Site Visit!!

So I just got back from my site visit! I spent a week there. It was really awesome, I was nervous at first because its kinda scary to see where I'm going to be for the next two years!! So i dont even really know where to start. So I'm replacing a previous volunteer, so he was there throughout my site visit, which was amazing. He put up pictures around my hut and left me a ton of stuff, which was awesome b/c as far as my decorating skills go, I would be living in an empty box for the next two years without him. I dont know how I would have survived without him! hahaha. He showed me around, introduced me to people, and all that stuff. The week went really fast. We went into the regional capital to check that out. And just kinda hung out for the week. I really like the site...its going to be tough in the beginning since I cant really communicate, but after the first three months it'll get a lot easier. And a bunch of people speak french, which is AMAZINGLY helpful. My host brother makes me sit and talk with him every night in bambara, which is exhausting after a full day, but one day I will love him for it. My house is pretty nice, its two rooms with my outdoor bathroom. My bedroom and then my kitchen/living area. I live within my host family concession, which is nice to have people around, although sometimes I'm sure I'm going to have to have me time and lock myself in my hut. hahaha. Just kiddddding. The town is a decent size, like just under 3000. There is a danish NGO there too, Borne Foundation, which does awesome work in the schools and with healthcare. There are a bunch of boutiki's (like general stores) and bread place, a gendarme station, the CSCOM which is like a doctor's office, a school, a refugee camp, and some other stuff. Its on a main road, which makes transportation pretty easy, as far as Malian transportation goes.

The guy I'm replacing also had started a project that hasn't been completed yet, so I'm going to attempt to finish them. its a little daunting, but It'll keep me busy for the first few months which are supposed to be the hardest and it'll get me into the community faster than if I didn't have anything to do. And it's a really great project that I think the town will really appreciate. Plus if all else fails, I told him that I would frantically call him up and he would have to fix whatever I mess up. hahaha. Ok my computer is running out of battery and I need to find a plug, but I will report more soon!!