I think the hardest part about living here is people asking me for money, for an advance, for work, or just about anything else. (That includes kids asking if they can come in my yard or swim in my pool.)
About a week ago, I (Harmony) got to ride along on a flight to 
Briant and Jake, the other FO. The plane just got back to
The cockpit.
We made a stop on the way at the Sadiola gold mine. This is what part of the mine looks like from the runway.
Briant, flying the approach into
This is where we spent a few hours sleeping and eating before our 2:30 a.m. departure back to Bamako.
These little boys were walking by our house. When they saw my camera, they wanted their picture taken. They are showing off a still live lizard that they caught. The lizard will likely be their lunch!
At the end of this post is the waterfall that we went to see about 4 weeks ago. Here are pictures from the trip.
We saw some interesting rock formations and lots of mud hut villages.
In this village, we picked up a "tour guide" to show us the way through the woods to the waterfall. He was 15 and spoke just enough French to get us there.
Finally, about two hours later, we made it to our destination. We would not have make it without an SUV. About half of the drive was on a rocky path and over several small creeks.
Below are some observations, thoughts, and happenings. If you get bored reading, scroll down to the next entry and just look at the pictures :)
KIDS
The kids here are absolutely adorable! If you say hi to them they start giggling and jumping up and down. If you stop and shake their hand, they are ecstatic. If you go running or hiking, they will often follow you. They love getting their picture taken and think it is the coolest thing to be able to see themselves on a digital camera’s LCD screen. They never fail to make me smile.
HOMESICK
I had my first real touch of homesickness today. I watched the rain all morning, wore jeans, and sipped hot chocolate; pretending it was fall. The hot chocolate tasted funny because I had to make it with powdered milk. I had to wear flip-flops and a t-shirt with my jeans because it wasn’t really that cold out. I absolutely love summer but am realizing that I do actually miss “jean weather”.
Everything takes time here. The market where we buy produce and meat, the grocery store where we buy yogurt and cheese, and the bread “store” (it’s more like a shed on the side of the road) are in three different places. Then, we have to bleach the produce and pass the bread over an open flame before we can eat it. Everything is made from scratch. I didn't know that being able to buy frozen vegatables was a luxury!
We can hear the call to prayer five times a day from our house. I’ve always wanted to go in a mosque but I don’t think that will ever happen. The other day, we walked by the outer gate of a mosque without even realizing it. First, we were asked where we were going. Then, as we got closer, someone frantically started closing the gate saying “mosque, mosque, mosque”. I guess we got to close for comfort!
THE WEATHER
I don’t know if Malians like cool weather. A few weeks ago, Briant and I came home in the dark around 9:00 p.m. We were wearing t-shirts and flip-flops. As we pulled up to the house, we didn’t recognize our night guard because he was wearing a pretty big jacket and a hood! I wonder if the high-70s will ever start to feel cold to me…
Briant and I went on a walk a couple days ago and this little boy followed us. This wheel and stick were his toys. He was so excited to have his picture taken that he called a bunch of other kids over so that they could get their picture taken too!
Our destination was the "Two Mosque Rd" but we had to walk through this neighborhood and part of the market to get there. This woman is doing her dishes here.
The open area is a soccer field on the way to the Two Mosque Rd. (We make up names for all the roads here since they don't have any.) You can see the two minarets from the mosques in the background.
This is the actual Two Mosque Rd. We made it. We see lots of people pushing these little carts.
There are mopeds everywhere and, in this case, mopeds that don't work. Notice the baby strapped on the woman's back. This is how women carry their kids here.
This sign says "Welcome to the Badalabougou market". It sure stands out in the middle of our market!
One last market scene.
This is usualy what we see as we leave our house. I don't know where the goats are today.
This one was born just outside the school. Isn't he cute?
Crossing the Niger River. Two people fit on a bike but you can fit 3 or 4 on a moped if some of them are kids.
I think she's carrying peanuts... Someday I'll get a picture of a woman carrying something heavier.
Mom and Dad's "garbage truck". (Ours is much smaller!)
The front of our house, from just inside our gate.
View from just outside our front gate. Behind the wall, which is behind the boy's head, is the American International School where Harmony works. Double click on the picture to enlarge.
The road that leads to the market.
Some of the boys who play soccer on our road. We think that it's the only strip of somewhat flat, smooth road in the neighborhood. That would be why they play right by our house.
Logan Michael Arthur; 9 lbs 9 oz!
Sophie holding Logan.
Greg, Gretchen, and Logan.
Charis and Cameron on the Jersey shore.
Charis making Keelson laugh.
Picture one: Jenn, Harmony, and Stephanie
