As I had said before, it's hard to make Malian girlfriends of my age here and that's something that I miss having. Not to say that I don't have other girlfriends from PC and other NGOs, but it would be nice to have a Malian one, who isn't a guy.
Lately Adam has been getting on my last nerve! I have no idea what I've done or said but it's gotten to the point where I can say that she is not my friend. I'mma try to repair this, but dang. Girls be tripping HARD.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Low-Points
There are many things that I judge as disgusting in Malian-culture: eating with one's hands, blowing one's nose without tissue, cleaning babies poop with one's hand, leaving food uncovered for flies and chickens to get into. These are all things that I thought I'd never do. I have eaten with my hands, blown my nose without tissue, peed in a bucket and pooped into a bag! But, these have all been done out of necessity, when there were no other means (I say this to make myself feel better haha!)
There are just so many things that you will do, when it's about survival. No, no one was holding a knife to my neck to make me do these things, but it's hard in these streets. I never realized how AWESOME an indoor toilet is! There have been many times when I wake up at 2-3 o'clock in the morning with the strongest urge to gooooo. But, outside is scary. My concession doesn't have a gate and I have gone out and seen stray dogs, donkeys and people walking around at this hour. Do I feel safe to go? No, not really. So, I look at my bucket as my hero at this point. It seriously might have saved my life a few times! Especially with recent burgularies in village, I feel I'm doing what's best (This is me trying to make myself feel even better.)
Just thinking about all the stuff I've seen and experienced in this past year, there is no match for it in my life in America. I mean, maybe other PCVs had gone through these same situations before coming here if they'd been camping. But, I had lived a pretty posh life before this. I just can't believe it sometimes, the things I have to do to live here.
There are just so many things that you will do, when it's about survival. No, no one was holding a knife to my neck to make me do these things, but it's hard in these streets. I never realized how AWESOME an indoor toilet is! There have been many times when I wake up at 2-3 o'clock in the morning with the strongest urge to gooooo. But, outside is scary. My concession doesn't have a gate and I have gone out and seen stray dogs, donkeys and people walking around at this hour. Do I feel safe to go? No, not really. So, I look at my bucket as my hero at this point. It seriously might have saved my life a few times! Especially with recent burgularies in village, I feel I'm doing what's best (This is me trying to make myself feel even better.)
Just thinking about all the stuff I've seen and experienced in this past year, there is no match for it in my life in America. I mean, maybe other PCVs had gone through these same situations before coming here if they'd been camping. But, I had lived a pretty posh life before this. I just can't believe it sometimes, the things I have to do to live here.
White girls and Aliens
As soon as my sister left, a Canadian girl, named Laurence, came to work at the health center and live in my family's concession! I could only count this as a blessing because I knew that it would be hard for me to readjust once Jasmine left. And so far, things have been good. She's living in my old room and I allowed her to use my nyegen. I thought that her using my nyegen would cause a fuss, but after talking to everyone possible about it, there hasn't been any stink.
I was also wondering if she might be treated differently or she would disrupt what I've got going on here, but that hasn't happened either. Things haven't changed for better or worse. However, what's funny is that my family has pinned the two of us together. We eat lunch and dinner together and sit and chat at night, which is only natural since we both prefer not to eat toh and speak the same language. But, what's really funny is that people have been asking me if this girl is my younger sister! I don't get it. I'm black, she's white. I'm American, she's Canadian. So, where's the logic in that?
Actually, today, some people came over and asked if we were sisters. Yacouba explains that we're not, not because we don't look anything alike, but because we're not from the same country! Laurence and I just laugh at this reasoning.
Oh, and today someone asked us if we "white women" have menstrual cycles! Like, not only do we not look African, but we're also assumed to have totally different organs and stuff because of how we look! And me and Laurence look nothing alike! That was a real revelation to me. It's like, we're another species to them and that just brings up a whole other topic, like something along the lines of Darwinism. I bet that if I gave them a book on Darwinism, they would totally believe themselves to be lesser humans. Anyway, I digress, the point is I'm still find it interesting that my identity is totally different here.
