A little over a week ago, I went to a wedding at my site. Following the lead of my host sisters, we only went for a couple of hours at the end of the day. Apparently the festivities last all day. When we arrived, there was loud music and dancing, only women in attendance. I guess the male traditions were happening elsewhere. We went immediately to greet the bride who was sitting in her hut with her mother and some other women. We wished that she may have many children, among other things. As the dancing quieted down, chairs were pulled out into the concession (the outside area surrounded by the family's hut). We sat and waited for the bride to come out, covered in a veil. She was seated on a mat in the middle of the concession and surrounded by her mother, other female family members, and some older women. Her mother started to ritualistcally braid the bride's hair and the elder women began singing and dancing around her. A little while into the braiding, her bridal 'dishes' were brought out onto another mat in the middle of the concession - piles and piles of bowls, pots, and anything else deemed necessary for the bride to complete her womanly duties. It was at this point that I left with my host sisters, who had to prepare the evening meal, but as I understand, the bride was then taken to her husband's compound where she will remain. Aside from all the activity surrounding the bride, the wedding was also an opportunity for tons of women to gather together in their nicest clothes and socialize. All in all a fun event!
On a more serious note, I had a difficult conversation with my 22 yr. old host sister one afternoon. I was sitting with her in her sewing room (she is one of few women at my site I am aware of who is running her own business). She had just learned that a childhood friend of hers died. Deaths are announced on the radio. She was shocked because apparently this is a man that still calls her regularly, and there was no explanation as to how he died. I sat with her, unsure of what to say, as she started speaking about how she thinks Mali is a bad place because young people die all the time. She says she is so scared that sometimes she just wants to run to America. We both know all too well that escaping to America will never be an option for her. She then pulled out this bag of medicine, showing me her doxycycline. This is the same pill I take daily to fight off malaria. She says she can't take it because it makes her throw up. I tried to find an explanation saying maybe she's not eating enough before taking it or anything else I could think of, but she claimed she always ate it after lunch. I felt awful not knowing what to tell her, especially because now she says she just refuses to take it and malaria kills plenty of people every year at my site. Another host sister of mine was also complaining of an ear ache - to help her they poured machine oil in one ear. Is that crazy? I had no idea what to do.
We've been continuing the meetings in the Peulh quartier to discuss and plan for the well project. I felt that I was finally fulfilling my ideal image of development as I sat with a group of men on the ground under the moonlight discussing exactly how we want the construction of the well to go. I'm in Bamako now and the funding came in. Hopefully we can begin construction in the next couple of days.
Back to site today!
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Friday, April 15, 2011
107 degrees and counting!
107 degrees in Bamako today...hot hot hot. The bike tour is finished and was successful! Feels great to have something tangible accomplished. In the end, we sensitized over 1000 people about HIV/AIDS, what it is, how it's transmitted, prevention, and the importance of fidelity. We also had over 200 people tested and found three positives, all women. It felt like a huge celeration everywhere we went, lots of loud music and tradtional dancing. They especially loved watching me and the other Peace Corps volunteers dance. Even had the chief dancing with us during the celebration in my village.
One sad event is that my good friend, a Malian woman who was one of two local health educators giving the animations, had her brother die on the first day of the bike tour (he's from a different region in Mali). She was unable to finish the event with us. Once again, I was surprised by how casually people talk about death here. Not that they aren't saddened but that it's a common occurrence. Her nephew died two days later.
Another interesting event at site these past couple of weeks, World Vision is conducting a massive malnutrition survey in my village and surrounding areas. I watched them interview my host family and was so frustrated to see my host family telling the intervewers what they want to hear about their habits rather than the truth. For example, they lied saying they always wash their hands with soap before eating (people here eat with their hands), which is unfortunately not true. It's frustrating because it just shows how difficult it is to get accurate information when people just tell you what they think you want to hear! Luckily I think the interviewer could see through the lies...
