life in Missalabougou

I'm feeling more and more anxious as swear-in approaches. I'm ready to get out on my own and start living. These past weeks in my homestay village have been interesting but I'm ready to live on my own like an adult. I feel like I've gotten enough of the basics in Bamabara to have a good foundation to work on during the first three months at site. Apparently all I'll be doing for those first three months at site is learning Bambara, and that's all I really can see myself doing... It's kinnda scary but I'm ready to get away from schedules and rules.

Tammy, you asked about standards of living so I'll tell you about an example about my homestay village of Missalabougou. School started on Monday in Mali, and three of the kids in my concession went to school. Mandiou who is 12 went to 3rd grade this year, Papa who is 8 went to 2nd and Awa who is 6 went to 1st. Missalabougou has a three-room school they're very proud of. It was built by the government costing aroung 10,000,000 CFA or $20,000. The government built the school but the village of Missalabougou has to pay for the teachers or in their case one teacher because that's all they can afford. It costs about 60,000 CFA or $120 a month for a teacher and Missalabougou can only afford one. So this one teacher is split between three grades each with around 40 kids. There are about 20 concessions in our town and each concession has at least 10 people I would say. Everyone in Miss. are farmers and it doesn't seem to be very profitable income-generator. A lady in my concession just gave birth to her third child- she has a 6 year old daughter who has orange-tinted hair while her 1-2 year old son has a huge belly- but her husband has a motor bike. The orange-tint and big belly are both signs of malnutrition. My 15 year old sister is illiterate and didn't get to go to school but I spent last night teaching her to write numbers. Anyway that's a little gloomy but there's an idea of what life is like here in Miss.

My host family is great and I'm going to miss them. They've been nothing but kind and welcoming to me, but I'm ready to go out on my own and see what happens.
Anyway I'm feeling relatively good. Had a case of strep throat but it was nothing some antibiotics couldn't fix. I actually feel better now that I've ever felt in Mali. Our training group is down to 65 ( we've lost 10 due to Early Termination) but I'm still here and have no plans of leaving. I still don't really need anything-just letters from you--- yes you!!!

here are some shout-outs:
Dad glad to finally hear from you-get a phone card so you can call me when I get a cell phone in the next few weeks! :-)
Aunt Terri thanks for the update glad to hear from you, I'll be in contact with the people you mentioned.
Don and Tammy and Roger and Sue/Alan and Judy -glad to hear from you and I hope you have a great time on your respective vacations.
Loan I wish you were here, I know you would excel and do great things-you have such a good heart.
Aunt Ty thanks for your support.
Mom I loved talking to you!!!!
Trisha live it up for me!
emily i love and miss you!