Beginnings II: Bamako

It seems I have lived in Mali for forever. Malians will ask how long and I say "15 years" but then I stop and do the math and realize it is 17 and will be 18 in December.  They invariably will respond, "I kɛra malien" - You've become Malian.

And so when I found the journal entry for my arrival in Mali just this week, it was an interesting read.

Dec 15,1994

      I  arrived here in Bamako at exactly 3:15 pm.  Very exciting  considering  I did my  first [training course] 9 1/2 years ago in  June 1985.  I guess it was spring of 1983 that I decided to do this sort of work (freshman year in college). Who knows  when I first started thinking about  Mali? 1988, 89?  Anyway, it's been  a long path, and it's exciting to finally be here.

      The trip down was as usual: hectic. I took two MK's to the [Abidjan] airport and made sure they got on  their plane to visit their folks in Liberia.   They  didn't know any french, so I had to help  get them  through everything.  Three times the hassle, not to mention unbearable humidity - soaked to the skin and surrounded by wall to wall people.

[I have no recollection of helping these two missionary kids get through the airport and on their plane, though I have done similar things numerous times though usually it is with Africans going to Europe who have never flown and don't know how to fill in the forms, find their gate, etc].

      Bamako is flat and looks a  lot like Sana'a (Yemen), except for the Niger river. All in all it's very nice.  A lot more trees than I expected. The center is super nice. I can't believe my room- it's like a hotel room: a living area,  a desk, a well-stocked kitchen,  a bedroom with a  double bed,  2 nightstands,  and a huge wardrobe with built in dresser.  The floor is tiled with large smooth tiles. There are ceiling fans, lamps, and an AC.

 [In early July this year, I moved back into the same apartment I described above and it was like I had come full circle. It was brand new then and is 17 years older now. This time I had to seriously downsize to move in. One can collect a lot of stuff in 17 years. But it still is a nice place that I will enjoy. I did not mention the view in 1994 but it is on the 4th floor and has one of the best views in all of Bamako of the Niger river.]

      I got out my  Christmas music and put together the little 7" Christmas tree by sister sent me, complete with 10 battery-powered lights, little red globe ornaments, a star and three little ornaments.  I used a piece of gold ribbon  grandma sent for a garland. It looks nice and really got  me in the Christmas spirit, in a way I hadn't up  until now.

       I guess  this is it  now.  I start Bambara study soon, after a little time cleaning out the office.  This means my "formation" is over, now it starts "for real".  It's hard to believe.

      Thanks, God, for bringing me here.  Now it's up to You to do something with my life here. Help me be what you want me to be here.