Born Again

Yesterday was the last hash that I'll have the opportunity to go to before my vacation in America. The hash was actually in Siby, and the rain completely drenched us all. For certain, it was a beautiful hash, and at the close, I finally received m hash name (thus, the subject heading). Professor Doolittle. It amuses me, and it's considerably less offensive than most people's names.

Siby Hash 1: Yes, we run the hash rain or shine

Siby Hash 2: Which way to go?

One standard of hash runs are false trails. Sometimes, you run for a while before you realize that you're on a false trail; then you have to turn around and go back to find the true path. Or, you do as those pictured above and wait for someone to yell that it's the right or wrong way.

Siby Hash 3: There were a lot of ups and downs


Siby Hash 4: Finally able to run again

Siby Hash 5: Pay no attention to the man with a gun

Siby's a rural area. So it's not uncommon for Malians to have rifles like the one pictured above. Just like it's not uncommon to find farmers in the states with rifles.

I also played flag football yesterday. As an activity, it had stopped occurring for a while due to the majority of people who played had left. But it's picked back up now, which means my Sundays are once again action packed. As has happened every time I've played flag football, I cut up a knee while sliding on the grass. Seriously, my body doesn't like the embassy grass.

I can't believe that it's down to less than two weeks before my trip to the US. I'm definitely looking forward to it. Especially the chance to take a hot shower. The weather's getting a little chilly here, and the cold water doesn't exactly feel all that great at the moment (unless it's directly after working out--otherwise, I get the distinct feeling that I'm going to suffer from hypothermia). So hot showers are high on my list of things to enjoy (along with cheese, bacon, bratwursts, fresh fish, sushi, lattes, Mexican food and a whole slew of other things).

My LSAT studies are staying intensive. As I've said before, I feel that's important--especially since many law schools give more than a 4:1 weight to your LSAT score over your GPA. Given my somewhat weak (3.08) undergraduate GPA, I certainly need to do as well as possible. I do, at least have some very solid soft factors (MA degree, lots of professional work experience, multiple foreign languages, Peace Corps, other volunteer experience, etc.) that can only help me.

I've also recently had to start dealing with a fact of life that the majority of other Peace Corps volunteers cope with for their entire service. No internet. Technically, I don't think my year contract is up yet, but the plug that powers the actual radio cable (yes, I received internet through a radio device located on my roof) burned out. I found a replacement in the grand marché, but the price was astronomical (12,500 CFA--or probably about $25). For a power cord!!!! Knowing that I only have a week or two left of internet anyway, I decided not to buy the cord at that time (that and I didn't have 12,500 CFA on me at the time--else I probably would have broken down and bought the piece). My guess is that we're going to continue to get internet in some fashion, as it's pretty much invaluable to me as a professor, but that's a decision to be made by the house. Not me alone.

Hellos and Goodbyes

16 days until I return to the US for vacation/LSAT. Not that I'm counting or anything.

A couple of weeks ago, I went to Koulikoro-ville (Koulikoro is also a region of Mali) with several other volunteers. We were having a regional get-together that included the new Koulikoro trainees. It was nice. Also nice, was getting out of Bamako for a moment. Koulikoro-ville is only about an hour and a half (more or less) by sotrama (a big, green van that they'll literally stuff 20+ people in the back of for transport. Seating consists of a wooden bench that runs along all 4 sides inside of the van behind the driver). What I saw of the town was nice. A lot smaller and much more relaxed than Bamako, but then, that's not difficult.

Koulikoro 1: Flat Tire

We had to wait for another bus to stop by for help, because we didn't have a jack.

Koulikoro 2: Waiting for the tire to be fixed

The bus/van pictured above had 21 people sitting in the back (20 volunteers and one Malian) and 3 or 4 sitting up front (including the driver).

Koulikoro 3: Dance Party

After the get-together, I came back and set my 4th hash (luckily, I'm not setting this weekend's--which will be a nice change of pace). We also hosted the on-after at my house, which seems to have gone well.

Road to Siby: Deciding Where to set the Hash

This picture was on the top of a pretty tall hill. Sam and John (pictured) were to of the Peace Corps Volunteers who helped to set that particular hash.

More than anything else, I've been saying goodbye to friends who've been finishing their service. This week, we threw a going away party for several COSers. Sam left Tuesday night after the party. Ben left last night. Holly leaves on Friday night.

Going Away Party 1: Theme: Redneck/Beach Bum

Going Away Party 2: Sam leaving for the airport

Unlike when you arrive as a trainee--all at once--leaving is more like a slow bleed. 1 or 2 this day. Another that day. For those who don't extend their service, there's roughly a 3 or 4 month period in which they could be leaving. They learned roughly when they'd be leaving during their COS conference (which was in May). Generally speaking, you should assume that you'll be here in Mali for 26 months--though some will be here for less and others a bit more.

