Stuff...

A few random topics going though my head this morning...

Fridays...
So Friday to Muslims in BKO is like Sunday to Christians, kinda...the 1pm prayer call is when everyone goes to mosque. It seems that EVERY Friday at 1pm, I find some reason I need to leave the house. I just don't learn. For the most part, Im typically looking for something(lunch, bread, etc) and everything is closed, but this past Friday, I decided it was time to take a walk in a new direction to explore. In that direction, as I discovered, are two massive mosques, almost across the street from each other. Those praying at mentioned mosques had spilled out into the streets to pray, blocking all my assumed routes. I decided to wait a bit until prayer let out and forge onward. Little did I know that put me smack dab swimming upstream. It wasn't worth it, I had to ride the crowd in the other direction. Today, I am going to give it another go...it looked like there was some really cool stuff up there.

Peace Corps...
Most of you reading this blog know that Ian and I were here before and actually met here as Peace Corps volunteers. I've been a couple of places lately where there have been current volunteers dining. I can't bring myself to introduce myself as an alum. Seems that people did that when I was a volunteer and I always thought they were weird. Granted as a volunteer, it is typically you that is the weird one, but with 150 some odd others in country, you tend to feel validated.
None the less, I feel I should leave them to their experience and not interrupt it with mine. Kinda like sensitive wildlife. Granted, Ian has been invited to speak at Peace Corps training this upcoming week and I think Marshall and I will go with him (there tends to be free dinner involved), but those are newbies. They tend to find us less weird than the seasoned volunteers as they are closer to their stateside lives. None the less, it will be surreal to go back to the training site. Its been a long time...

Stoop side shopping
There are a handful of things that I still want for the house that I have yet to purchase. Part of the reason is that there are some things that are typically, or only in small quantities, sold in the market. Some vendors, for whatever reason, are solely wandering vendors. A perfect example is bananas. Every time I want some bananas, I typically have to wait for a banana seller to wander near me. Luckily, I know where some of them go to take their breaks and know I can typically find there. I am in search, though, of some large mats. This is a wandering seller. I dont know where he takes his breaks. This is something that I simply need to sit outside one day and wait to go by.

Pictures
As much as I would love to show everyone more images of where we live and what I see everyday, I have to be careful with the camera. It can cause a commotion with kids around. In addition, I don't want people that have become my friends and neighbors to feel like tourist attractions. I mean, how would you feel if someone came up to you at work and asked to take your picture like you were a fascinating animal in a zoo? It might not feel like that, but the fact that it could causes me hesitation. Perhaps I'll get over it a bit as time goes by and I get to know people better. For now, I hope my words are painting a good picture. Also, most images I find when I Google Bamako paint a pretty good picture of things.

Marshall and food
Marshall still can't get enough of bananas. He also had a little furufuru(millet dumpling) yesterday that he seemed to enjoy. Avocado is touch and go. Peas seemed to have a good flavor, but they needed to be cooked a bit more to be mushier. He really seemed to like millet and banana as well, but again, the millet needed to be cooked a bit more. Tonight we are going to try some applesauce.

Growing up...

So, as you can see in the bath picture below, Marshall is now sitting up all by himself. We also discovered yesterday that he can push himself into a sitting position from his hands and knees. Finally, this kid is mobile. Its not quite crawling, more like a salamander scoot on his belly, but he can MOVE FAST. All this came together in 2 days! And he can fetch...there are reasons we don't remember these times in our life.

Bathtime and laughing