With the bike tour finished, I've been quickly thrown into major project number two. I am deepening a well to improve access to water for one of my village's poorest ethnic groups. Have been holding a number of meetings to discuss logistics and to ensure community interest. Now in Bamako again, I just now applied for funding from USAID so that we can hopefully begin construction before rainy season hits in June/July.
Bamako has been especially fun this time around because of the ceremony to welcome in Mali's newest group of volunteers. In honor of Peace Corp's 50th Anniversary, the ceremony was held at the residence of Mali's president ATT and probably close to 200 of us got to go. Nice to see him especially because soon he will really be in the spotlight with presidential elections coming up next year.
Back to site tomorrow to continue preparations for the well!
One sad event is that my good friend, a Malian woman who was one of two local health educators giving the animations, had her brother die on the first day of the bike tour (he's from a different region in Mali). She was unable to finish the event with us. Once again, I was surprised by how casually people talk about death here. Not that they aren't saddened but that it's a common occurrence. Her nephew died two days later.
Another interesting event at site these past couple of weeks, World Vision is conducting a massive malnutrition survey in my village and surrounding areas. I watched them interview my host family and was so frustrated to see my host family telling the intervewers what they want to hear about their habits rather than the truth. For example, they lied saying they always wash their hands with soap before eating (people here eat with their hands), which is unfortunately not true. It's frustrating because it just shows how difficult it is to get accurate information when people just tell you what they think you want to hear! Luckily I think the interviewer could see through the lies...
With the bike tour finished, I've been quickly thrown into major project number two. I am deepening a well to improve access to water for one of my village's poorest ethnic groups. Have been holding a number of meetings to discuss logistics and to ensure community interest. Now in Bamako again, I just now applied for funding from USAID so that we can hopefully begin construction before rainy season hits in June/July.
Bamako has been especially fun this time around because of the ceremony to welcome in Mali's newest group of volunteers. In honor of Peace Corp's 50th Anniversary, the ceremony was held at the residence of Mali's president ATT and probably close to 200 of us got to go. Nice to see him especially because soon he will really be in the spotlight with presidential elections coming up next year.
Back to site tomorrow to continue preparations for the well!
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Hot Season and Mangos
Life in village is continuing on as usual, with the exception of the arrival of hot season. Temperatures are rising above 100 degrees these days really starting to notice the lack of electricity!The positve side of hot season is an abundance of mangos and papayas. Many afternoons are now spent sitting in the shade devouring sweet fruit.
I'm in the midst of planning my first major project. I'm working in collabortion with World Vision, Population Services International, the Mayor's office, and Peace Corps to create an HIV/AIDS awareness bike tour. I secured 'Small Project Assisstance' funding from USAID last month. The dates are set for April 1-3. Myself along with 5-7 other Peace Corps Volunteers will join a team from PSI and local health educators to travel to 4 villages giving information about HIV/AIDS and offering voluntary testing. There are a number of people here who still don't believe HIV/AIDS exists. My village is especially vulnerable to HIV because of it's locaton along a main road. There are a ton of truckers passing through, and prostitutes as well. With all the misinformation out there, I believe this sort of project is very important.
I began planning this project by first holding weekly meetings at the Mayor's office to confirm community interest in the event and select the villages. I also accompanied a few community members to visit each village chief and selected others to ensure they both had interest and agreed to be a part of the event. I am now working out all the last minute details and am looking forward to beginning the event in just over a week.
Not much else new except for a new woman is now living in my host family compound. She is my host mom's brother's second wife. She was sent to help out with all the cooking. I'm still in love with Salifu and La, my toddler host siblings. Think I might bring them home to America...kidding! Well maybe.
