Real work has started! Ramata’s father, after spending the night at a friend’s house, came this morning and we worked for a solid 3 hours at least. We’re going to take work back up in the late afternoon for another hour and a half or so. At this point, I probably have about 1500 words properly filled in the lexicon, out of about 7500. It’s progress, at least.
The sky has become rather fall-like here—overcast, almost white, but seeming much taller than a summer cloudy sky. This is the first time I’ve been in another country long enough to experience all of the seasons. It is for reasons precisely like this one that I wanted to spend a full year in one place. I want to really get to know Mali in a way I could never achieve in, say, India or Japan.
Faku-hoy for lunch today. As an integrated Dogon-foreigner, I can make fun of it as well as its creators, the Songhay. People just throw around the word “slave” as if it were nothing between themselves and their ethnic “cousins.” It still shocks my American ears.
Under two weeks until going to Bamako now, and then my boyfriend Kevin will be here to keep me company. Excited doesn’t begin to describe how I feel about that.
Well, some rain and wind has kicked up since I got to the radio. Hopefully rain isn't pouring into my room through the hole in the wall, thus soaking my mattress and possibly iPod. I thought rain was supposed to be done.
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2 comments:
Sounds like you are making some progress now that Ramata's father is there. That will give you a better sense of accomplishment. Stay dry!
Yay for productivity! It sounds like your really getting down to your work now and your only going to continue to make more progress. I think it's wonderful that your going to get to know another country so well. It sounds fantastic and I'm glad your getting the chance to experience it. Sorry to hear about your hair though man. I can't wait to hear about what it's like to have Kevin there with you though. :)
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