Home.

• This is my dugutigi (head of the village), Bollon. I can not understand anything he says. Ever. At first I found it really difficult. New language, new culture and a community leader who didn't make any sense. Now that I've been in village a bit I really enjoy talking with him. I still don't understand him, but that's ok. I just figure he's always talking Barack Obama. To really even the playing field, he doesn't understand me either. So the two of us always need an intermediary to understands my American Bambara and his whatever Bambara. Then we laugh and he says I'm 'chimichama' - drunk. C'est la vie! He has a mighty sized goiter on his neck that provide me hours of wonderment.
  This is my best friend in village, Madu Diakite. He's about five years old (no one knows their real age) and serves as a fantastic guard against mice and toads that bother my garden. He'll spend hours just watching me read. At first I thought it was creepy, now I just embrace it. His protection services are well worth it.
  
  
  Me and my host father at the construction site of our new school. He is name is Kologaye Cissoko. A Malian took the photo and it took at least three tries to get it right. I was either cut out or put at such an odd angle that it didn't work. I'm glad I could salvage this one.