bethechols

About me:

"Is that a rooster in your room?" my friend Felicia asked on a phone call the other day. Nope, it's outside but that's just how the day starts. Living in a country of nyegen (latrines) makes me miss a good gas station toilet from time to time. The best part of Mali? Tigadegena, basin riche, Malians' good nature, music especially Salif Keita, jelly sandles (you thought they died back in the 80's, didn't u?), pagnes (a skirt, towel, blanket, pillow all in one), more marriage proposals than a girl could dream of, fat is phat, and bean jokes. While most of my friends back home are making lots of money and being cool, I am poor and, consequently, uncool. I've been here a while. I eat mayo on bread for breakfast now. I drink the water. I am a pro at eating rice, pasta, salad, you name it with my hand. No matter how many people are on transport, I manage to squeeze my behind into a three inch spot without complaining. I refer to tourists as 'tubobs'. Chronic dirty feet and diarrhea are just part of the charm. As if dodging saggy breasts (nursing in public is ok in Mali) and aggressively, impolite children all day weren't enough. But don't let that scare you. Peace Corps is great. I love my job. I spend my days at the regional Fistula Center helping the women devlop their craft business and teaching health education classes. To learn more about fistula, check out: www.endfistula.org. The Center has two American partners: SERRV International www.agreatergift.org and Ojoba Collective www.ojobacollective.com My contract ends this year and I will either head back to the States to start nursing school or stay on for a third year, move to Bamako, and work for an NGO. .. I edited my by myself