My LSAT study has diminished as of late. That's not to say that my actual studying has become much less, but that my results are dropping. With just over 3 weeks before I write the exam, I really need to crack down and get my performance back up.

It's all downhill from here

Last week, I reached the "official" half-way point of my service. Of course, I won't know my actual COS (close of service) date until around May or so of next year. Add in my month long vacation coming up soon, and the last half of my service should be fairly smooth. I hope.

The house is once again full. I have a 3rd year volunteer from Mauritania living here and one of the new trainees will live here after swearing in. In fact, Jeremy the Trainee has been here this week for site visit. He seems like good people, and he wants me to teach him martial arts--which will be good for me. I haven't been able to teach martial arts since being here.

So far, my experiences with the new stage (which has been admittedly limited at best) has gone well. They seem like good people, but they're also young. Jeremy's a bit older in his stage (still young though), while most of them are probably 22. I'll get to actually become at least somewhat familiar with the those of the Koulikoro region this weekend as we have an end of site week party in Koulikoro--which, will actually finally be my first time truly out of Bamako.

This weekend, I set my 4th hash (out of the last 5, no less). More than that, we'll be hosting the on-after at my house this time. That part has me a little nervous--as my house, while spacious, is quite spartan and lacking simple things like... chairs for everyone to sit in. We'll see how it goes.

The semester at FLASH has *technically* ended. Classes are done. I had hoped that I'd be able to be grading exams this week, but there's the rub in all of this. Exams haven't happened yet. Teachers went on strike just before the exams. I've turned in my test papers, so I've done all I can do to this point. I'd really like this setback taken care of before too long. Maybe.. with luck..

So many of my friends are leaving Mali now. I may have said this at some point before, but being in Bamako means that I've probably more made friends with the previous stages of volunteers than with my own. As a consequence, they're all COSing now. One friend leaves on Monday, two more leave in a week and a half.

A year and change

The school year is actually almost over. August 1st is the last day of class. That's incredibly hard to believe. That won't, of course, be the end of my school work for the semester. The week after will be exams. Then, there's grading. I still haven't had time to finish grading the previous semester's exams, either (we started the 2nd semester the week after exams--so there was no down time to do things like... grade papers). Some of that semester's done, just not all. Then, after I miraculously finish all the other papers that I'll need to grade, we'll eventually retest the people who didn't pass the exam on the first go (for both semesters).

Hopefully, these retests happen at a point that's either before I leave for the US or after I return--not during my departure (though it really wouldn't matter too much since all tests are proctored and they'd have copies of my test papers to give out to the students anyway).

I've been here in Mali for over a year now. Soon, I'll reach the "official" halfway point. That'll be in August. At times, my service has gone incredibly fast. Other times, not so much. Right now, I think it's mostly somewhere in the middle.

This semester, in particular, has been tough. Teaching 6 days/week has proved to be a challenge. More so because I've been sick more than I'd care to share this semester, and I've developed the most awesome heat rash ever (looking up treatment for heat rash, it says to stay in an air conditioned environment and don't sweat. Right, like either of those options are available to me).

The new stage of trainees (they won't be volunteers until they're sworn in) arrived earlier this month. I haven't had the chance to meet any of them yet, but I imagine I will after I'm done with my classes (I'm going to try and get out to Tubaniso at least once during training to meet and talk with the new university ed volunteer they have). So far, I've heard good things about the new stage.

Hashes. I've actually helped to set the last two hashes (though I still don't yet have a hash name). One of them was a "live hash" meaning the hares (those who set the hash) had only about a 15 minute head start on the hounds (runners). 15 minutes may sound like a lot, but in that time, you've got to create a path, set false trails and somehow make sure the path gets to the destination spot (usually the start). Ours was about an 8k hash.

Magnambougou Hash: A couple of Malians who decided to join us in the hash.

The second hash was in a beautiful area that required the runners to more or less climb up a giant hill and then wind down following a cliff line. The toughest part was the beginning (the climb). That and as a hare, I get to run the 5k route twice nearly back to back (okay, we had an hour or two between). Once to set, once with the runners.

Moribabougou Hash 1: View of the ridge line.

Moribabougou Hash 2: While starting the hill near the beginning of the hash.

Didn't do anything special for the 4th of July. I chose to be responsible and teach instead (that is, of course, why I'm here. To teach).

I feel like I'm making significant progress

I stay pretty busy most days. Especially now with my new teaching schedule. 6 days/week is apparently a lot. But I like it. I like being busy. I don't seem to notice time going by quite so much when I'm busy, either. Speaking of, I think my mind absolutely refuses to believe that it's 19 June. This time last year, I was preparing to leave DC and go back to Ohio to see friends and family for my last couple of weeks in the US. In less than a month, I will have been in Mali for a year.

