tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29109369772894271262024-02-22T00:48:26.666-08:00Jessica in Mauritania...and MaliJessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06166350402541148865noreply@blogger.comBlogger80125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2910936977289427126.post-90152659312683146662011-05-02T08:44:00.000-07:002011-05-02T10:07:31.920-07:00Mali 50th Anniversary of Independence mural<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv7bk4ibTVVPjATTiXcZXjF_h3eNOqcDMsI-87oQVLhf7EtAiGtOtMBGJbYhSoZ-XpN0WoCPTOQB4qIaAHVIpR-iQYOZOBkMmBmMvQU0oWhBA6OsQzAdMC6hyphenhyphentB5pM8jOv4a2xJaSH5zM/s1600/IMG_2418.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv7bk4ibTVVPjATTiXcZXjF_h3eNOqcDMsI-87oQVLhf7EtAiGtOtMBGJbYhSoZ-XpN0WoCPTOQB4qIaAHVIpR-iQYOZOBkMmBmMvQU0oWhBA6OsQzAdMC6hyphenhyphentB5pM8jOv4a2xJaSH5zM/s400/IMG_2418.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602166243438067202" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4HSQ0gacsrqAY_w28DG47mNHY4ObCkSHdJnHtP_o6zwqeY1ea62O-rlqItDuj7D_fUi-4Bj3PUZeJvIyaU2hYMthig3_U16VF-3p0z0rvWUX8YRK6fm51RQrm8zZlhzbV5-rdTMME7kQ/s1600/IMG_2422.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4HSQ0gacsrqAY_w28DG47mNHY4ObCkSHdJnHtP_o6zwqeY1ea62O-rlqItDuj7D_fUi-4Bj3PUZeJvIyaU2hYMthig3_U16VF-3p0z0rvWUX8YRK6fm51RQrm8zZlhzbV5-rdTMME7kQ/s400/IMG_2422.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602162615454002738" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzojORBQobt5o1dE0oEphjdYCJaqhp3pWuYWCUofNEz0kqocPXYb_yHGpc64eNtR7tIcoEkdQRBtDj8_NIxparODbqYLdjffa-b2l6ZRZ5jcH0xF8G2thBMioWP0eua4GIBm2RkdJ53oA/s1600/IMG_2428.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzojORBQobt5o1dE0oEphjdYCJaqhp3pWuYWCUofNEz0kqocPXYb_yHGpc64eNtR7tIcoEkdQRBtDj8_NIxparODbqYLdjffa-b2l6ZRZ5jcH0xF8G2thBMioWP0eua4GIBm2RkdJ53oA/s400/IMG_2428.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602158619530421634" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8E6baqbLeXPVY91Qtku9SO_4255rsiYGro5XFT7xyZRR6fiGbo125FxsTHcilaetL1AQjQ7c4X7P_JQ5DZz-8L2qAtBzvZpTwv_2KnxrqihiZLjXNiyAKMLce-NztPKflE3xRn1DWVD4/s1600/IMG_2450.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8E6baqbLeXPVY91Qtku9SO_4255rsiYGro5XFT7xyZRR6fiGbo125FxsTHcilaetL1AQjQ7c4X7P_JQ5DZz-8L2qAtBzvZpTwv_2KnxrqihiZLjXNiyAKMLce-NztPKflE3xRn1DWVD4/s400/IMG_2450.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602154145611963874" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Qvbr271MnD8ZnEZB9vT-Zx6wz9w_PjqIAOnMpMWtDV0thU3ZYGnCG-k_6U2KTo0COZ0-OCyt-NeXz17VPyP-eJ_LS5KYM9ujWYpWe4ZVn5oCG37y07jlyKgj38A8DL_18_7Pk4S9mus/s1600/IMG_2452.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Qvbr271MnD8ZnEZB9vT-Zx6wz9w_PjqIAOnMpMWtDV0thU3ZYGnCG-k_6U2KTo0COZ0-OCyt-NeXz17VPyP-eJ_LS5KYM9ujWYpWe4ZVn5oCG37y07jlyKgj38A8DL_18_7Pk4S9mus/s400/IMG_2452.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602148235506914162" /></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06166350402541148865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2910936977289427126.post-43874111666903842102011-03-25T13:58:00.000-07:002011-03-25T14:02:06.959-07:00Donate to a project in Mali!My region-mate, Ali, is currently raising money for a project to facilitate shea production in her community by providing materials and training. Shea butter, soap, and lotion are all made from the nuts of the shea tree, indigenous to West Africa, and shea products are an important source of income for local women. Consider donating to this worthy project!<div><br /></div><div>https://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=donate.contribute.projDetail&projdesc=688-349</div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06166350402541148865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2910936977289427126.post-85013117837248460052011-03-19T02:39:00.000-07:002011-03-19T04:54:13.542-07:00Hot season work<div><meta charset="utf-8">So the hot season is here-the weather report for Kita today is a low of 75 and a high of 102, and hot season does not even reach its peak until May! Rainy season in Mali, which runs from June to October, tends to be the busiest time of year, when people go out to the fields and farm all of the staples-corn, millet, peanuts, and beans-that will feed them (inshallah) for the coming year. There is also lots of work that is unique to hot season, though-particularly building and and home improvement projects that would be impossible with the constant threat of a torrential downpour.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBM75TOUaIvCAe9du7vt38S-JCDzYGvW1JgFIcdPRlPDcZZ_YsAaj1Y80XNd45oKJxAw1jtqify0Cuyjoc1DWrhw-BkjXHnmfKS3YKiO24LSzbTwWqKlXpFRYu2T_kq61FFHJDdl8o9QM/s1600/IMG_2178.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBM75TOUaIvCAe9du7vt38S-JCDzYGvW1JgFIcdPRlPDcZZ_YsAaj1Y80XNd45oKJxAw1jtqify0Cuyjoc1DWrhw-BkjXHnmfKS3YKiO24LSzbTwWqKlXpFRYu2T_kq61FFHJDdl8o9QM/s400/IMG_2178.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585753355992272418" /></a><div>People make these clay pots to store water in. They are going to let them dry in the sun and then fire them. This is my good friend in my village, Kunba (right), and her sister-in-law, Selu.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgesGSsH_irIqZxiBUCbwP9-d8jXNigjatrSzOy9wR5LlwHzZ5PuZCjtWRXx1pv4_U4BtsDsCJ1h05FleWwfKkm4vbB_z4R_7yzoUk9sLQLjsKP8-PYi7Ikh4WgyclQMIYjSOw6kmxvpZU/s1600/IMG_1981.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgesGSsH_irIqZxiBUCbwP9-d8jXNigjatrSzOy9wR5LlwHzZ5PuZCjtWRXx1pv4_U4BtsDsCJ1h05FleWwfKkm4vbB_z4R_7yzoUk9sLQLjsKP8-PYi7Ikh4WgyclQMIYjSOw6kmxvpZU/s400/IMG_1981.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585747515198342546" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">My brother replacing his termite-ridden roof</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqoX62CYCfwZ3roVfX0s34RyOE4lNWEzjSbZ-W_7vVyltFHMnyl2WHBifECJGh39tUAzCUf9g61zwBXkIdzvGaHhccqa35nB6fOClkxZnAgheZLI_zbUChLGZgW3oZjUOuG_m3wd7yLQ8/s1600/IMG_2089.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqoX62CYCfwZ3roVfX0s34RyOE4lNWEzjSbZ-W_7vVyltFHMnyl2WHBifECJGh39tUAzCUf9g61zwBXkIdzvGaHhccqa35nB6fOClkxZnAgheZLI_zbUChLGZgW3oZjUOuG_m3wd7yLQ8/s400/IMG_2089.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585738398149797138" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">The well in my host-uncle's garden dried up, so he climbed down to deepen it. Here his daughters are hauling up the buckets of mud he dug out.