And here is one now:
As you can see, not much has changed, really. We are still living out of a ton of suitcases, just in a different place on a different continent.
We survived 30 hours of plane/airport travel and thanks to having a charming child and a great friend from the Embassy, we were able to zip right through the insanity of the Bamako airport on Wednesday night and finally crash at our hotel around 1am.
The plane rides were Marshall’s first. I meant to document that with a picture, but I have already been scolded for packing my camera in my checked luggage, so unfortunately, this one documenting his first time in a foreign country(the Paris airport) will have to do.
For those of you with babies looking to fly internationally, Air France is THE BEST. First, they LOVE babies. He was cooed at and tickled enough to make a grandparent proud. Second, they offer them first class service. Marshall had a great little bassinet that snapped on the wall in front of my seat, he got a few little plush toys to play with and if we had wanted, he could have gotten a baby meal with another toy and goodies to boot. He got some rest. He did great.
We’ve been staying at a relatively swank hotel since arriving here(the Mande for those RPCV friends of ours who are reading this), and I have to admit, I feel a bit sheltered. Not only because of the swankiness, but it is also somewhat isolated from town. Tomorrow, we are moving to the Hotel Tamana(just behind the Express and Akwaba) where things are cheaper and more centrally located.
I can’t really explain what its like to be back besides great. We’re both already letting go of all those things that bind us such as clocks, levels of cleanliness, etc. We are laughing with new friends and enjoying being here as “real” adults in the minds of Malians. See, before, to be 23, single and childless, it was as if we were still children. But now, I see things changing. Although we are still white as can be and obviously different, we are more equal. The child breaks down so many walls and we are welcomed into a Mali that I, for sure, don’t remember.
Today we really braved Bamako(yesterday was mostly spent recouperating). We saw Ian’s main informant and dear friend, Kara. We walked through the Grande Marchee in front of the Mosque before prayer time on Friday(this would fit the images you may have of a bustling third world African country, for sure). We took tea, ate some Lebanese food, got our feet dirty and enjoyed a cold beverage under a mango tree.
I’m much more excited than I thought I would be. Internet is currently pretty pricey, so I hope to figure out how to get it cheaper so I can keep this up to date. For now, I’m having to respond to emails and do this in word and cut and paste. Hope to have a place to live and all of that arranged by the middle of next week.
Happy holiday season to all of you!
