The two-month homestay period, where I lived with a Malian family and studied Bambara every day, is over now. I've spent the last week at Tubaniso, for my last round of training before I head to my village tomorrow. Tonight I'll be swearing in as a Peace Corps volunteer at the president's mansion. It should be a pretty swanky affair.
I don't have a lot of time to write, but here's some photos!
Me and my host family! My sister Umu is feeding my a mango while I shake hands with my host dad, also named Omar Coulibaly...
My bedroom
My host brother and his niece... My host brother was born with clubbed feet, probably because his mother didn't have enough folic acid in her diet when she was pregnant.
Two kids next to a shea tree. Sometimes kids would stop by my family's house just to stare at me! These were two of my favorites.
My host aunt
This is an idea of what Tubaniso, where I am now, looks like.
More cute Malian kids gawking at the Toubab.
My host sisters, Umu and Batuma. Both were incredibly kind and hard working... They prepared all my meals, fetched my well water for me and helped teach me Bambara!
Also, now that I'm moving to my village, I have a new address:
Matt Cooper, PCV
Corps de la Paix
B.P. 19
Kolondeiba, Mali, West Africa
The letters and packages that I get from home really make me happy!
So now it's off to Kissa to really start the PC experience and immerse myself in a Malian community.
Cool. Looks like you are fitting. Im enjoying the photos. How often will you get internet access?
ReplyDeleteMatt,
ReplyDeleteI love all the pictures of your host family. I know you're pretty adept at learning languages. I'd be interested to know how well you feel you got to know them, what with the language barrier.
I hope you'll be able to post more pictures in the future so we can learn some about the work you'll do and the people you'll live with for the next two years.
I'll be following your blog with great interest!
Aunt Ann