quick update

Happy happy Easter.

Im in gao, land of fans, internet and kiddie pools for a couple days before I head back to site for one last stretch before another trip down to Bamako for another week long training. Im actually kind of anxious not to leave site because I’ve got so much going on in terms of projects and I don’t want to delay it more than it already delays itself. A lot of volunteers are headed home after this IST and while I’m jealous and think it would be really fun to go home, I think the idea scares me as well. The thought of getting off the plane in the United States, when even the streets of Bamako are too much for me to handle right, makes me wonder about what the adjustment back into my old life would be like. And then having to leave the hot showers, starbucks, cool summer breezes would take another detox. I’m not saying that I wont come home. But I don’t think I’ve come to the place yet where I could go and come back in a healthy way. Besides the heat here is doing wonders for my complexion.

The tree nursery project is funded and underway. We have baby moringa, neem, and guava all coming up now as well as mango, citrus lemon and baobab planted. The idea is to get a tree nursery going, teach a bunch of people over several formations in june and july info on trees in general, their importance and benefits and a bunch of techniques in agroforestry and grafting. Then some of the participants will take over the management of the nursery and be able to maintain it as a business so there’s always baby trees ready to be bought and planted. The participants as part of their training also have to do several tree plantings each around town in public places, or homes while sharing some of the new knowledge they’ve gained from the formation.

The work for the community center is slowly but surely moving along well too. We decided to start out with making the repairs needed on the current structure, getting some electrical wiring set up and building one new big room to house the library and the buvette for now. That way the room will make some money in selling cold drinks and snacks that can then be turned around to make more improvements, while also providing a service and benefit to the community with books and computers to use. Then farther down the line if that all turns out well we can continue to make other improvements. I’m hoping to get books and other supplies for the library donated as gifts in kind so if anyone knows a way to find french and english books or wants to donate some please let me know.

I’m also continuing my work on ecotourism with the elephants. I’m holding a big meeting coming up next week with all parties concerned to try to hash out goals, objectives on how best to manage the potential they have and the economic benefits without negatively affecting the environment or the community. One elephant tried to come into town yesterday. My host mom said that he’s checking the place out for his friends and then will come back with them. Hopefully before I go to bamako!

My cousin had a baby boy a week ago, and he’s happy and healthy although very very tiny- maybe a little premature. They always have the baptism here seven days after the birth so he’ll officially be named tomorrow. The woman and the baby are also not supposed to be outside or show themselves for the first week so Roqqi has been staying inside a mosquito net/hanging sheet, resting and getting to know her new born. Her husband is in Cote d’ivoire working, which is not too uncommon. It seems like a lot of Malians work in “abidja” but Im unsure as to what the migrant work is or how of if its regulated at all.

I apologize again for my neglect in posting, I try to find interesting stuff to talk about—im not even sure how many people even bother to check anymore! Ill post pictures soon when I get down to Bamako and actually have a strong enough connection. If anyone from Georgetown is reading this, Im so jealous of you all soon to be lounging on the lawn with the cherry blossoms. Have fun in the upcoming weeks.
Some picture to come in the near future.