Nabaa ye taabaa ye (The one who comes also goes)

It's nearly time for me to return to the U.S. I'll spare my small audience any trite personal reflections on what I've learned during my stay. It's enough to write that I leave with a heavy heart for the people and things I can't take with me, and gratitude for the memories I can. I've tried to convince this little danga den to travel with me in my suitcase, but she barely sat for the photograph- Hope you've enjoyed my occasional photos and updates- k'an bèn sinè numan (see you at a good time)!

Marium Fitinin (Tiny Marium)

My friend, Ma, is the only other woman to work within eye and earshot of me in the market. She has an adorable one-year-old named Marium who always greets me with a big hug. This is especially remarkable because, when I first arrived, she would cry and bury her face whenever she saw my scary white skin. Marium said her first word last week: "Mai'i!" (my Malian name). Naturally I'm buying her plenty of treats to secure my place in her small lexicon!

Best Dressed

It's so cold here (58 degrees!) that my outfit for the festivities has become a mess of anything I can find in my house that looks warm.
Happy New Year- enjoy your celebrations!

Rare Luxeries

If in America, it's hardly worth noting that one had their nails done or ate in a restaurant. But, when you live in rural Africa, these are blog-worthy moments.

Thanks for the great evening, Marissa!

Bookworm

Lately any task that requires me to sit indoors hunched over my computer comes second to being outside in the beautiful, cool weather that has finally arrived.

(Enjoying Tolstoy + ginger ice after lunch on Thursday)

Loot

Last month my long-time bff Lindsay sent me an email telling me that her roommate was coming to Mali for two weeks to do a research project on water quality. What a strange coincidence!

Being the perfect friend that she is, Lindsay arranged to send my favorite candies with her roommate. Between these treats and all the snacks that Shannon, Joe, and my parents have sent to me, I'm set until my return in January.
Yay for sugar (+ my wonderful friends and family)!

Npiébougou

Saturday I traveled 360 kilometers north to Npiébougou, the birthplace of Amadou Diallo. I've chronicled Amadou's life history for my dissertation and I have felt anxious for months to see the small village he's described in his childhood recollections. We spent our day visiting with Amadou's family, eating delicious food (it's quite different from what is available in the south), and touring the village. Here are some of my favorite photos:

The town's beautiful mosque
The legendary log bench that prompted the village's founding

The narrow roads seemed so charming until a herd of cattle closed in on us...
Amadou's childhood swimming hole (Koniba [r] came with us- it was his first time to travel past Bamako and the differences in landscape, architecture, diet, and livelihood awed him)
We finished the day by visiting the bridge and irrigation dam in Markala, which is about five kilometers from Npiébougou.
Finally a decent view of the Niger (it somehow always looks so depressing in Bamako..)
The day felt perfect and I'm so glad we were able to make the journey together!