Balafon, Bogolan & Bamakobama

Hello faithful reader(s)!
Sorry it's been awhile, I have since returned from a two-week sojourn around Mali. We visited Segou, Djenne, Mopti, Dogon country, Sikasso, and Bougouni, to name the main places. The trip confirmed what I already knew: Mali is a beautiful country full of many, many things to be explored. On that note, I think I will be staying an extra week or so in Mali, doing archeology in Djenne-Djeno (Old Djenne) with Susan McIntosh, an archeologist/professor at Rice University. I am pretty excited, and just need to go to Air France to exchange my ticket. And find lodging in Djenne.

I am back in my homestay, and it is pretty nice. I have no personal space, which is starting to really wear on me, but my family is absolutely wonderful. They are so kind to me and for the most part patient. It is hard though, to be communicating on the level of a 7 year old (at most!) all the time. Still, I am impressed that I have survived this far, and am sure I can keep truckin'.

Bogolan is going well, I get covered in mud on a daily basis and couldn't be happier. I am having trouble learning much about ideograms, but there is still 3 weeks until the final paper is due (eep!).
Also, I have started learning balafon, a marimba-type instrument with calabashes under the beams which make a pleasant buzzing sound. In order to learn, I had to buy my own balafon, which is being made now and should be finished in about a week. I am learning a song called "N'i ko ka di", which means "Certain Things which are Good". My teacher, Baba, is kind and patient and holds my hand a lot. He is a great teacher and I love spending time with him at Maison des Jeunes, the space where he works. I also learn a bit of bogolan there, as there is an atelier (workshop) which caters to tourists.

Work is upon us, lots of it, so I will be swamped the next few weeks. Three papers, shit tons of bogolan, I will never have a free moment! Still, all will turn out well, I am sure.

Finally, Bamako is for the most part overjoyed about Obama's win. The first thing my family said to me on the morning of the 5th was "Congratulations!" and many other people have been congratulating me. At a boulangerie yesterday, I saw cakes that said "Obama" on them. Barrack, you are loved.