One of the things I've been working hard to do is acquire books to use with my students (so if you're reading this and you have access to textbooks--especially high school or college literature and history textbooks, you should contact me). I've managed to get my old school system, Beavercreek City Schools, to agree to send me two boxes of books. That's a start. I think they're just sending me English textbooks, but I'm not 100% sure. I'll verify today.

I think it's safe to say that rainy season has returned. We've had rain (however brief) for the last couple of days. I'm kinda glad. When it rains a lot at night, it cools the temperature down into the low 80s, which makes it so very comfortable to sleep in. To be perfectly honest, the dry season wasn't completely devoid of rain as I'd been told it would be. There were a handful of times when we received light sprinkles.

Despite my heavy teaching schedule, I have continued to enjoy some free time. I continue to run in the hashes every other week (I'm actually going to be helping to set the course on this next hash)...

Badalabougou Hash: Proof that I actually run in these things

...and I went to the Mali vs. Ghana World Cup Qualifier match here in Bamako earlier this month. We lost... but it was still a good game.

Mali v Ghana 1: On the way to the game

Mali v Ghana 2: Gendarmes ready in case a riot breaks out

Mali v Ghana 3: Peace Corps Volunteers ready for a good game

Mali v Ghana 4: Mali taking a corner kick

Mali has a pretty amazing stadium that's really well taken care of. I was actually surprised how nice and modern this stadium is (there's another stadium in Bamako that's a bit older--this one, however, is quite new). I'm definitely going to have to make it out to a few Mali Eagles (the name of Mali's professional team) games.

Of course, I'm still studying for the LSAT, and that's going pretty well. Some days are better than others with that. The last practice test, however, I scored a 163, but would've scored a 168 had I finished all my sections on time. So speed is my biggest factor right now.

Speaking of law, I've not really ever talked about what areas of law I'd be interested in going into. When I was young and I thought about things like law school, I always just assumed I'd be interested in criminal law (and I am, let's not be mistaken there), but Peace Corps in particular, has really broadened my perspective on the world. I'd really like to go into international law. More specifically, I think I'm interested in areas such as human rights. When I think back on the types of things I've cared about (and a big reason as to why I joined Peace Corps in the first place), it just makes sense. Of course, that can change. And I don't want to get ahead of myself completely (I've not even taken the LSAT yet, let alone applied to or been accepted to any law schools).

In villa updates, I once again have roommates. Temporarily. It's nice to have other people around from time to time, but I swear, I'm going to rename this house "the in and out house." I had 2 roommates, then it was just me, then I had 1 temp roommate, then it was just me, now I have 2 more temp roommates, but soon(ish) it'll just be me yet again. I wonder if it will continue in a similar pattern for the rest of my service. If nothing else, it allows me to really peer into the lives of a couple of people at a time for a brief period. That's good for a writer.

As an aside, I just killed my first scorpion.

More near future plans: For the 4th of July, Peace Corps volunteers are planning a gathering pretty far from here. I'll have to cancel classes for that Friday and Saturday in order to go, but I think it'll be worth it (that'll give my students a time to catch up on their reading). Plus, it'll be my first real escape from Bamako since I've been here (to date, the farthest I've gone from Bamako since homestay was Siby, which, according to other PCVs, doesn't count as leaving Bamako).

If only I were Jamie Madrox, the Multiple Man

I think my situation is often different from the other teachers. I wasn't expected to have many students in my last class before finals, but Saturday's American Studies class had a fair amount of students. To be sure, they weren't as full as normal, but there was still a considerable amount of them (pictured below).

American Studies 1: Last day of class

American Studies 2: Last day of class

This week marks exams at University of Bamako. That means my days are entirely filled all week long (and a bit next week, too). When I'm not giving tests to my own students (more on that in a minute), I'm proctoring for other teachers' classes.

It also means I'm extremely exhausted. It's a good exhaustion, but it's still an exhaustion none-the-less. I really have no time for other things. Tonight, for example, I didn't get home from giving exams until after 7:45pm (with an 8am start).

Giving my exams has proven interesting. One problem is the simple fact there simply aren't enough of me. Simply put, they scheduled all the Conversation Year 2 exams at exactly the same time in entirely different rooms (and even different buildings on different sides of the river). Given that I taught 3 conversation classes this semester, it has caused a problem.