I was also wondering if she might be treated differently or she would disrupt what I've got going on here, but that hasn't happened either. Things haven't changed for better or worse. However, what's funny is that my family has pinned the two of us together. We eat lunch and dinner together and sit and chat at night, which is only natural since we both prefer not to eat toh and speak the same language. But, what's really funny is that people have been asking me if this girl is my younger sister! I don't get it. I'm black, she's white. I'm American, she's Canadian. So, where's the logic in that?
Actually, today, some people came over and asked if we were sisters. Yacouba explains that we're not, not because we don't look anything alike, but because we're not from the same country! Laurence and I just laugh at this reasoning.
Oh, and today someone asked us if we "white women" have menstrual cycles! Like, not only do we not look African, but we're also assumed to have totally different organs and stuff because of how we look! And me and Laurence look nothing alike! That was a real revelation to me. It's like, we're another species to them and that just brings up a whole other topic, like something along the lines of Darwinism. I bet that if I gave them a book on Darwinism, they would totally believe themselves to be lesser humans. Anyway, I digress, the point is I'm still find it interesting that my identity is totally different here.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Adaptation
With Jasmine being here, she showed me how much I've adapted to my environment.
Example #1
I used to fear, I mean FEAR cockroaches! I remember my first couple months where I refused to go to the toilet at night, because that's when the cockroaches came out. The latest I would go was at twilight, but even then, there was a lone cockroach now and then and I would retreat. Now, I go and I figured out that they don't like light or water, and if there's a rebel who won't respond to either, I kick 'em! Look at me 1 year later!
Example #2
My English has gotten really bad/French-like. I say things like "They took a drink at the bar," when it's "They had a drink at the bar," or "I'm going to prepare my bag," insteadof "I'm going to pack my bag." Hmmm....I can't think of another one, but Jas could tell you my speech is weird.
Example #3
I've gotten used to eating bad food. While Jasmine was here, we got served a lot of tege dege na (peanut sauce with leaves) over white rice. That has actually become one of my favorite staple dishes. Jasmine thought it was completely gross. I remember it being gross too, but when you're starving for protein, it's all good.
Example #4
I've become cold-shouldered. I've had so many issues with the women here, that anyone who has ever done me wrong gets the coldest treatment ever! I thought that I was doing this for survival, but Jasmine pointed out that I should be loving these women the most (I hate it when she's right!). I've decided to catch myself on this. I was bad, but it's how I adapted.
Example #5
I've gotten used to being dirty. However, that doesn't mean that I like it! It's so hard to stay clean here. I go to bed with dusty feet from walking on my concrete floor, I (sometimes) let dirty kids touch me and I buy street-food that's touched by stranger's hands, . Actually.....that doesn't sound to dirty, but it is.
I would like to give a 6th example, but I'm at a blank.
Example #1
I used to fear, I mean FEAR cockroaches! I remember my first couple months where I refused to go to the toilet at night, because that's when the cockroaches came out. The latest I would go was at twilight, but even then, there was a lone cockroach now and then and I would retreat. Now, I go and I figured out that they don't like light or water, and if there's a rebel who won't respond to either, I kick 'em! Look at me 1 year later!
Example #2
My English has gotten really bad/French-like. I say things like "They took a drink at the bar," when it's "They had a drink at the bar," or "I'm going to prepare my bag," insteadof "I'm going to pack my bag." Hmmm....I can't think of another one, but Jas could tell you my speech is weird.
Example #3
I've gotten used to eating bad food. While Jasmine was here, we got served a lot of tege dege na (peanut sauce with leaves) over white rice. That has actually become one of my favorite staple dishes. Jasmine thought it was completely gross. I remember it being gross too, but when you're starving for protein, it's all good.
Example #4
I've become cold-shouldered. I've had so many issues with the women here, that anyone who has ever done me wrong gets the coldest treatment ever! I thought that I was doing this for survival, but Jasmine pointed out that I should be loving these women the most (I hate it when she's right!). I've decided to catch myself on this. I was bad, but it's how I adapted.