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAjkObemoJV5nLoT-eAp-fAOuqRWFeFeF067rs_CA9Honc73fTCwwLjlbfPpyZ24DKiQdiM9Fb6xlPJHq_90TPC-d2Qzi1tgASWxOS9MYEjEB8anl1QePG1p5rH_r5FaEO_68Hb068TYQ/s1600/IMG_2084.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAjkObemoJV5nLoT-eAp-fAOuqRWFeFeF067rs_CA9Honc73fTCwwLjlbfPpyZ24DKiQdiM9Fb6xlPJHq_90TPC-d2Qzi1tgASWxOS9MYEjEB8anl1QePG1p5rH_r5FaEO_68Hb068TYQ/s400/IMG_2084.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585734334201165682" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Deepening the well</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl1qvp5Sj96aEfzkTp1tVbwpiXuQLKzbbTvaFObKL8i0AXqiukje5cDqQIsLh0bmLlDaMxJmBSAsqep4pbc6wMbju_cdyEJ0wlh6NrhPtsgDB6qEQt7tPs7rsIZnnE-ireI6xhZ5GpFLo/s400/IMG_2149.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585729635992841746" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><div style="text-align: center;">Collecting sand to make cement for my school project</div></span>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06166350402541148865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2910936977289427126.post-33996687916476418532011-02-18T04:26:00.000-08:002011-02-18T04:39:24.118-08:00Updates<div style="text-align: left;">For close followers of this blog, I mentioned back in December that I would soon be posting my school construction project online so that people could donate. The community contribution for this project ended up being high enough that it qualified for a different type of funding that does not involve outside donations. The project and funding have been approved, and work is set to start at the end of this month. Thank you to everyone who considered donating!</div><div><br /></div><div>Also in December, I posted pictures of the baby who was named after me, Jessica Sira Coulibaly. I am happy to report that she is fat and healthy. She continues to pursue such activities as eating, sleeping, and, since babies do not wear diapers here, peeing on people when they least expect it.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuJPzI95KKn_AEQs1miVxZNMepdgp9kyvJmgqKzOobIR3dDEIuFO6lHMwt0wASpO6LytAX93TtmGxSAlyZiIVw26k-flZmfiaiZmdmnRoM6psi5auE_QCfo8bWuAu0I1nubWvcf605Edg/s400/IMG_2058.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575006917401546834" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOBBM9yGPhYEsKi9DkR2jXbJIzuPcMKSpFfBlfNRbiGGugvlu4yiHRymRm-tLbsAi4MADRsxsRFeq14-onE95c002aUDtk8rWTxq6IBJWxLJm04Gsc_8F22pTy6_o2GP4Mvj47ilTvCK0/s1600/IMG_2055.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOBBM9yGPhYEsKi9DkR2jXbJIzuPcMKSpFfBlfNRbiGGugvlu4yiHRymRm-tLbsAi4MADRsxsRFeq14-onE95c002aUDtk8rWTxq6IBJWxLJm04Gsc_8F22pTy6_o2GP4Mvj47ilTvCK0/s400/IMG_2055.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575006072140758946" /></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06166350402541148865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2910936977289427126.post-24336293279038594812010-12-31T05:09:00.000-08:002010-12-31T05:59:30.532-08:00Tunisia<div>Just got back to Mali from a week in Tunisia. Venturing out of West Africa for the first time was an eye-opening experience. Tunisia is very developed: rail system, trash pickup, you buy a SIM card from a cell phone store rather than a guy on the street. Also more of a European influence, judging by the amount of espresso and skinny black jeans. Perhaps what was most shocking was the cold. It was like a Seattle winter but without central heating or a jacket. I put on the three hoodies I had packed and didn't take them off for four days. Fortunately, re-wearing clothes is something I have become a pro at after two and a half years in Peace Corps. </div><div><br /></div><div>I met up with a friend who had just finished her service in Mali and had already spent a week in Tunisia doing the Star Wars stuff down south. We spent the next week doing a big loop of the north-Tunis, Tabarka, Ain Draham, El Kef, and Mahdia. Absolutely beautiful country. Enjoy!</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY7km5sME64PhaYr_e-RILrcth75HiMG1pLBe3ZFaEGTMEXRBU1d7OtYecue_ReWXulXmzhYEFs2Ffu5iaCEZqqAK8bd-UymLjeWqMkYJp-2X-EB4aPq48pArGQwQnnfljhZgY4XDCBy8/s1600/IMG_1763.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY7km5sME64PhaYr_e-RILrcth75HiMG1pLBe3ZFaEGTMEXRBU1d7OtYecue_ReWXulXmzhYEFs2Ffu5iaCEZqqAK8bd-UymLjeWqMkYJp-2X-EB4aPq48pArGQwQnnfljhZgY4XDCBy8/s400/IMG_1763.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556842109719410450" /></a>The public rail system in downtown Tunis. No big deal.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixDgvR2hgi2hG-xehenjaFXFoVr0PNgfdkEkR3JKvNijsjureqQKAe2dxJ6b4nEq98wijYZF3CnU4G5vRP263HJtKHcsbbkcNVyshpEJfAsndgY_seMC3p62TdVauGID8cl3uOdyNcipo/s1600/IMG_1781.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixDgvR2hgi2hG-xehenjaFXFoVr0PNgfdkEkR3JKvNijsjureqQKAe2dxJ6b4nEq98wijYZF3CnU4G5vRP263HJtKHcsbbkcNVyshpEJfAsndgY_seMC3p62TdVauGID8cl3uOdyNcipo/s400/IMG_1781.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556841363549226338" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5V-6_mIzZe6NOYLf2DCo0rpWxKLX-fepDlHboFHv8R9p_cNuaCbGwcQiwvl9O51H8XoLjPJjhoR6RacGrJPjFeNaCo8thhN2G_oQC0GGLeav0U8g4qA0CWShVj29y2GjcYvE5KNDHAs0/s1600/IMG_1785.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5V-6_mIzZe6NOYLf2DCo0rpWxKLX-fepDlHboFHv8R9p_cNuaCbGwcQiwvl9O51H8XoLjPJjhoR6RacGrJPjFeNaCo8thhN2G_oQC0GGLeav0U8g4qA0CWShVj29y2GjcYvE5KNDHAs0/s400/IMG_1785.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556840508665704162" /></a>Atop Byrsa Hill, looking into Tunis<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCmD9bppAdTvW5wepHGIukFSPobaWH2Rru-RCHxwSrnq0fIC7Eo1_u_0nMsZxew7L_ufj6UUgOlPjeMdMJheK58PDTaQPG4qdZToc9pT_4xaTt4NMaiynJ3Ugv0_7jwWpwojaqFBRQFXE/s1600/IMG_1808.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCmD9bppAdTvW5wepHGIukFSPobaWH2Rru-RCHxwSrnq0fIC7Eo1_u_0nMsZxew7L_ufj6UUgOlPjeMdMJheK58PDTaQPG4qdZToc9pT_4xaTt4NMaiynJ3Ugv0_7jwWpwojaqFBRQFXE/s400/IMG_1808.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556839827680213410" /></a>Antonine Baths in Carthage<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Ry5Ae1RlkI5orUPyj78_nozXg5Y9MTmz0SAwOCAvXSbM75sGAm1sx9czeMa0Mpz8lSw4MHLaqa7eMYShVUqDgippp4ZQwYUsLujFHpoAyu_5qZvfXe-dB9Vkv8Mfcn-d-tpMdKOxGB0/s1600/IMG_1887.