Blowing Off Steam in Bamako

26 August 2010

After five days on medical hold at the stage house, I'd finally figured out what had been behind this latest spell of poor health. After several negative samples, a lab result I'd been expecting came through, revealing another visit from my amoebic friends. This go-round, I have both active and inactive forms of the parasite, which means two medications that will fill the next ten days.

Although it's not been under the best of circumstances, this time in Bamako has allowed me time not only to relax but also to contemplate future plans. One of my friends back home is compiling a network of RPCVs and Carleton alumni in DC for me to meet during my eventual visit there, and I even applied for a job position posted on idealist.org as an African recruiter/scout for an organization called One Acre Fund. Heck, I also happened upon an organic deli (Papa Gee's) in Portland my vegan friend agreed to take me to see, adding they'd be happy to have a guest from Africa.

For now, I'm spending a couple days with Mamadou in Daoudabougou before continuing on to Kafara this weekend. Last night, we got our measurements taken for our end of Ramadan fête outfits, and later tentatively planned out final errands I'd like to see through during these last four weeks in Mali (trip to Nièngue-Coro with Maman ~14 Sept, Malian Independence Day with Mamadou 22 Sept, trip to Tamala with Mamadou 23 Sept, packing in Kafara with Mamadou 24-26 Sept, final visit to the artisana market ~28 Sept, farewell at airport 1 Oct).


28 August 2010

It seems everywhere you look in ACI 2000, preparation of some kind for Mali's upcoming 50th anniversary seems to be taking place. Workers painting medians and sidewalk curbsides red and white, construction projects abound paving roads and installing street lights, police demonstrations, even parachute-rs practicing above! All this must be fine-tuned for the ever-approaching 22 September presidential parade planned nearby the Bureau and volunteer house.

After eating a big lunch at l'Amandine in order to watch my first Premier League soccer match of the new season, I was hungry again by 17hr00, another reminder of the lingering amoebas in my gastrointestinal tract.

While awaiting the return of Mamadou from an errand in town, I got a random urge to send our mutual Daoudabougou friend Baba a text message. Very soon after it was sent, he called me back for a brief chat, even passing the phone to a friend I assume is also working in a village nearby the Malian border with the Ivory Coast. Before Baba said so long for now, he told me to greet friends in Daoudabougou and hopefully meet up with him during a brief visit he's making to Bamako for the end of Ramadan fête.


29 August 2010

Last night, Mamadou's friend and cellphone repair work station supervisor Moussa arrived having accomplished the mission I sent him on to find me a pair of muké loafers for my fête outfit. They're a light blue leather that will match the brown shade of bazin I'm having made for Mamadou and my namesake to wear along with me. The reason I had Moussa go search for these was two-fold: he knows the big market in downtown Bamako inside-out and since he's Malian, the sellers wouldn't rip him off like they might try to with a Toubab like myself.
Continuing last night's fête outfit theme, Mamadou and I went together to pick up his father's outfit from the tailor. It's a handsome bazin complet of a similar shade to what the Mamadou x3 will be wearing, inshallah.

Now, Mamadou's off developing photos in town, some for himself, some for Solo Camara (our friend Samba's dad) in Kafara, and two photos of my namesake for Muriama, per her request.