I'm in the midst of planning my first major project. I'm working in collabortion with World Vision, Population Services International, the Mayor's office, and Peace Corps to create an HIV/AIDS awareness bike tour. I secured 'Small Project Assisstance' funding from USAID last month. The dates are set for April 1-3. Myself along with 5-7 other Peace Corps Volunteers will join a team from PSI and local health educators to travel to 4 villages giving information about HIV/AIDS and offering voluntary testing. There are a number of people here who still don't believe HIV/AIDS exists. My village is especially vulnerable to HIV because of it's locaton along a main road. There are a ton of truckers passing through, and prostitutes as well. With all the misinformation out there, I believe this sort of project is very important.
I began planning this project by first holding weekly meetings at the Mayor's office to confirm community interest in the event and select the villages. I also accompanied a few community members to visit each village chief and selected others to ensure they both had interest and agreed to be a part of the event. I am now working out all the last minute details and am looking forward to beginning the event in just over a week.
Not much else new except for a new woman is now living in my host family compound. She is my host mom's brother's second wife. She was sent to help out with all the cooking. I'm still in love with Salifu and La, my toddler host siblings. Think I might bring them home to America...kidding! Well maybe.
Monday, February 14, 2011
"I'm not a doctor, but in Peace Corps I play one."
Two months later... Sorry for the long silence! Just finished my best month in Mali yet. Finally starting to pursue some projects, so nice to feel more productive.
Last December, I finished two weeks of in-service training and then left immediately for vacation in Nigeria with Banky and his family. I enjoyed many of the creature comforts I'd been missing, good restaurants, malls, movie theater and the BEACH! Can't believe how much I miss the water in this lovely landlocked country. Most of all, it was just nice to be spending time with a family again. Had a rough transition back to life in Mali. Spent January trying to figure out where to start work-wise, setting up meetings with my homologue and the mayor's office. Things finally just started to come together recently.
I've been continuing to go to the CSCOM (health center) regularly. Pre-natal consultations on Mondays and Thursdays, baby vaccinations on Tuesday (when there are actually vaccinations in stock), and a malnutrition program on Wednesdays. One thing about pre-natal consultations I've been noticing more is that it's pretty much the norm here that at least one of your children will die. There are a series of questions each woman is asked during the consultation. 'How many children do you have?' and then 'How many are living?' Just still can't imagine living in a world where having at least one of your children die is normal. The baby vaccination program has been a bit frustrating for me. I'd say in the last four weeks, they've only actually had vaccinations in stock once. It can be challenging for women to give up an afternoon to come to the health center. Some will wait for hours only to be told the vaccinations are "finished." Annoying. The malnutrition program has actually improved greatly in the past few weeks. The 'chef de poste,' the CSCOM's doctor, has taken over the program. He and I conduct the baby weighings, and I'm finally starting to feel confident enough with the language to start giving mothers advice. Mostly about the importance of exclusive breastfeeding.
Aside from my work at the health center, I've begun working with World Vision to plan an HIV/AIDS awareness bike tour. This was a successful project in my village last year and I'm hoping to continue the tradition and make it an annual event. It involves educational activities as well as testing. Working on securing funding from USAID now...been kind of a long process but think it's going well.
I also just had my first girls group. I worked with an english teacher to select 16 girls, ages 12-15. We'll be meeting once a week to talk about health, America, music, whatever else they're interested in. Want it to be informal, just a way to get to know a group of girls.
A couple other white people have shown up in town this past month. First, there was a group of Canadians working with 'Pharmacists without Borders.' They spent a day at my health center before leaving for some surrunding villages. They gave a presentation to the health staff about the importance of vaccinations, when/what should be administered and such. Also played host to an english man who's a couple of months in to a year long bike ride from England to South Africa. And I thought I was lonely! Amazing what he is attempting to do.
Everything with my host family is going well. I've been making much more of an effort to spend quality time with them each day. I really enjoy the company of my younger host siblings, especially 3 yr. olds Salifu and La. They've got so much attitude for little kids, make me laugh all the time. My older host brother was also recently married and I love his new wife. She was a friend of mine before, a female tailor in town. It's rare here for women to have their own source of income. She likes to wear pants. Think these small forms of rebellion are great. It has been a little disappointing to me to see her new role in my host family after marriage. Her business has definitely taken a hit because she spends so much time cooking, doing the dishes, and sweeping the concession.
