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!
