It’s Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas

In Mali, I realize that that’s hard to believe. But, you haven’t seen my house yet! After my trip en brusse, we swung through San and stopped by the stage house there to use the facilities. They had loads of decorations and had stockings mounted for each San volunteer. I was jealous. Our Sevare bureau doesn’t have crap. So, I decided that that night I would start to decorate my house.

Granted, I have no Christmas tree or Christmas lights, or even construction paper which would have taken me a long way. But what I did have was white paper, a ton of Crayola markers and ambition to be in the Christmas spirit. I put on the only Christmas music I had at the time – I’ve since downloaded lots more – a CD I bought Freshman year at Starbucks called Golly Get Jolly and I started out to work. Though I’m not done, I thought I’d share the fruits of my labor, thus far. Any interior decorating ideas, using computer paper and markers, would be appreciated!

Peanuts Advent Calendar that my sister sent. No chocolate, but it's an ADVENT CALENDAR. Awesomeness, anyone?

I took me the whole night to decorate and cut out each letter, but Merry Christmas was in order.

This guy was a late inspiration, but look how delicious he turned out. If only we could make gingerbread cookies here.

And, despite not having a real tree and presents, at least these turned out well.

Merry Christmas, Mali.

Sara Goes Brussey-la

Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later. I knew that the proverbial grass would be greener on the other side and I would have to go check it out. Not to mention that I love not having electricity and running water. I know that might be taken as sarcastic, but it really isn’t. The idea of going to the well or pump everyday to get water and then heating it up for a bucket bath under the stars is so appealing. Using flashlights, lanterns and candles is also really soothing. But, my friends, I digress.

Seeing that MaryVirginia is by far my best friend in country, and seeing that she had already trekked up here to Sevare to visit me, it was long past due that I went to her site. I was in luck, because it happened to be en brusse, as they say here (middle of nowhere, for you non-French speakers). After arriving in her market town, it was about a 10 km ride to Debela. I didn’t think I would make it. I’m just not used to biking 10 km anywhere. But, we arrived. It’s a quaint little village and I loved it. It was dark/late when we got there so we showered and chilled and greeted every single member of her family who gave me each a million blessings. It was nice to have a family to come home to. Needless to say, the week en brusse was spent meeting her friends and counterparts and getting to see what her every day life if. She always says there’s nothing to do en brusse – which is true – but for me, coming from the busy city, it was a welcomed change/relief. Here are some highlights from the week:

Field Work:

I haven’t had the opportunity to go out into the fields and bring the year’s harvest in. Well, in Debela I sure did! The women were working on either millet or sorghum and though it had already been taken off of the stalks, now was the sifting time. Mixed altogether was millet, dirt, pebbles/rocks, stalks and probably other stuff that I ignored. So, earlier in the morning before I got there a car came out and drove over all of the millet to break it up and off of the stalks. What was left needed to be swept into piles and then sifted until only the good part – the millet was left. Of course, we only worked for maybe a little over an hour because they were all like, “Oh, you poor thing, you must be tired. We know you’re not used to this, why don’t you go sit down and rest.” Um, okay.

Using the power of wind and gravity to separate the millet from the sand and other debris.

Love this photo - all of the women working together.

And then there's me, sweeping millet into piles to later to separated.

Cotton Fun:

Also being in my comfy city – in the North might I mention – I haven’t seen cotton growing, let alone huge piles just asking to be jumped in. After biking back from MaryVirginia’s market town, we spotted the cotton and politely asked the farmer if we could “look at the cotton.” Either MaryVirginia didn’t know how to ask if we could jump in the cotton in Bambara, or she already knew the answer. Before he could think twice about saying yes, the fun had already started.

On our ride back from M'Pessoba.

Piles of cotton ready to be piled in a big truck and taken away. Not before they could be jumped around in though!

MaryVirginia taking flight and landing in the cotton.

These action shots are great - me landing in a pile of cotton while Malians watch and think that we're crazy.

MaryVirginia took this picture of me and later exclaimed, "This should be in National Geographic!" I'm thrilled and throwing cotton in the air.

MaryVirginia and me getting into trouble!

MaryVirginia in her Element:

Like I said, any part of going to village is meeting and greeting all friends and family and pretty much anyone MaryVirginia has ever mentioned. I love this though, because you get to put a name – and stories – with a face and plus, we’re all proud of our site friends and family. So, here is the Debela rundown…

This is Randy - that's his American name, named after MaryVirginia's brother - and he's apparently either teething or starving because her arm sure was tasting good.

MaryVirginia with her matron's daughter.

I could make something ridiculous up for this photo, but it's just MaryVirginia loving the Debela donkies.

Greetings are important and photos of them are too. Her Dad even changed into nice clothes just for the photo.

Mom and Police...look how cute he is.

I had an awesome time en brusse and I can’t wait to go back. Especially because we told her family I would be coming back, it looks like I have to now! I’m not sure if I can endure hot season out there without my ceiling fans and ice water, but it could be a nice test. We’ll see.

The debauchery continues after Christmas and for New Years when MaryVirginia and I will get together again. Stay tuned.

AIDS Day in Sikasso

As you know – or should know – International AIDS Day is December 1st. Here in Mali, though the AIDS rates aren’t nearly as bad as in other parts of the continent, there still are awareness campaigns and a drive to protect yourself again contracting the disease. My friend Trinh – oddly enough who I went to school with at GWU – lives in the southern part of Mali, the region called Sikasso. She lives in the regional capital and had been working really hard on putting together an AIDS Day event with a local youth group. After vacillating back and forth, I finally decided to get my butt on public transport and get down to Sikasso. Her event was a great success. There was a lecture in the morning and a basketball tournament in the afternoon with an information fair.

Here's Trinh giving her introduction speech. So nervous, but she did a great job!

Apparently Malians wanted to see American girls play basketball so some PCVs got together and played. Of course, they didn’t know they were playing against Malian men, but, what’s a little surprise here and there. Of course, afterwards there was a men’s game and a women’s game. The women kicked ass!

PCVs and Malians shaking hands before the game. We lost, 4-0, but it was only a 5 minute game. It could have turned around!

Here's part of the girls' game where they kicked butt!

The information fair was really awesome too. There were stands handing out free condoms with demonstrations of how to use both the male and the female condom. PCVs headed tables giving the facts about contracting HIV/AIDS and asking kids to define themselves using, “I am…” as a beginner. That was a little tougher to convey, but we got some good ones.

This table was dedicated to putting acts, both sexual and non sexual, into the risk categories of contracting HIV/AIDS. I think it was brilliant.

Here's Sarah trying to get Malian kids to define themselves using "I am," "I can," or "I want" as leading statements. She wasn't too thrilled with the outcome, but it's an interesting exercise nonetheless.

Here they set up a tent to do confidential HIV/AIDS testing. We were in charge of getting people testing, but it's a difficult job.

It was a really great event and Trinh put a lot of work into it. So, thanks to her for dealing with Mali and thanks to all of the other PCVs who showed up to support the cause.