Today was our first day to see
the city, and also our first chance to meet our host families. Two momentous
occasions in one short day! First, the city. Bamako seems much as I imagined it
to be, honestly. By western standards, which, unfortunately, are the only way I
have to view this place, there are spots of incredibly beauty, but so many more
of great poverty. Lots of trash, lots of people, and definitely a lower
standard of living than any I have seen before. It will definitely be really
interesting navigating a city such as this, where we very much stand out.
Height, whiteness, and western clothes, mannerisms, and perceptions, as well as
not even speaking the most widely spoken language. I hope to learn some
Bambara, but have no grand visions of becoming even partially fluent by the
time I leave. This brings me to my host family. I met the father and one of the
daughters today. I did not have much of a chance to take to my host dad, but I
really like the daughter, and think we’ll get along well. She’s 22, and just
recently graduated from school in Tunisia to become an architect. There are
three other kids in the family, 13, 21, and 25. I was a little disappointed
there were no small children, but it’s alright. Here’s hoping everything goes
well!
It’s weird
looking back on my pictures from that first drive. I was so amazed by
everything I saw! Now, I can look back at a lot of the places that seemed so
different and weird, and they look totally normal. Many of them I passed on a
daily basis, or at least fairly regularly. It definitely turned out to be
interesting navigating my way through Bamako as a tall, white woman. It wasn’t
exactly easy to blend in, as would have been my standard. But in Mali, I
honestly liked standing out. It was kind of fun to have everyone want to talk
to you and be your friend.
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