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Ry5Ae1RlkI5orUPyj78_nozXg5Y9MTmz0SAwOCAvXSbM75sGAm1sx9czeMa0Mpz8lSw4MHLaqa7eMYShVUqDgippp4ZQwYUsLujFHpoAyu_5qZvfXe-dB9Vkv8Mfcn-d-tpMdKOxGB0/s400/IMG_1887.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556838825207591698" /></a>El Kef<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixNBfpWEN5w68mII9CCH-jbJ8fnsXjGtlBwtItWZfY4uBGAqcNad6Qor6LAVRl9OJty2ihT2d8SEIgFp6qNTxfEZ_7PIBSE-_BvPhUsDXGDQxLSoWrB90b41yweZHh2AatdC1H5oO9Zd0/s1600/IMG_1906.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixNBfpWEN5w68mII9CCH-jbJ8fnsXjGtlBwtItWZfY4uBGAqcNad6Qor6LAVRl9OJty2ihT2d8SEIgFp6qNTxfEZ_7PIBSE-_BvPhUsDXGDQxLSoWrB90b41yweZHh2AatdC1H5oO9Zd0/s400/IMG_1906.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556838016845712210" /></a>The kasbah at El Kef, formerly used to defend Tunisia against Algeria (the dark clouds to the west).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvDB1eQl_wnkZ7HgXBrO6RPX9XesE0fYepWqAcclAaqo-VcNEaGtVzM2jXtPlfIT6lkwxoIrLj_VY_NMXuIzgFl0AY5h5_jemGjm5YvylgTOdGx9EV49Qz0mKTwsEM_S4THTbRJb678EY/s1600/IMG_1940.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvDB1eQl_wnkZ7HgXBrO6RPX9XesE0fYepWqAcclAaqo-VcNEaGtVzM2jXtPlfIT6lkwxoIrLj_VY_NMXuIzgFl0AY5h5_jemGjm5YvylgTOdGx9EV49Qz0mKTwsEM_S4THTbRJb678EY/s400/IMG_1940.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556836808654271010" /></a>Mahdia<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI8_Btxq_QV0UF_H-8shJ-SUnlo8b2DbXJMvdiuzog8vJPNBXKIJGZd4t3WFbZmF1Ddl3IlNJBfpkAYDyIToUmKv7NP1xfqGUR99KhUlY2iBkrAuA8pI0bjnIbEjW5bZmX-WtsAHvG3bs/s1600/IMG_1952.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI8_Btxq_QV0UF_H-8shJ-SUnlo8b2DbXJMvdiuzog8vJPNBXKIJGZd4t3WFbZmF1Ddl3IlNJBfpkAYDyIToUmKv7NP1xfqGUR99KhUlY2iBkrAuA8pI0bjnIbEjW5bZmX-WtsAHvG3bs/s400/IMG_1952.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556835883541276434" /></a>Mahdia was the warmest place we went.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8pFKcdTS9lKU1ZXq8Bd0PcMe0fWU4NxSobtk7AKMKJDSom3c4Ug1PID-FLFjVPUfyo7HFPIPb24BaaJvqRztjpolkfjjksfNKoy8wSbU69vzX8WZBEqF8MbWCMfM9aVGItqCdmpeTDk4/s1600/IMG_1956.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8pFKcdTS9lKU1ZXq8Bd0PcMe0fWU4NxSobtk7AKMKJDSom3c4Ug1PID-FLFjVPUfyo7HFPIPb24BaaJvqRztjpolkfjjksfNKoy8wSbU69vzX8WZBEqF8MbWCMfM9aVGItqCdmpeTDk4/s400/IMG_1956.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556833615905980834" /></a>Caucasian+blond hair+glasses=sisters. At least that is what every Tunisian we met thought.Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06166350402541148865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2910936977289427126.post-31414375519033198662010-12-10T07:03:00.000-08:002010-12-10T08:13:01.479-08:00The last few months...<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; ">I promised to be better at updating this during my third year, and yet here we are. So what is new? I am doing a third year! This last year in Mali was good, and it felt like a shame to leave after just one year since I put so much work into learning Bambara and getting to know my village. I went back to Seattle in September to visit. It was my first time back in the US in over two years-weird, but wonderful to see people.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Since being back, my biggest <span class="Apple-style-span">project has been putting together a proposal to finish the primary school in my village. Out of th</span><span class="Apple-style-span">e two school buildings, only one has windows, doors, desks, etc, so only three of the six classrooms are usable. The type of funding I am applying for allows people in the US to donate money, so check back in January and I will have all the information posted for this worthy project!</span></div><div><br /></div><div>In November my old site<span class="Apple-style-span">-mate from Mauritania, who transferred to Rwanda and just finished her service there, came to visit. We went hiking in Dogon Country, a region in northern Mali. It was so good to see her and reminisce about that first, lost year.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Other than that, my time has just been occupied with village life, which is what most of these pictures are showing. I am growing tomatoes, basil, and garlic chives. Reading a lot. Going to the fields, drinking tea and hanging out. Observe:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-size: 11.1111px; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijRcf1ChP9nfjCdNQYRbJshiprh4meDTLfMKlULaSe-W8XcPBLt9Lc9Uk6fp1bTjS4w-i-9kHL_7biiTQZvJghJ6IhMdfD3dRtxWDQ26wFG-KbM4K7Jkwn5RxxkqftBkwb_IN0V1Vc1VI/s400/IMG_1714.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549084146816334866" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">I achieved a personal goal this past week-I got a baby named after me! In Muslim culture, a baby is not named until a week after its birth. In the meantime, anyone can suggest a name, although it is most often named after an older relative. Whenever a baby girl is born in my village, I jokingly suggest that it should be named after me. This time, they took that suggestion seriously, so during the week I went out and bought baby clothes, soap, and kola nuts to give as gifts at the baptism. This baby's official name, on its birth certificate, is Jessica Sira Coulibaly.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11.1111px; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiseSBjfh0Eia94VM4TQnjBPcVesJkmSaRVBUknWA4wwJsfVXCudMU7jKqnVfpVM2nMDyV_jofJqDHLvlCMds5irVQd8Yb_jbIqtbiJl514QmWGZVMyESVcSgL3BdGhOX3l1G45EodgPQs/s400/IMG_1707.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549078599761335250" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span">Harvesting millet</span></span></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgig-jOVR3YSplv5GncQhYPnUWbW2v-HSS65kN95iYkWf6YgB_fNFrChr-MbJn3SbnKlIMApGA8FweqcqnlFj3A2I30cXGwc72gGJm1MSeXFuRGcV6mP5Sd70bnBpj7Jf6N0woZ25mC20E/s400/IMG_1604.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549074477032312834" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Dressed up and enjoying Tabaski, the biggest Muslim holiday. It is celebrated in particular style in Gumbanko with singing, dancing, and macaroni noodles for breakfast.