Rolling blackouts

I am now thoroughly rested up from my Ngouma trip and back to the rhythm of Douentza. Work with Steve in the mornings is beginning to go faster as everyone gets used to the language and working style, and we’ve taken to going to the Tango in the afternoon for a cold beer or soda escape.

This morning, my bread guy Ibrahim took me to a shoemaker’s place to measure my feet, since he wants to give me sandals as a present. He also gave me a couple of beaded necklaces. I can never be sure whether such gifts are purely from good will or if it’s fishing for monetary gifts later. Either way, it was nice.

Part way through the morning, I got a call from Josh, an SIT study abroad student we’d crossed on the road to Sangha. He said he was coming into Douentza and needed a place to stay, so I went and picked him up and brought him back. Unfortunately, Salif rolled up unannounced last night, so we are out of mattresses, but Nicolas said he could stay at his house. We’re going over there for dinner tonight—probably one of the last times I’ll see Nicolas, seeing as he will be leaving for Benin on Saturday (after I’ve already left for Sevare).

It’s been hot as blazes the last few days, made worse by the fact that we’ve had rolling blackouts. The power has always been back on at night, so between AC and fan, I can sleep well, but sitting inside during the day working, we just swelter. I’m looking forward to two solid days of AC in Sevare.