretty scary that I’m so aware now of everything going on around me. Seeing beauty again in things that used to irritate me… Hopefully I can maintain my optimism through hot season!! I’ll write again before I head out to site.
Much love,
Cait
January 3, 2011
Hey,
I hope everyone had a merry Christmas and happy New Year!!! Spending the holidays in Kentucky was a wonderful reprieve from my life in Mali. I had however, become more adjusted to my Malian life than I realized and my time in America was a temporary assault to my senses. Despite this sensory overload, I can’t begin to explain how wonderful it was to be surrounded by family, especially during the holidays.
My Papa’s 90th Birthday was a huge success in my opinion and, while leading up to the big day he was somewhat stressed, he was quite the social butterfly on the night of the event! It had been a couple of years since I’d seen some extended family and it was so nice to get almost everyone together even just for the one evening.
Peace Corps Headquarters warned all volunteers that upon return to America, whether vacation or permanent return, that reverse culture shock can be somewhat crippling. I was just beginning to see that warning come to fruition but what took me by surprise most, was the fact that life went on without me. Sometimes, spending days and weeks on end living in an African village, I forget that things kept happening at home. It was surreal being home. Part of me never realized I left and the other half is so completely changed that I see everything, even the familiar, differently.
I went on a bit of a shopping spree and gave my parent’s credit card a workout while home, but in my defense, I hadn’t been shopping in a long time and much of it was for my family in Mali. I’m so excited to be able to catch up with my village friends, but this trip home has just reminded me how quickly these next few months will pass. My service is 2/3 over and the realization that in 9 months or so I will return indefinitely to America hasn’t sunk in yet.
That said; I was greeted at the airport with only one of my checked bags…Welcome back to Mali. It’s now been a week and no news yet ….
I spent the New Year in Bamako with some friends and am still here waiting hopefully for some news of my lost baggage. The amenities available in Bamako have made the transition a little easier, but it comes at a price and I’m anxious to get home to San and then site this week.
Every holiday now has become my last in Mali with friends who have become family thus they are bitter sweet celebrations. Last Halloween. Last Thanksgiving. Last Christmas. Last New Year’s… It’s my 3rd New Years out of the country and I haven’t spent a full year in the same country since 2007. 2011 will continue in much the same trend but perhaps there’s some hope for 2012???
I trust you all had fun plans to ring in the New Year and wish you all the best in sticking to your resolutions for 2011.
Much Love,
Cait
I hope everyone had a merry Christmas and happy New Year!!! Spending the holidays in Kentucky was a wonderful reprieve from my life in Mali. I had however, become more adjusted to my Malian life than I realized and my time in America was a temporary assault to my senses. Despite this sensory overload, I can’t begin to explain how wonderful it was to be surrounded by family, especially during the holidays.
My Papa’s 90th Birthday was a huge success in my opinion and, while leading up to the big day he was somewhat stressed, he was quite the social butterfly on the night of the event! It had been a couple of years since I’d seen some extended family and it was so nice to get almost everyone together even just for the one evening.
Peace Corps Headquarters warned all volunteers that upon return to America, whether vacation or permanent return, that reverse culture shock can be somewhat crippling. I was just beginning to see that warning come to fruition but what took me by surprise most, was the fact that life went on without me. Sometimes, spending days and weeks on end living in an African village, I forget that things kept happening at home. It was surreal being home. Part of me never realized I left and the other half is so completely changed that I see everything, even the familiar, differently.
I went on a bit of a shopping spree and gave my parent’s credit card a workout while home, but in my defense, I hadn’t been shopping in a long time and much of it was for my family in Mali. I’m so excited to be able to catch up with my village friends, but this trip home has just reminded me how quickly these next few months will pass. My service is 2/3 over and the realization that in 9 months or so I will return indefinitely to America hasn’t sunk in yet.
That said; I was greeted at the airport with only one of my checked bags…Welcome back to Mali. It’s now been a week and no news yet ….
I spent the New Year in Bamako with some friends and am still here waiting hopefully for some news of my lost baggage. The amenities available in Bamako have made the transition a little easier, but it comes at a price and I’m anxious to get home to San and then site this week.
Every holiday now has become my last in Mali with friends who have become family thus they are bitter sweet celebrations. Last Halloween. Last Thanksgiving. Last Christmas. Last New Year’s… It’s my 3rd New Years out of the country and I haven’t spent a full year in the same country since 2007. 2011 will continue in much the same trend but perhaps there’s some hope for 2012???
I trust you all had fun plans to ring in the New Year and wish you all the best in sticking to your resolutions for 2011.
Much Love,
Cait
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