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11.1111px; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrsEqRX9-rzGIofuwhLROqVBZyrp83XugWD-INXl4AvIGXaT8pctzyObCsfMgrsZwj5lvRY2uvfrnBynZqDLQ5vk8Vj-U3ohXzkEab1shX4qA1gR5ORBE3q174oHlu9XdgIE788QVmBsw/s400/IMG_1597.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549076054242425010" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Tabaski</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11.1111px; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdopl97nJLF35D953tjwNZU52fcLrKU3kx3hxu0UXV4x-xGYBUntumWJSm26ws58rcARHQFvLOm65JLbmd7akPTZGL3Q14gyF6-54JY5Z4RLsiw-AZklXXedfN50UtkQqhBhI8wf17w9A/s400/IMG_1619.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549078585584214738" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span">Tabaski</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKH3TeTq3SOS5dGZ3G2wlggEgXm6jFUXkRCWLAnYoGXrvcipv15sSLxRt2I8lj6ELiTX4dbOEyD1zjRCwI-_Qd5rpMpqi3wTcqNXQee7mUu6fLOCBTPkkUdGqeNv8ji4CH9nWpPP1xZ68/s400/IMG_1304.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549074468888314434" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Kali (my counterpart), his son, and their family's new calf</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjdoyRrHi4lMy3J-JYeaq8LmiORB02qxVfke0CXXl4LAmmxVQA74TlI4nlFOG0d8CkkaAD5VI8b_fv7MoVjq5c3glEf0G-gEr0LcMt-iDlDWnz7cRd-uhbMiBju-T6JUyeHQX6EnEeqdA/s400/IMG_1555.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549070317037502290" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Marta and I in Dogon</span></div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06166350402541148865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2910936977289427126.post-40922211254601572822010-09-30T20:15:00.000-07:002010-09-30T20:34:36.595-07:00Things that make me laugh<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZnrfaHYZmSSrmlbWobMyM_VK8EkL4WccDA13eeS4WV54S9-f-OGup-88BV73Bd_VV8w-My34wstorY5kA88cXmxXVoz2AtnAMfsKR9HMSJf8ZPIeUTOeDdA7_OMtJ_d73bk7KJsM6t2I/s1600/IMG_1171.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZnrfaHYZmSSrmlbWobMyM_VK8EkL4WccDA13eeS4WV54S9-f-OGup-88BV73Bd_VV8w-My34wstorY5kA88cXmxXVoz2AtnAMfsKR9HMSJf8ZPIeUTOeDdA7_OMtJ_d73bk7KJsM6t2I/s400/IMG_1171.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522912252426031602" /></a>I was reading The Economist in my village and everyone was really interested in this ad because there are actually chameleons in Mali. I told people I had never seen one before besides in pictures, and my counterpart promised that if he came across one he would catch it and show it to me.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyQn7QGpkuum-osmpkBNsRFtnQ7PmiqeaWy57YGs9p1OH0gTZDk-wpP5xeig4Bp0FPpuqOInCp57GoWWpvD2P-c1YLZ_g8vUg5mjptdSw52hhAK_471gJY_m3_WGtn-crOlS5cDESTHqI/s1600/IMG_1168.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyQn7QGpkuum-osmpkBNsRFtnQ7PmiqeaWy57YGs9p1OH0gTZDk-wpP5xeig4Bp0FPpuqOInCp57GoWWpvD2P-c1YLZ_g8vUg5mjptdSw52hhAK_471gJY_m3_WGtn-crOlS5cDESTHqI/s400/IMG_1168.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522912109710569842" /></a>Here is what arrived a few days later. We tied the other end of the string to the tree for a few hours. The chameleon didn't change colors like I thought it would, but it did develop some darker brown stripes that weren't there before. I pointed it out to kids passing by, and they consistently responded with "Don't worry. I will find a rock and kill it."<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXuphitM-1oDXzq4Uc54MYgeSaK8rlJRA3QNfaXoRdUHyPeBUYIsaXO8j6L35Id8wZtOmQYBdoz5Dy11wzPBZpk_U6or27HGAkWEX6Sdsn3_V7zoPKcYb_-APuO3gIh8FvcEHMQGJrDQ/s1600/IMG_1133.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXuphitM-1oDXzq4Uc54MYgeSaK8rlJRA3QNfaXoRdUHyPeBUYIsaXO8j6L35Id8wZtOmQYBdoz5Dy11wzPBZpk_U6or27HGAkWEX6Sdsn3_V7zoPKcYb_-APuO3gIh8FvcEHMQGJrDQ/s400/IMG_1133.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522911760711105394" /></a>This girl comes by occasionally to chat, and one day while she was looking through my photos she asked if she could have one. I told her she could choose one, and out of all the photos, which included village favorites like family parties, winter scenes, and pictures of me, she chose this one of my brother, circa 2008, when he was learning to drive. Why? Because, in her words, "He is better looking than you." <br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxA6fPpfzmEKcDnZEQrZ-PnCx_9e0jV96TaW4t8i3DBVI1voz6od6e7AX0dT-5K4MUUZ3rl1fpu3HAWpH3Yig' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 20px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">This was a slow day in my village. I want to </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 20px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">st</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 20px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">ress that the music was playing at the time, and was not added later.</span></span><br /></div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06166350402541148865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2910936977289427126.post-78190046804850526512010-06-25T04:39:00.000-07:002010-06-25T04:45:24.780-07:00A few more pictures from Ghana...<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486675683164772562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinb70MDh9kkniqrE-3sBwW-FZUQW5xbniq4A-vxKkpOn5XBdNPQFoS3uDUPSYSg6zjsaViORAwjnQyNBwSstQlBSa1d_FOmNn8JbKzznE5euTv26SV4ifO_H-pzlZ1UgQQEyJ01WQq31U/s400/IMG_1015.jpg" border="0" /><br />A boy on the coast displaying his handiworkJessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06166350402541148865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2910936977289427126.post-3728468866012254602010-06-25T04:33:00.000-07:002010-06-25T04:38:57.435-07:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizffaCbMHW90aYqs65BFGypbP08ULB3ItCoP9ZRg73VnHcyEdnXuf7tOAr9-kuXFZuNjQWMWY6_JIdQB0H952i7NSNnYjDmXwT4McezyUDX6Czuzz-iMpY492c0s5PoJNGuz7IlTkq8QM/s1600/IMG_0893.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486674194652937298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizffaCbMHW90aYqs65BFGypbP08ULB3ItCoP9ZRg73VnHcyEdnXuf7tOAr9-kuXFZuNjQWMWY6_JIdQB0H952i7NSNnYjDmXwT4McezyUDX6Czuzz-iMpY492c0s5PoJNGuz7IlTkq8QM/s400/IMG_0893.jpg" border="0" /></a> Busing through Burkina<br /><div></div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06166350402541148865noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2910936977289427126.post-40413713719513983332010-06-25T04:27:00.000-07:002010-06-25T04:33:51.892-07:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbEDUdtUinG38k61iXXFupUlIQNbl1sOU11vP5Ou1wJCz42M3IGfqrDDdi5p-9OG0q_wFwrA3k-V5CnsqVFAKKNoGxkPkkqgRSAHfKHztVBq3-e-pPDTMpSf3LUdsUbV5O7JMx268JfKc/s1600/IMG_1039.