Home sweet home

I made it back to Douentza last night, and for once, the trip was borderline pleasant. I said my goodbyes to Rosemary and her family and made it to the bus station at 7:30 when they told me to be there. To my delight, they took my bags, put them in the bus, and told me I could just get in, as opposed to having to go through the mess of calling out the names of passengers just to board.

Of course the AC wasn’t on, but I’ve learned not to expect that these days. Thankfully, they weren’t blasting loud music either, though. When we pulled up to the bus station in Segou, I looked out the window and saw some young white people that looked familiar. I realized it was the two tourists I’d talked to for a while at the Campagnard after writing my blog entry. They ended up getting on my bus to go to Sevare, so we chatted for a while. I even had the seat next to me empty for most of the ride—amazing.

We got to Sevare around seven, and there my tourist friends got off and Phil got on to come up to Douentza, so we chatted the whole way back. When we got to my house, Ramata was in the courtyard to say hi, and the kittens were scampering everywhere. I can’t believe how big they’ve already gotten. I can’t hold both of them in one hand anymore.  But they seem healthy and happy, so I can’t ask for more.

Phil and I went to the market to eat some dinner around 10:30 or 11, then I went back and went to sleep. Unfortunately, it’s already getting kind of hot. I woke up at 3 in the morning contemplating how I would make it through hot season, deciding instead of getting slapped with an electricity bill at the end of the month for using AC, I would set aside 1000 CFA (2 dollars) a day. That would be much more doable.

It feels really good to be back. I mean, it was also nice being in Bamako, but here is really home now. Driving my motorcycle feels good, as does playing with my kittens and seeing my friends. I’m looking forward to these last couple months to just get work done at my own place and enjoy the environs I’ll soon be leaving.