I've given the exam for one of the three. The others I've simply had to try and reschedule later this week and the beginning of next week. The one I gave began today at 3pm, but didn't finish until after 7:30pm. It was scheduled for 2 hours, but seeing that I had 70 students to try and have one on one conversations with, well... two hours just doesn't work for that. That's going to make the other two conversation class exams fun to look forward to.

I also received next semester's schedule this week. I'll be teaching 16 hours of American Studies. 12 hours of 2nd year and 4 hours of 3rd year. That I'm actually really looking forward to. I'll be teaching 6 days/week--meaning I only have Sunday off, but still.. it's a good schedule. It does mean that I'll have to retool what I was planning on doing for podcasts (I had just assumed that I'd be teaching at least some conversation classes), but that's okay. I think I'll examine a poem or short story each week that's period specific, break it down and emphasize vocabulary.

So, this is hot season.

Crazy to think that, later this week, I'll have been in Mali for 10 whole months. Time is not moving slowly. It is, however, moving hotly. This is, after all, the peak of hot season and temperatures have been hovering around the 110 level for the past week or so.

I went to the Peace Corps bureau once this week to print some things out for my classes. I was only in the IRC for a moment, but the difference air conditioning makes is considerably noticeable. For those who may not be aware, I do not have air conditioning in my house, and because transportation can be spotty at best (and would never be air conditioned anyway), I ride my bicycle pretty much everywhere (or walk). My classrooms are also not air conditioned. That means I'm pretty much always covered in sweat. I have a micro-fiber towel that was given to me before I came to Mali, and I always keep it in my backpack now to "wipe down" before teaching. I also keep my "work shirt" in my bag as well--so that it's at least not covered in sweat when I begin teaching.

This week, there was a brief strike by the teachers. Said strike was yesterday and today, but classes resume as normal tomorrow.

I've had a temporary roommate for the last couple of weeks. One of the Madagascar volunteers. For those outside of the loop, there was a coup in Madagascar (which is an island on the way, far other side of Africa--near South Africa). As such, Peace Corps pulled out all of its volunteers from there. Most of them are back in the US now, but some took other volunteer positions in other countries. I believe we took in 5, which has given me a temporary roommate, though said roommate will be moving to the other side of Bamako to be closer to work--which will, yet again, make me the only volunteer in this giant villa.

As per my norm, I've been keeping exceptionally busy. The month of April, which is also known as Script Frenzy, is a month in which writers are supposed to write a 100 page script. Not being one to take such challenges lightly, I wrote two. That's right, two scripts. The first, I finished in 10 days (then took 5 days to edit and relax while also teaching and grading papers), so I decided that I really had no reason not to write a second. That puts my total number of screenplays written up to 4--effectively doubling my pre-Peace Corps number (in a month, no less). The first of the new screenplays, I actually submitted to a contest after being pressured by a good friend/former teacher. I won't hear anything about that until sometime in August.

Speaking of noise.. There's a lot of noise and cheers outside on the street right now. My assumption is that there were good results from a soccer game. I didn't realize there was a game tonight. My guess is that it was for the Mali national team (speaking of, I'm hoping to see the Mali v. Ghana game here in Bamako next month). That should be extremely exciting, a World Cup qualifier match!

More on the actual work thing though.

I've decided to start creating podcasts for my university students. It'll probably just be one episode per week focusing primarily on my conversation classes--offering additional study/listening opportunities. I think that's important. Technology is also important, and getting my students to use technology in a productive and useful way is always a good thing. As of right now, the podcasts will focus on three basic areas: vocab, grammar and culture. The lessons will likely be somewhere between 5-10 minutes each in length.

I still need to create an "opening theme/theme song" to lead in the podcast, and I've begun to play around with GarageBand on my mac, but I can't quite figure out exactly what sort of tune I'd really like to have.

In other news, the semester apparently ends this month. Midterms will start sometime around the 16th. What I don't know is if those midterms will include the freshmen. I hope not. I've only had 2 classes with my current class (and three classes with the group before that). I haven't even gotten to Columbus yet...

I also questions as to what will happen with the 2nd semester. While talking with colleagues the other day, they were saying that I'd have entirely different classes for the second semester--which makes sense, but there's still so much info in this truncated semester that I simply haven't even begun to approach with my students. That's at least part of the reason I've decided to start making podcasts

I was told that the second semester is supposed to last for June and July with exams sometime in August.

What would an update be if I didn't mention the LSAT at least once? I'm still studying regularly, but my most recent practice score wasn't nearly as good as I'd like (155). Basically, I'm considering anything under 160 as bad. My goal is to get up above 170 before I take the test in September. Speaking of, I've all but decided to take the test in the US instead of Ghana. I just need to clear it with some people first (and make sure that it doesn't conflict with my teaching schedule).

Seriously, it's 9:40pm, and I'm sweating like crazy under my shirt.