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486672551817458226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbEDUdtUinG38k61iXXFupUlIQNbl1sOU11vP5Ou1wJCz42M3IGfqrDDdi5p-9OG0q_wFwrA3k-V5CnsqVFAKKNoGxkPkkqgRSAHfKHztVBq3-e-pPDTMpSf3LUdsUbV5O7JMx268JfKc/s400/IMG_1039.jpg" border="0" /></a> Mole National Park, Ghana<br /><div></div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06166350402541148865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2910936977289427126.post-12203758423562846922010-06-03T11:36:00.000-07:002010-06-03T12:09:42.974-07:00GhanaSome pictures from my 3 week trip to Ghana. More to come when I get around to uploading my own.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478625305600078194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtfhKZxmzJTh8sDjs6RuHk9xdEPdQfTfk7uzCBt6mimF0W8v-VwVd-mBihEFEI2_R5PCKLrEuIeFTu-b7LC6WkH9MbdsSbFuoKAQICNLJR9ivYzs3DXuqE4vjGCoeo5LWjrNgFMEf0nVg/s400/P5151774.JPG" border="0" />Fort Patience in Apam, where we spent a night<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZfOSu9JSKyQs-KXrcS1YFy1Q7IUOg9DRN8zVKXGETcXm0facQVIVRyHqRaUP-G0VE_UFCvguLg-t2PAAw1jcB6pMTT0v9N1TJmJDwLrEWBZ6kkNFCa6XrWp-bKCb8RQHVzZTeHf5ACww/s1600/P5161792.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478624279146294930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZfOSu9JSKyQs-KXrcS1YFy1Q7IUOg9DRN8zVKXGETcXm0facQVIVRyHqRaUP-G0VE_UFCvguLg-t2PAAw1jcB6pMTT0v9N1TJmJDwLrEWBZ6kkNFCa6XrWp-bKCb8RQHVzZTeHf5ACww/s400/P5161792.JPG" border="0" /></a> Fort Victoria</div><br /><div>This picture is awesome, and here is why: when Obama visited Ghana he came here, and our tour guide, Dennis, had also given him a tour! Some interesting facts that Dennis shared:</div><div>-Michelle Obama got tired on the way up the hill</div><div>-Barack Obama suggested that Dennis should repaint the fort white but not paint the cannons to maintain their authenticity</div><div>-They told Dennis they would email him photos but Dennis has yet to receive them<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGX1_m9OmUUrq-kAcAyusMsEFUSQ8XanhF5pk-QLl1OIvbl-rPeml1DNIX9zd6YwSXNUdnCbfgR67NMUMTGezV-mBILHevhRlDkNVbR33KAYD230XyUSmSUeweeXLAIFYlyhZM13HcDaE/s1600/P5171804.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478623218512168770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGX1_m9OmUUrq-kAcAyusMsEFUSQ8XanhF5pk-QLl1OIvbl-rPeml1DNIX9zd6YwSXNUdnCbfgR67NMUMTGezV-mBILHevhRlDkNVbR33KAYD230XyUSmSUeweeXLAIFYlyhZM13HcDaE/s400/P5171804.JPG" border="0" /></a> A hearty breakfast of chocolate outside of Cape Coast Castle<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-WJeGhwaDfTt1Tf7N-WQnOkRNPRchsKLD4oFJLU0wekJTJoRlQGJ_3LWJLi0vY3YRAKt9ZByDOYPAF4NLk4TIfeI7eN_NfI_1Azl2o_ceGRHfyYxxR_or4buVTbQpDkbpLpJQwA_i9gw/s1600/P5171808.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478622357386660418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-WJeGhwaDfTt1Tf7N-WQnOkRNPRchsKLD4oFJLU0wekJTJoRlQGJ_3LWJLi0vY3YRAKt9ZByDOYPAF4NLk4TIfeI7eN_NfI_1Azl2o_ceGRHfyYxxR_or4buVTbQpDkbpLpJQwA_i9gw/s400/P5171808.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsx7F6WWhpZNCfSHqcdN0vOO0upr1JNav6znXIgflz_npFxAHasU-ekiIUpcPvvyGSq43dKUjXuh7QvA7Ui5XNTOM8Y3bMnFk6h6gMQDXg0kf9xnEu0dNkJoFPSUmCNLor95xh3D8XW1k/s1600/P5181820.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478621193447429762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsx7F6WWhpZNCfSHqcdN0vOO0upr1JNav6znXIgflz_npFxAHasU-ekiIUpcPvvyGSq43dKUjXuh7QvA7Ui5XNTOM8Y3bMnFk6h6gMQDXg0kf9xnEu0dNkJoFPSUmCNLor95xh3D8XW1k/s400/P5181820.JPG" border="0" /></a> Kakum National Park: In 1995 a Canadian NGO built a series of suspension bridges in the tree canopy 25m-50m off the ground. Each bridge can support the weight of two elephants!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkbLjoJvfYtrS4scDTzwH1gjySCiJamrqsh89FlDACuFs5sqh6pRjVw28Kv9N7Jkovh2qNU9d6_uCbQcogcPkSXK8J5Tj1puAh75bgFzSQ6O4XlbH0cplP4xktyspV7dIbBgG5UmzMzcA/s1600/P5201836.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478620210909867058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkbLjoJvfYtrS4scDTzwH1gjySCiJamrqsh89FlDACuFs5sqh6pRjVw28Kv9N7Jkovh2qNU9d6_uCbQcogcPkSXK8J5Tj1puAh75bgFzSQ6O4XlbH0cplP4xktyspV7dIbBgG5UmzMzcA/s400/P5201836.JPG" border="0" /></a> A beach southwest of Takoradi where we spent a couple of days-tricky to get to but well worth the trouble.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-RkXLrMAaC4jcsKQ34miR_PkjqAKHt_PXBIHHtkY1kacE_rOxuSTDsq3VNpuKTvpONPQamkUHXYQ0RZHsW8yAUQSKd627f8x7-UwywiIa29MR9Votk6BnMP4EQMmdXa2-mv3PgQMhCU0/s1600/P5211895.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478619208938558226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-RkXLrMAaC4jcsKQ34miR_PkjqAKHt_PXBIHHtkY1kacE_rOxuSTDsq3VNpuKTvpONPQamkUHXYQ0RZHsW8yAUQSKd627f8x7-UwywiIa29MR9Votk6BnMP4EQMmdXa2-mv3PgQMhCU0/s400/P5211895.JPG" border="0" /></a>Obligatory jumping picture and obligatory sunburn<br /><div> </div></div></div></div></div></div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06166350402541148865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2910936977289427126.post-624167698374608652010-05-09T10:01:00.000-07:002010-05-10T09:03:23.523-07:00April<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkrauXw_79W-d5l2QjplUKnmo6II4yP-StKP2ntwjTNxhtQimNrcDhCihzg2nPcbox8Ot_GDmsXybx-ob_z6BwflpGnLjsRpTs78lKq06iN7BuDaiNZ6nrmKST_2vWZIicpur3IlfMvOc/s1600/IMG_0884.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469325636305198402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkrauXw_79W-d5l2QjplUKnmo6II4yP-StKP2ntwjTNxhtQimNrcDhCihzg2nPcbox8Ot_GDmsXybx-ob_z6BwflpGnLjsRpTs78lKq06iN7BuDaiNZ6nrmKST_2vWZIicpur3IlfMvOc/s400/IMG_0884.jpg" border="0" /></a> Kunba and a baby in her household<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaLHg07PvYLbsWp8-oO6Q8NDQp0g0MHavRFiG7fti2rb0QN_ApzD0CDmj8V2Iq38VJwtX4FJz5vqh7FEVPtKbQCG36ULXZOTOaoKTAdrJHNvySV0_SQ9i0_qC-5TSl-UKo6Ur5C2vpZ5M/s1600/IMG_0876.