Letter Home: January 9, 2008

Happy New Year! I wish and pray that each and every one of you have a full, prosperous, love-filled, miracle-giving, awe striking, wonderful, and lovely unbelievable 2008!

First and foremost, life is great! One of the biggest humps in this service has been passed. It is now In-Service Training (IST). We are all at Tubaniso once again. The atmosphere is laid back, relaxed and more liberal. There is flexibility with the schedule and room to breath on the premises. It has been a long stretch. You arrive in Mali with no idea what to expect. After six weeks of training you are dropped off in the middle of nowhere. Most have survived and one has even returned after a broken a bone that rushed him back to the states!

I love you Big Mike, Carly, and my PC bus cuddle buddy, Greg. You all will be missed! I will find out if there is a train to Egypt so that we can all enjoy a crazy voyage with an Ethiopian tour guide. T.I.A. baby!

The past holidays were eventful and fun-filled. It was a beautiful Christmas at a friend’s house in Bamako. Many volunteers made the trek to the capital for the company of other Americans… Spent a couple of days with an LCF friend and we spent New Year’s with several PC friends. We had a lovely dinner at a Chinese restaurant followed by a quick trip to a local pub. Soon the dancing bug was driving us all crazy. We tried to get into a popular dance club but we all had flip-flops on so were not let into the club. A long taxi ride took us home followed by a 12 hour coma!

Soon all the volunteers started making their way into the capital for this training. Needless to say it has been exhausting. Endless talking followed by endless socializing followed by lots of sleep! Haha

Last Sunday, went to the American Embassy for some flag football on the back lawn with a few Marines and ex-pats. There were only two girls and three Peace Corps volunteers-we were all girls so do the calculation. The game was great and provided a boost of well-needed energy and not-needed pain in the feet and knees.

Now, we are planning a 5K Hash Run. It should be amazing. Everybody is extremely stoked. We are going to cook pulled pork, baked beans, coleslaw, macaroni & cheese, and cake. It is going to be great-pictures will be posted!

Don’t have much other information. The previously mentioned projects are still in progress but are very real and will happen. Debating about going to Senegal for WAIST. Might go to Segou for a big musical festival. Planning a big Shea Nut formation for Banamba. Also it is cold! Everybody is wrapped up in wool blankets provided by USAID and a bonfire is located next to each hut. People are sleeping in twin beds together for the extra warmth!

Oh yeah use this address for mail ( it gets to me safe and FAST)

Holly Larsen
C.A.E.B.
Banamba, Mali
West Africa

I have received packages from Dad & Dennie (thanks for the Christmas goodies), Jackie Bradford, Mike K., Jon Cook, Paulette Smith, Mary Beth, several from Mama, got the pictures from the wedding. There are a few packages at the Koulikoro and Banamba address but the training restrains one from getting those packages until after we leave.

Still have not finished the piece about the beauty pageant… just give me a day or two! Haha