Lehman’s Life, according to Jacq.

Alternative Title: Supermodels Do Africa

Lehman has had an eventful month-Bakary, the eats-better-than-most-Malian-children cat has reached that special point in his life when his body begins changing into a manly, rat-killing machine. What does this mean for Michele? Yes, swatting Bakary and his fully engorged manhood off her arm as he humps her into oblivion. Michele may be hard up for lovin’ here in Mali, but Bakary is NOT going to cut it. Her new plan-RABBITS. They ought to bare the burden of Bakary’s insatiable sexual appetite for at least a few weeks. And when that fails, she can give her cat away to her starved-for-protein neighbors who will not doubt enjoy the tasty feline treat.
While waiting for her rabbit shack to be built, Michele has impressed her village counterparts with her Julia Child’s skills-pumpkin cake and banana breads out the wazoo. Her fellow volunteers worship her kitchen skills, if only all of us had a Lehman around to satisfy our emaciated selves. Cake versus corn mush, hum.

Speaking of food. Shout outs to Lehman’s topnotch mother. Her generous gift of Velveeta cheese was the talk of all Sikasso. So delicious in fact, Michele and two other volunteers were forced to call a three day lockdown where the only source of nourishment came from generous helping of the cheesy product. Quesadillas, ham-egg-and-cheese scambles, burritos, mac-n-cheese-the food of the Gods. Amen momma!

Project wise, Lehman has been hard at work digging soak pits (underground urine and poopy-water catch basins) and designing wash areas to reduce stagnant water. Although she steers clear of the actual manual labor (get dirty? I don’t think so.) she has been known to brew up a mean cup of sugar with a hint of tea flavoring. If every village in Mali had a Lehman, this country would be sending people to the moon.

Michele’s next big adventure? Senegal. Surprised? Not really. What does this put Michele’s “trips to Senegal” count at? Two dozen, three dozen?. Seriously, I thought she was doing Peace Corps Mali…