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469323935959391154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaLHg07PvYLbsWp8-oO6Q8NDQp0g0MHavRFiG7fti2rb0QN_ApzD0CDmj8V2Iq38VJwtX4FJz5vqh7FEVPtKbQCG36ULXZOTOaoKTAdrJHNvySV0_SQ9i0_qC-5TSl-UKo6Ur5C2vpZ5M/s400/IMG_0876.jpg" border="0" /></a> On April 22 we did a mural at the primary school to celebrate Earth Day. All the leaves on the trees are the childrens' handprints!<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469320585347217474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA5a_dt1cdZxHuid9_G1jdKwpur49VZFuOwUkseOfdSOL245C-psrjedxlfCiBTl8ZLDsN6Rwzl987yp-PYxoSAgJHpfESMcxzkXe8Iy4iR9j4oxE1x605CDjXPSn5clzPD7FODwKW9NQ/s400/IMG_0825.jpg" border="0" />The biggest goofball of all my little host sisters<br /><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8hZvjEIauuIzR_7BtPyEg7TY2tinJ6DAIqbcdbKbgX5GZB4RahMwdFo61Nc0uOtXnluLelS85vmX0zYyivgCg9X04FDQeD-It7j0yhnjrocqZsfYYowjbOpmg7dXPVAQmq-1hLmHxmfI/s1600/IMG_0874.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469319505314545010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8hZvjEIauuIzR_7BtPyEg7TY2tinJ6DAIqbcdbKbgX5GZB4RahMwdFo61Nc0uOtXnluLelS85vmX0zYyivgCg9X04FDQeD-It7j0yhnjrocqZsfYYowjbOpmg7dXPVAQmq-1hLmHxmfI/s400/IMG_0874.jpg" border="0" /></a> Kali admires our awesome Earth Day mural<br /><div> </div></div></div></div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06166350402541148865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2910936977289427126.post-22798159069871049542010-04-03T14:11:00.000-07:002010-04-03T14:32:07.616-07:00The Kita uniformWomen in Mali often get matching outfits tailored for special events and holidays. Taking this as inspiration, all of the girls in my region had outfits made from matching fabric.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9i-IztsZJ7un9gJXjZGjFY2azgk_Nio4iEE4er0CWSxunBZKtxXHwg09eCm6jvjju2WlfbfgN2Y9BbQyvZtlxcIz7bl9dcOKAO_LDFQMsxTVq5_wtL_Jg-dJkmL-ncwv_AhjuVYAw6Zc/s1600/Kita+girls.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9i-IztsZJ7un9gJXjZGjFY2azgk_Nio4iEE4er0CWSxunBZKtxXHwg09eCm6jvjju2WlfbfgN2Y9BbQyvZtlxcIz7bl9dcOKAO_LDFQMsxTVq5_wtL_Jg-dJkmL-ncwv_AhjuVYAw6Zc/s400/Kita+girls.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456023164025840642" border="0" /></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06166350402541148865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2910936977289427126.post-55411236521738449552010-02-24T09:10:00.000-08:002010-02-24T10:08:09.062-08:00The GambiaAfter WAIST a couple of us headed south to spend a few days in The Gambia. To refresh your memory, The Gambia is a tiny country completely surrounded by Senegal except for where it is bordered by the Pacific Ocean.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8WCd6sNZjPNS9ltFaa-03yVa92pOLsxEN8L2oR-wSLoT8s9OXygZKfJMrHrYsGv8Fob-0eJfjH9zB0kZpTLGG9W3jRxHSgnKbY3JgaubOy2e5CoyhhWqvdnNkvVgYpZqY1GCQk2XwLmQ/s1600-h/February+277.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8WCd6sNZjPNS9ltFaa-03yVa92pOLsxEN8L2oR-wSLoT8s9OXygZKfJMrHrYsGv8Fob-0eJfjH9zB0kZpTLGG9W3jRxHSgnKbY3JgaubOy2e5CoyhhWqvdnNkvVgYpZqY1GCQk2XwLmQ/s400/February+277.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441872284195176418" border="0" /></a>Omar is a man who runs a tiny restaurant in Banjul and loves Peace Corps volunteers. Some of the most delicious food I had on our trip.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFRMON5IRjq9Q6e8qYAU0E6iQQytOXOtMYb68L1ed3jARVOh1GGFlt0p6K9MOmP6_lDX7O13XRktLG27n0U0FB53YS5riC_nrigpfMaegLW42arLTaz8M_iUd8HhdJsHn8zWmCeo0w2Ko/s1600-h/February+311.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFRMON5IRjq9Q6e8qYAU0E6iQQytOXOtMYb68L1ed3jARVOh1GGFlt0p6K9MOmP6_lDX7O13XRktLG27n0U0FB53YS5riC_nrigpfMaegLW42arLTaz8M_iUd8HhdJsHn8zWmCeo0w2Ko/s400/February+311.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441867701440333922" border="0" /></a>Bijilo National Park, along the coast.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigAHb1IKNMQQGA70ZCRqwuxa4BWp3exhSOIj2vE9HK1Sj4rrgi184B-Zwc-oQdq8ap1zB2SNImBh7kBLLLwsr-yuUCOnsMoLGVHmIK5Gc3vvsmmaeePMsgReuMQV5ZjIXnH8mDQc7tlZo/s1600-h/February+333.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigAHb1IKNMQQGA70ZCRqwuxa4BWp3exhSOIj2vE9HK1Sj4rrgi184B-Zwc-oQdq8ap1zB2SNImBh7kBLLLwsr-yuUCOnsMoLGVHmIK5Gc3vvsmmaeePMsgReuMQV5ZjIXnH8mDQc7tlZo/s400/February+333.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441869156204813474" border="0" /></a>We each took a yearbook photo by the ocean.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvCXlTNillJMPPK2TH5LI32zKwMTYzHvjvaRzDCXcXOu69KneQKTZp8osDIw1hw4RJktxPQPOiWRCbmqlBhCNHjqxewUu0WsJI0K3VxBGj4ta5eWHc6HJDV9bLMtuGbdULG14BZ4FC9_o/s1600-h/February+345.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvCXlTNillJMPPK2TH5LI32zKwMTYzHvjvaRzDCXcXOu69KneQKTZp8osDIw1hw4RJktxPQPOiWRCbmqlBhCNHjqxewUu0WsJI0K3VxBGj4ta5eWHc6HJDV9bLMtuGbdULG14BZ4FC9_o/s400/February+345.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441863703125453266" border="0" /></a>The Gambia River divides the country into the North Bank and the South Bank. Here, we are crossing to the north side on the ferry to start our trip upcountry.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFoQL9c6C0vM88nLK9fU2JaNPER1r2iftHhIpO56IoTHrL88A1dFM1ynWLu3VcPkeFcgLXAyPzA25BKV0VOKZRKWfSpz4iu0dIKihCJxOQzaKZMIYBb5ATkjxCComtJQp4oqPFPWnDppg/s1600-h/February+364.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFoQL9c6C0vM88nLK9fU2JaNPER1r2iftHhIpO56IoTHrL88A1dFM1ynWLu3VcPkeFcgLXAyPzA25BKV0VOKZRKWfSpz4iu0dIKihCJxOQzaKZMIYBb5ATkjxCComtJQp4oqPFPWnDppg/s400/February+364.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441865453161788482" border="0" /></a>Further upcountry, we crossed the river back to the south side. The ferry we took held two cars and was pulled across the river by a steel cable (and our hands).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9DPe4C4oexO5cpilGlLwzSE1hMUoP2D-8k3gfpGuF4Gm2P0-8qwxMCszfbfICadROt6z1AOyGs3t0fn0ueEzw3fMAlL8u9ZBhdQ5Oux3J4hLqU-_P_VYmRCklgCaISUSiSF4wTyVFsek/s1600-h/February+369.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9DPe4C4oexO5cpilGlLwzSE1hMUoP2D-8k3gfpGuF4Gm2P0-8qwxMCszfbfICadROt6z1AOyGs3t0fn0ueEzw3fMAlL8u9ZBhdQ5Oux3J4hLqU-_P_VYmRCklgCaISUSiSF4wTyVFsek/s400/February+369.