Yes We Can Go Now

March 28, 2006

Yea! We’re on vacation! Here we sit in Bamako, waiting to leave for the airport, fly all night and arrive in SA.

We are again taking advantage of the generosity of our fellow teachers here in the big city. We are reminded too of how dirty Bamako is. There is dust, dirt, garbage, and open pit sewers. The smell is unique. To top it off, it’s hotter than the hinges of Hades. Every time we go out we get sweaty and filthy.

Being here does afford us the opportunity of being social with the other teachers. We went out for a night on the town with a group of several others. The food was great. We all laughed and had a good time. No shop talk was allowed.
Our trip to the falls last week was largely uneventful, although we did get to see a hooded cobra! He was down inside a hole and couldn’t get out. We got some pictures and then lowered a branch so he could climb out. It was quite impressive.

On our last day of classes we had a swimming party at the club. This was partly due to the fact that we will be losing one of our kindergartners. A spitfire of a kid and a great friend to Zachary, she will be sorely missed.

We flew out of Sadiola on Saturday morning aboard the smallest commercial plane I have ever ridden; a nine seat turbo prop. We essentially sat in the cockpit since the whole plane is the cockpit. Z-man watched all the gauges and fell sound asleep. We scoped the view, chatted with other passengers and gritted our teeth through the turbulence.


It’s good to spend time in Bamako because it reminds us of how nice Sadiola is. I am forever grateful that we live there and not here…
MJR