Letter Home: November 20, 2007

Hello Friends and Family & Happy TURKEY day from the middle of nowhere!

I am going to outline this email because I am a huge dork. Plus I believe that the subtitles will help people understand how and what I am experiencing toute suite (right now in French).

Physical
I am eating a lot of rice with different sauces, black-eye peas, and tot. Tot is a Malian dish that persists of millet powder soaked in water and boiled until it forms a weird pastey substance that is dipped into an okra sauce. My parasite is gone but my “pooh” is still under suspicion. So I came to Bamako to do some follow-ups on my iron level, blood work, another stool sample, and two shots (Flu and HPV). Plus I have a slight head cold. The cold is from trying to get into shape. I started doing daily exercises: 150 crunches, a little yoga, arm-chair lifts, girl push-ups, running and cycling. I would run at 7am in the “cold” weather. It was great until my head started to ache. I was at it for three days then took a two day hiatus AND then ran a 5K in Bamako. It is called the Hash Run. It was fun and a little different from a conventional 5K. We got lost twice and it was up a mountain. Needless to say, my butt was almost dead-last! I had two buddies beside me and I never gave up… I may have walked more than I ran but never did I stop! It will give me something to work towards every two weeks. YIPPEE! By the way, I have a friend at the med office with a Staff Infection on his face and another person has returned home (Early Termination=ET).

Spiritual
I am attending a church but dang is it tough! The language barrier makes it difficult to comprehend any message or point to the sermons. I have tried downloading sermons but something always interrupts the process or the website asks for money. I don’t have that kind of time or money… I started reading my Bible daily before I went to sleep. I read the end of Genesis and fell in love with the story of Joseph. However life became hectic with my traveling to and fro… I lost my discipline and stopped reading regularly. I find myself talking and searching for Him when I am on bus rides or alone on a bike ride-Only in solitude. I miss the craziness of praise and worship sessions. I took out the Zune and jammed to some Israel and New Breed this morning and felt empowered by his CD Alive in South Africa (Thank you Jennifer Charles). Gospel music is amazing and always energizes my spirit.

Emotional/Psychological
I am overall extremely optimistic when it comes to my two years in Africa. I plan my activities on a bi-weekly or monthly basis-Thanksgiving with friends, then I have the 5K the week after, then I have Tabaski (the Muslim Holy day at my site), then Christmas, THEN the whole month of January I will be in training at Tubani So! Then… Well you get the point and you better believe I got stuff to keep me occupied! Plus I got a package today-Thanks Ms. Bowen. It was the cat’s meow. When I get anything from the states: email, letters, packages, pictures, etc. My whole day is transformed. I don’t know what to do with all plus it weighs a ton. It is going to be super difficult for transport but I look forward to the adventure of getting it home! Haha Another friend left and it really hurts. The process of returning home is so easy and appealing but I know that upon return I would be like “why aren’t I in Africa right now?” I do not have that quitter spirit in me-Thanks Cody.

Goals/Projects
I have tons and tons of ideas. I do not know what is going to work out but at least it keeps my mind busy with thoughts of improvement and international development and NOT going home!

1. C.A.E.B.

a. My NGO has started a savings and credit union called Sinsinso. We work with local individuals, women’s associations, and farmers. We provide loans and a safe place to store income at a small fee.

b. I could see a few formations in the future helping the local women’s associations better understand what it means to be an entrepreneur.

c. How to use marketing effectively

d. Help local boutique owners run a competitive and sustainable business by implementing pricing strategies, marketing, accounting, and developing a competitive advantage by offering something that is NOT available at other boutiques.

2. HIV/AIDS

a. Start a club/group comprised of a few community leaders from organizations, hospital, schools, etc while the majority of the rest of the members will be high school students

b. We will hopefully conduct skits, design informational phamplets, hold sport tournaments (BTW I need to better understand how to do brackets for a sport tournament-HOP can you help me?)

c. Prospective partners for this project (so far): CAEB, Right to Play, Coaching for Hope, and countless others I have yet to contact

3. Junior Achievement

a. It is a program that teaches students the basics of economics through fun and interactive lessons. It is normally taught by a successful local community leader = great role model for the students.

b. We are going to start at the second grade level. The classes are 30 minute sessions that can be arranged in different formats.

c. I have 7 elementary schools in my area and will hopefully conduct these lessons around April or March of 2009.

d. During the 2009-2010 school year we will hopefully do 2nd grade and follow-up the previous session by conducting another session for the 3rd graders.

e. The program has a lot of potential and gives a wonderful opportunity to assess my community and evaluate the needs of the children (self-esteem, well-being, gender inequity issues, etc)

4. Shea Nut

a. If you like lotions from Bath & Body Works than you have probably purchased lotion that contains shea butter. It is wonderfully and is produced from the over-abundant shea tree in West Africa.

b. Large international companies are reaching out to Mali for their production of shea nuts. Peace Corps is working with USAID to help Mali correctly process the shea nuts for exporting.

c. I will have to start from scratch in my area. The project will require many formations (trainings), literature, hands-on observations, and great business skills. I look forward to implementing the project and understand that the road may be a bit rocky in the beginning but will pay off in the end.

5. Jatropha

a. The fruit of this plant can be processed into oil that has been proven to be one of the best alternative bio-fuels of the moment.

b. I don’t know what to expect from this project so it may or may not blossom….

6. Right to Play & Sport for Development and Peace

a. Ok this is something that I am really really looking forward to creating a friendship with this NGO.

b. I can not begin to explain how I hope and wish that I could eventually get a job with this NGO AFTER Peace Corps service.

c. At the moment this NGO needs research that helps prove that sport can be an effective tool for development and peace!!!!! HELLO this is perfect for me!

d. I met with Right to Play this afternoon and made my first connection and look forward to implementing their sport program that helps with HIV/AIDS prevention…

So I think that sums it up for right now…

I hope you all enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving. Eat a turkey leg or two for me and send me some beef jerky! Hahahaha Let me know what you think about my projects… I am open for suggestions.

Love ya!