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441870961828995970" border="0" /></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06166350402541148865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2910936977289427126.post-75150751298308538652010-02-24T08:36:00.000-08:002010-02-24T09:09:42.359-08:00WAIST 2010W.A.I.S.T (West African Invitational Softball Tournament) is a yearly softball tournament held over President's Day Weekend at the American Club in Dakar. Peace Corps volunteers in Senegal and the surrounding West African countries put together teams to compete. Last year, PC Mauritania won the championship, but since Mauritania and Guinea have both been evacuated since then, we banded together this year to form a refugee team. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYEsbPjQJxatiHk-mYkgogi6YcS6ullwedIjsFyguHiFn4QGXQfs6Dv1mw5i2kPhKycA7J_OOObHYGxbJAivviZMZ3cUcg67zo9JxTrcPkVIWS1NnwMTHlV7h9QRKJP3GjixT0r6WQv2s/s1600-h/February+275.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYEsbPjQJxatiHk-mYkgogi6YcS6ullwedIjsFyguHiFn4QGXQfs6Dv1mw5i2kPhKycA7J_OOObHYGxbJAivviZMZ3cUcg67zo9JxTrcPkVIWS1NnwMTHlV7h9QRKJP3GjixT0r6WQv2s/s400/February+275.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441855625137410658" border="0" /></a>Some former Mauritanian volunteers<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj08GMHwAt33BzUFWZ1bM_9rkhpR-4qKmeQQiB78ZtOjZYBt8x_EAxVZgB7Pdfy6Nn7kiy9r0FkU-5hyphenhyphenVqiYsNrrHzBOrxWACLJrwcOmkq-kl1a9k957vXvORdCXEe842fI-Lxn-IUl45c/s1600-h/February+253.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj08GMHwAt33BzUFWZ1bM_9rkhpR-4qKmeQQiB78ZtOjZYBt8x_EAxVZgB7Pdfy6Nn7kiy9r0FkU-5hyphenhyphenVqiYsNrrHzBOrxWACLJrwcOmkq-kl1a9k957vXvORdCXEe842fI-Lxn-IUl45c/s400/February+253.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441856800112692418" border="0" /></a>A PK-10 reunion<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI0GhzOe-0B_Tw0E4abf0nOt-RHtJUUhc28o5tonCJFfmh-DVyUp1M-m7fnqnra5Z4culHtKT42OQCwX5qaegFvhN_p3ABNmS0DXxe7sA3rYck9FzbKDpa1zNn16Jeqhlcu_xalex6NL0/s1600-h/February+274.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI0GhzOe-0B_Tw0E4abf0nOt-RHtJUUhc28o5tonCJFfmh-DVyUp1M-m7fnqnra5Z4culHtKT42OQCwX5qaegFvhN_p3ABNmS0DXxe7sA3rYck9FzbKDpa1zNn16Jeqhlcu_xalex6NL0/s400/February+274.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441857877563101394" border="0" /></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06166350402541148865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2910936977289427126.post-4123966386030082462010-01-15T07:03:00.000-08:002010-01-15T07:13:36.597-08:00Some pictures from my family's visit<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3x_FRmC8kIfxy8ItUwoiHhRtDbscNOKQed8U6mAkD2je2uVbMBaaU0XIhtd3ixm9RBgY0YoARfWNrMdxzC0I2Hhye9YrbQtj03sO_oVgyXKGtG4vFjDYeSNAt4w36duhgFNe1idu2SI4/s1600-h/DSCN0489.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3x_FRmC8kIfxy8ItUwoiHhRtDbscNOKQed8U6mAkD2je2uVbMBaaU0XIhtd3ixm9RBgY0YoARfWNrMdxzC0I2Hhye9YrbQtj03sO_oVgyXKGtG4vFjDYeSNAt4w36duhgFNe1idu2SI4/s400/DSCN0489.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426984119841132706" border="0" /></a>The village elders (and elders to be...)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv03Dwl0mEWxGda5NiuyLcJEDuIFWcB4RHrDjKOR3UcAX1etbS9qEuVQOFCcjyNLBIAyh5xNYnrCdWBSolsHF9peoQ0_syCA8Duymo-Bi_G6b4APlWczmnw8vGVdgW_ft63kdanaSB6jU/s1600-h/DSCN0441.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv03Dwl0mEWxGda5NiuyLcJEDuIFWcB4RHrDjKOR3UcAX1etbS9qEuVQOFCcjyNLBIAyh5xNYnrCdWBSolsHF9peoQ0_syCA8Duymo-Bi_G6b4APlWczmnw8vGVdgW_ft63kdanaSB6jU/s400/DSCN0441.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426983976563280562" border="0" /></a>Biking out to my village<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnmpiiDPKhnmwPJ4Tg2ek7HXd1LNoPXusN_EYVrNOC_Wm7MyMRojaUIF_0hL6okUNOYA7-wZdp1_hi8l4AsVMwgxJrqyuLT5Xpww4MegvXKq5lEwPM0PxmybpLzCeipFaq563RcjT7XQM/s1600-h/DSCN0413.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnmpiiDPKhnmwPJ4Tg2ek7HXd1LNoPXusN_EYVrNOC_Wm7MyMRojaUIF_0hL6okUNOYA7-wZdp1_hi8l4AsVMwgxJrqyuLT5Xpww4MegvXKq5lEwPM0PxmybpLzCeipFaq563RcjT7XQM/s400/DSCN0413.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426983734443374882" border="0" /></a>Shopping for fabric in Kita<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx2u6tHGY7xf_rA4P_0gULjq9VCipR_SWk8BnIrnThZyEZ9CshXnAVrovsUppGodw_AVA9_PeY8vnKQfBntdiDmXLDQEkA_4igGNTklS_M9NCIQJE-hBFKiHuNc-hUaVj0PfFE2hQlRzU/s1600-h/DSCN0396.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 252px; height: 336px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx2u6tHGY7xf_rA4P_0gULjq9VCipR_SWk8BnIrnThZyEZ9CshXnAVrovsUppGodw_AVA9_PeY8vnKQfBntdiDmXLDQEkA_4igGNTklS_M9NCIQJE-hBFKiHuNc-hUaVj0PfFE2hQlRzU/s400/DSCN0396.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426983492528155874" border="0" /></a>The giant statue in Dakar<br /><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/TEMP/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot.png" alt="" /><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/TEMP/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-1.png" alt="" />Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06166350402541148865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2910936977289427126.post-21788650110337819902009-12-18T08:19:00.000-08:002009-12-18T08:30:17.297-08:00Christmas is coming!Just a quick update...I am at a big Peace Corps training right now, which thankfully is almost done. Then I am headed back to my regional capital to spend Christmas-since it falls on a Friday I will be doing a special holiday broadcast of my radio show, which will include but not be limited to the complete Hanson Christmas album.<br /><br />THEN the day after Christmas I will be going to Senegal to meet my mom and my aunt in Dakar! We are going to spend a week traveling in Senegal and then a week in Mali. This glorious event has been the only thing on my mind for roughly the past two months; it has been a year and a half since I have seen either of them, so needless to say I am very excited! <br /><br />Merry Christmas!Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06166350402541148865noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2910936977289427126.post-12151616521648820902009-12-04T10:16:00.000-08:002009-12-04T10:20:44.983-08:00So you want to learn English.Here, word for word, is a dialogue from my host brother’s English class; a compelling contrast of English language and Malian sensibilities:<br /><br />TEXTE: Koffi’s Report<br /><br />KOFFI: Oh it’s nice to be home.