Example #5
I've gotten used to being dirty. However, that doesn't mean that I like it! It's so hard to stay clean here. I go to bed with dusty feet from walking on my concrete floor, I (sometimes) let dirty kids touch me and I buy street-food that's touched by stranger's hands, . Actually.....that doesn't sound to dirty, but it is.
I would like to give a 6th example, but I'm at a blank.
Jasmine and I/1-year anniversary!!!!!!
God blessed me with a month of my sister's company and it was amazing! I'm still soaking it all in. Time seemed to go by fast and slow at the same time, but we used that time wisely.
We went across the country to see Dogon Country, where we climbed the cliffs to see ancient homes of cliff-dwellers and Djenne, where the largest mud brick mosque is situated. We went to the markets and observed the sites and smells, sometimes really gross. But where we spent most of our time was in my village.
I got to show Jasmine the life that I made and she experienced every thing that I deal with day after day. Because we spent so much time in village, she got to know my Malian family and friends and see how I have been living here for the past 12 months. It was amazing to see how her prissy-scaredy self had to quickly adopt to her new environment, just as I had so long ago. I really didn't give her any forwarning. Maybe that was mean of me, maybe not, but she got to experience the real deal.
I taught her how to draw water, how to take a bucket bath, how to speak some Bambara and how to relate with Malians. It was a very tiring task. Even though I took a break to be a host, I think that this month was the most tiring month I've had during my entire service. I had to constantly translate for her and make sure she was in good health and now, I'm exhausted. However, I'm also rejuvenated!
During my first year, I really didn't have an interest in improving my language skills. Mostly because, I was too busy trying to escape and keep my sanity with my horrible housing situation and trippy-malaria drugs that were causing me anxiety and depression. But, now my situation is so much better and I feel happier and Jasmine's coming has given me an extra boost to continue working in Mali and to better myself.
I thank God for the strength that He has given me this past year! Everything that I have gone through has made me a stronger person. And as my work has winded down for the summer, I pray that I won't waste my time, but use it to my advantage to prepare for my second and final year here.
For the summer, I want to improve my language skills, especially French, do a formation on neem-cream to combat against malaria and paint a world-map at the local high school. It's "Go-time," and I ask for your continual prayers from home as I start another year in Mali.
We went across the country to see Dogon Country, where we climbed the cliffs to see ancient homes of cliff-dwellers and Djenne, where the largest mud brick mosque is situated. We went to the markets and observed the sites and smells, sometimes really gross. But where we spent most of our time was in my village.
I got to show Jasmine the life that I made and she experienced every thing that I deal with day after day. Because we spent so much time in village, she got to know my Malian family and friends and see how I have been living here for the past 12 months. It was amazing to see how her prissy-scaredy self had to quickly adopt to her new environment, just as I had so long ago. I really didn't give her any forwarning. Maybe that was mean of me, maybe not, but she got to experience the real deal.
I taught her how to draw water, how to take a bucket bath, how to speak some Bambara and how to relate with Malians. It was a very tiring task. Even though I took a break to be a host, I think that this month was the most tiring month I've had during my entire service. I had to constantly translate for her and make sure she was in good health and now, I'm exhausted. However, I'm also rejuvenated!
During my first year, I really didn't have an interest in improving my language skills. Mostly because, I was too busy trying to escape and keep my sanity with my horrible housing situation and trippy-malaria drugs that were causing me anxiety and depression. But, now my situation is so much better and I feel happier and Jasmine's coming has given me an extra boost to continue working in Mali and to better myself.
I thank God for the strength that He has given me this past year! Everything that I have gone through has made me a stronger person. And as my work has winded down for the summer, I pray that I won't waste my time, but use it to my advantage to prepare for my second and final year here.
For the summer, I want to improve my language skills, especially French, do a formation on neem-cream to combat against malaria and paint a world-map at the local high school. It's "Go-time," and I ask for your continual prayers from home as I start another year in Mali.
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