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A quick update--for those of you who tried to comment and couldn't, I realized I had my settings all weird. Now anybody who wants to can leave a comment, even if you're not a registered user. So comment away!

One week and counting

Tonight, I took my first of 53 or so malaria pills. Mefloquine. Some associate this with crazy dreams, paranoia, delusions of being a dumpling, etc.. I, however, took it the whole time I was in India and had but one little paranoid night in Delhi. But I still contend that anyone who wakes up in the smoky darkness of a Delhi night and hears an alarm clock going off that can't be located will be paranoid.

At any rate, this is the real deal. Once that malaria medication has started, you know it's serious. In the side effects of mefloquine (which include but are not limited to dizziness, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, hallucinations, increased feelings of sadness, etc.), I found "hair loss". Now my hair did start falling out in India, so instantly I began to fret, but after some cross-checking with others who lost hair to India, I can safely say that the hair loss was not necessarily due to mefloquine. I sure hope it isn't. I rather like having hair.

Current emotions: fear, exhilaration, curiosity, panic, resignation, excitement.

T - one week to Pangolin Town.

Some information on Dogon and Tommo-So

While reviewing the SIL's (2004) Sociolinguistic Survey of the Dogon Language Area, I came across some more information on the language family and Tommo-So specifically, which I thought I would share.

Dogon languages tend to be SOV and, to my excitement, have quite interesting morphology. The report says that they are known for having rich, agglutinating verbal morphology (my favorite) but isolating nominal morphology, with "even number and case markers being clitics". 

Tommo-So is apparently a language with a rich oral tradition; it seems even other language groups may recite stories or sing songs in Tommo-So. Tommo speakers apparently have the reputation of putting everything into song! Now that's my kind of language.

Two weeks and counting

On Sunday, I officially received my diploma. And now here I am, four days later, back home in Minnesota staring into the face of the time ahead while trying desperately to turn around and keep looking at what is now behind me. I don't like goodbyes and am not particularly good at them, so I was surprised by how smoothly they all went during the last week. That is until this afternoon when the true significance of my college days being done and being out of the country for a year hit me full force. I feel as though all of my lifelines have been cut and I am free falling into some sort of doom.

Of course, I know this isn't true. I'm not falling, lifelines are intact, they're just a bit longer than they used to be so I have to have faith that there's something on the other end of them. That's fine. I can do that.

The next couple of weeks will be spent gathering supplies and munitions for Mali. Computer, recorder, visa--check. Other things pending. I will eventually be faced with the hardest packing dilemma for me, being how many and which books can I bring.

To all of you in LA, thanks for the good times. I will miss you all terribly, but you better believe I will back with a vengeance in a year to keep rocking.

T - 2 weeks to Pangolin town.

Welcome to Pangolin Watch.

Hi, friends. I have started a blog to keep everyone in the loop about what's happening with me in Mali. That will be easier than me flooding your e-mail box with updates that you may or may not want to read. This way, you decide. If you love me, you'll check my blog. No pressure.

I will be leaving on June 4th to spend the summer in Mali. I will be back in the States for a few weeks end of August/early September, but then back to the deserts again.

For those of you who are curious about my choice of title, see the Pangolin link on the side bar. Every pangolin I see will be documented here. Along with more practical bits of my adventure.

So stay posted and I shall regale you with stories from a country you have never heard of.

Today's Pangolin Conditions: Poor.