<br />DAVID: Was the bus full?<br />KOFFI: Yes it was. There were lots of people on it. I was between two very fat women.<br />DAVID: What about your exams? Were you top of your class?<br />KOFFI: We had them last week. They aren’t easy.<br />DAVID: Were you top of your class.<br />KOFFI: Well no I wasn’t top…I had a stomache-ache.<br />KALY: Have you got your report.<br />KOFFI: Emmm, no…dad has got it.<br />KALY: Here’s dad now. He looks angry.<br />FATHER: Look at your report Koffi. You’re 15 in English, 6 on French and nought in Maths. David bring me my big stick.<br />KOFFI: Oh no dad I’m sorry dad I was ill. My teachers don’t like me oh no dad no!Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06166350402541148865noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2910936977289427126.post-15798351700322745352009-12-04T10:10:00.000-08:002009-12-04T10:16:09.808-08:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWLJFJNOSQsrawIa8KUZcJwmuWaGPgtNBHPQXwq-8z8gUrAxJohyP8kW2jWBk1JZentPdqOhlb7feU87BJTCUkWTK43zBg4SDhbfJzo5utgaf4ZKIW8slB0VZxnFBAc9et-c5Rag5HoDE/s1600-h/Fall+040.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411446052327467746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWLJFJNOSQsrawIa8KUZcJwmuWaGPgtNBHPQXwq-8z8gUrAxJohyP8kW2jWBk1JZentPdqOhlb7feU87BJTCUkWTK43zBg4SDhbfJzo5utgaf4ZKIW8slB0VZxnFBAc9et-c5Rag5HoDE/s400/Fall+040.jpg" border="0" /></a> Yet another gigantic snake they found in the fields surrounding the house where I sleep<br /><div></div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06166350402541148865noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2910936977289427126.post-83912863677113832902009-12-04T10:05:00.000-08:002009-12-04T10:10:12.908-08:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuH9D3D0JVlGzfOYQIayqg11lTygq2hGhv4eSJXkySDzVhsNViZhPTl5fPwI_0a_wNMNAX4sOPpLM08sfEB_xxdBqIegkMlMeJZumr2SOhwDlY2FyqTfvbvADP11RgF2KPCepm_v1NUBw/s1600-h/Fall+036.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411444815943641922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuH9D3D0JVlGzfOYQIayqg11lTygq2hGhv4eSJXkySDzVhsNViZhPTl5fPwI_0a_wNMNAX4sOPpLM08sfEB_xxdBqIegkMlMeJZumr2SOhwDlY2FyqTfvbvADP11RgF2KPCepm_v1NUBw/s400/Fall+036.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06166350402541148865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2910936977289427126.post-69345335511931559122009-12-04T09:57:00.000-08:002009-12-04T10:04:08.366-08:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUxcmVqR4pDmbpymZ9wrDE5EeBnwIBqM0olC3cs6vufOvh2j4zpg5dO2Rwxw96Oytw5cRi00FOYkgNhRJpNmtP8af07DOUl9p3F6XYqgYjBZtJdp2LrIeeG_ficxwo2kEZFgwblPkEoA8/s1600-h/Fall+076.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411442871917469282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUxcmVqR4pDmbpymZ9wrDE5EeBnwIBqM0olC3cs6vufOvh2j4zpg5dO2Rwxw96Oytw5cRi00FOYkgNhRJpNmtP8af07DOUl9p3F6XYqgYjBZtJdp2LrIeeG_ficxwo2kEZFgwblPkEoA8/s400/Fall+076.jpg" border="0" /></a> Imagine walking like this for 2 kilometers and you will get some idea of the life of a Malian woman<br /><div></div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06166350402541148865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2910936977289427126.post-56175706419993007502009-12-04T09:52:00.000-08:002009-12-04T09:57:13.091-08:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4oyNCZO6wxgS_1IULAYB2NyNHAP3Ow594hoBEybSUUQMwbZKSdrKisoAv9dij82Pzy4NdakFqWsbKQNltYITJJ8hZ3aVDZmXgq2MdoZjnxj2D9bxAD2Tah1qynwH5msyXKdG3Ojw7Hn0/s1600-h/Fall+053.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411441228454721618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4oyNCZO6wxgS_1IULAYB2NyNHAP3Ow594hoBEybSUUQMwbZKSdrKisoAv9dij82Pzy4NdakFqWsbKQNltYITJJ8hZ3aVDZmXgq2MdoZjnxj2D9bxAD2Tah1qynwH5msyXKdG3Ojw7Hn0/s400/Fall+053.jpg" border="0" /></a> My host-sister's Tabaski hairdo!<br /><div></div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06166350402541148865noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2910936977289427126.post-10275743494643075542009-12-04T09:44:00.000-08:002009-12-04T09:49:58.285-08:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3WPRLoTOrFJcTWEi1QmlR3670BkZuIWdef1ZL0KG88klXpgpQXxIsqfRDN94Di47-vyWyyadUS24bPplGD78jTYkpwxIGLPw3eBqPGiM7qThKUDWerd_QURjiUukUQGIkF6nfhiZySEs/s1600-h/Fall+042.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411439629235239922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3WPRLoTOrFJcTWEi1QmlR3670BkZuIWdef1ZL0KG88klXpgpQXxIsqfRDN94Di47-vyWyyadUS24bPplGD78jTYkpwxIGLPw3eBqPGiM7qThKUDWerd_QURjiUukUQGIkF6nfhiZySEs/s400/Fall+042.jpg" border="0" /></a> Main Street Gumbanko<br /><div></div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06166350402541148865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2910936977289427126.post-65404842877821211572009-12-04T09:39:00.000-08:002009-12-04T09:44:07.323-08:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvmEOs_5YbTKcxA3K_woORuoYWUQx1zdaxboIbL-D0m5B0MtFPyb7xYN_40KyEhlU3Byc1psKZPssySWypJtI1BqP_B0KyfatVuvyfAWexHJuEHOI2fXrxipues3zx2VP22c7l5gzF3gQ/s1600-h/Fall+046.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411438048441464882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvmEOs_5YbTKcxA3K_woORuoYWUQx1zdaxboIbL-D0m5B0MtFPyb7xYN_40KyEhlU3Byc1psKZPssySWypJtI1BqP_B0KyfatVuvyfAWexHJuEHOI2fXrxipues3zx2VP22c7l5gzF3gQ/s400/Fall+046.jpg" border="0" /></a> My counterpart and two of his children<br /><div></div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06166350402541148865noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2910936977289427126.post-79748474301994093712009-12-04T04:15:00.000-08:002009-12-04T04:22:06.714-08:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhszrm3FesJvUFAFvq2HrpMb4aawmoiS17a-CtrBsC2ky57XSDhZKRdyEZHKVFoqxZv8EVYe5uo2HlkcHNGiGERihyphenhyphenhAzknfLE6vLg12pCkdbDLGjipSC6m8p9y-8iUnqSpsHwj6Nrwa34/s1600-h/Fall+065.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411355075727642002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhszrm3FesJvUFAFvq2HrpMb4aawmoiS17a-CtrBsC2ky57XSDhZKRdyEZHKVFoqxZv8EVYe5uo2HlkcHNGiGERihyphenhyphenhAzknfLE6vLg12pCkdbDLGjipSC6m8p9y-8iUnqSpsHwj6Nrwa34/s400/Fall+065.jpg" border="0" /></a> Harvesting millet<br /><div></div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06166350402541148865noreply@blogger.com1