Pictures: Planting Seeds

Though we are not supposed to start any official projects until January, we’ve needed to do a few things just to keep us sane and motivated while our language skills improve and while we complete an initial needs assessment of our village. Since we come from such a different culture, many Malians are wary of the advice and skills that we have to offer. Others need convincing that we are even worth their time. So these activities are helping us build confidence and trust within our community so that we can complete effective and sustainable projects later in our service. So here’s what we’ve been up to:

 

 

Joye has started her World Map Mural on a wall near the school. If you look very closely you can see she has already drawn South America and Africa in pencil. Hopefully she’ll have this completed by December and will be able to use it as a visual to explain just how far away America is!

  

The only “Public transportation” in and out of our village listed on the initial village report provided to us by Peace Corps. After we showed Peace Corps this picture, they told us we are prohibited from taking this. We weren't too disappointed. 

 

 

(Left) Jim and our “host dad” who came to check on Jim’s progress in setting up stakes for our garden. (Right) A job well done! Malians were very impressed to see a Tubab successfully complete any sort of hard physical labor.

 

 

Aside from interviewing community members and beginning to write our initial assessment reports, Jim has also been working on composting for the garden (the dirt pile in the bottom left of this picture). Furthermore, we’ve tried to deepen some relationships with villagers by having them over for tea sessions under our impressive mango tree.

 

 

Lastly, Jim enjoys some Kraft Macaroni & Cheese with tuna and peas courtesy of Jim’s mom. So delicious :) And Joye kneels next to a baby goat shivering outside our house after it could not find its mom in an afternoon rainstorm. I swear those things are cuter than puppies. 

 

~ Joye