The new routine

           Since the library opened, daily life has shifted around quite a bit, so I thought I'd write a blog on my new routine.

             Monday-Saturday I get up a little before seven, get dressed, lament the lack of water in our apartment and head off to the library. When I walk to school my twenty minute trip takes me through the small streets of Niamakoro, highlighting how the neighborhood differs from our own and taking me past landmarks like the water tap, the turkey courtyard, the corner that smells like sour milk, and the street with the big mango trees. I see lots of kids going to school and grown ups going work, including the crowds of girls in black headed to the local medrasa. Once I get within three or four blocks of school, the ubiquitous chants of Toubabou, toubabou (white person, white person) change to kids calling out my name to say hello, which always brightens my morning.

          Mornings at school are taken up with teaching literacy activities to the elementary schoolers and English lessons to the middle schoolers, overseeing free hours with small groups of readers, preparing new lessons, adding the school's books to our catalogue, etc. I'm really enjoying the chance to interact with the kids and I feel like some of it at least has to be good preparation for having my own classroom next year. Afternoons are mostly free reading time and they tend to be a little crazy, with dozens of students showing up and often dozens more waiting outside the door. I'm getting really good at Bambara phrases like “wait,” “Put that book down!” “Where is your book?” etc. I still need to perfect “we don't hit people in the library.” 

          I get done around 4 each day and come home to lament the lack of running water, take a bucket shower, go to the cyber, and/or go hang out with our host family. I have been screening Disney movies on my computer at night which is a huge hit. Bebe Tene, the world's most sassy and forceful toddler has learned the word for computer and now says (in Bambara) “Take the computer out right now!” before bursting into hysterical giggles. She repeats this phrase until the computer is taken out or she is informed it isn't coming. Asu the wonder baby (as I call her )continues to do well, and has learned to say “Nene” (her mother's name)! I love her despite her tendency to slime me and seeing her is a highlight of my day. We usually go to bed after 11 because we wait up for the BBC to switch back to English to get our news.

         We also had a lovely break from the routine this weekend with our friends Stephanie and Pierce at a restaurant called Comme Chez Soi which is absolutely beautiful and totally worth the long and expensive (by Malian standards) cab ride. I ate chicken with polenta and Neal had steak with bleu cheese sauce. Quoi???