In other news, my sister's coming to visit!!! It's been over 7 months since I've seen anyone from my family and I am more than ready. We'll be meeting in Senegal. Over 30 Mali volunteers are busing it over to Dakar together to participate in a softball tournament between all Peace Corps West Africa volunteers. I plan to use the time to travel with Jess, before bringing her back to site in Mali. So excited for her to meet everyone!
Last December, I finished two weeks of in-service training and then left immediately for vacation in Nigeria with Banky and his family. I enjoyed many of the creature comforts I'd been missing, good restaurants, malls, movie theater and the BEACH! Can't believe how much I miss the water in this lovely landlocked country. Most of all, it was just nice to be spending time with a family again. Had a rough transition back to life in Mali. Spent January trying to figure out where to start work-wise, setting up meetings with my homologue and the mayor's office. Things finally just started to come together recently.
I've been continuing to go to the CSCOM (health center) regularly. Pre-natal consultations on Mondays and Thursdays, baby vaccinations on Tuesday (when there are actually vaccinations in stock), and a malnutrition program on Wednesdays. One thing about pre-natal consultations I've been noticing more is that it's pretty much the norm here that at least one of your children will die. There are a series of questions each woman is asked during the consultation. 'How many children do you have?' and then 'How many are living?' Just still can't imagine living in a world where having at least one of your children die is normal. The baby vaccination program has been a bit frustrating for me. I'd say in the last four weeks, they've only actually had vaccinations in stock once. It can be challenging for women to give up an afternoon to come to the health center. Some will wait for hours only to be told the vaccinations are "finished." Annoying. The malnutrition program has actually improved greatly in the past few weeks. The 'chef de poste,' the CSCOM's doctor, has taken over the program. He and I conduct the baby weighings, and I'm finally starting to feel confident enough with the language to start giving mothers advice. Mostly about the importance of exclusive breastfeeding.
Aside from my work at the health center, I've begun working with World Vision to plan an HIV/AIDS awareness bike tour. This was a successful project in my village last year and I'm hoping to continue the tradition and make it an annual event. It involves educational activities as well as testing. Working on securing funding from USAID now...been kind of a long process but think it's going well.
I also just had my first girls group. I worked with an english teacher to select 16 girls, ages 12-15. We'll be meeting once a week to talk about health, America, music, whatever else they're interested in. Want it to be informal, just a way to get to know a group of girls.
A couple other white people have shown up in town this past month. First, there was a group of Canadians working with 'Pharmacists without Borders.' They spent a day at my health center before leaving for some surrunding villages. They gave a presentation to the health staff about the importance of vaccinations, when/what should be administered and such. Also played host to an english man who's a couple of months in to a year long bike ride from England to South Africa. And I thought I was lonely! Amazing what he is attempting to do.
Everything with my host family is going well. I've been making much more of an effort to spend quality time with them each day. I really enjoy the company of my younger host siblings, especially 3 yr. olds Salifu and La. They've got so much attitude for little kids, make me laugh all the time. My older host brother was also recently married and I love his new wife. She was a friend of mine before, a female tailor in town. It's rare here for women to have their own source of income. She likes to wear pants. Think these small forms of rebellion are great. It has been a little disappointing to me to see her new role in my host family after marriage. Her business has definitely taken a hit because she spends so much time cooking, doing the dishes, and sweeping the concession.
In other news, my sister's coming to visit!!! It's been over 7 months since I've seen anyone from my family and I am more than ready. We'll be meeting in Senegal. Over 30 Mali volunteers are busing it over to Dakar together to participate in a softball tournament between all Peace Corps West Africa volunteers. I plan to use the time to travel with Jess, before bringing her back to site in Mali. So excited for her to meet everyone!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)