More Hearth Madness

I'm finally back in Bamako after spending over a month at site. Update from the Sirado Hearth: 4 women have formed (completely on their own initiative!) a cooking group in which they take turns each day cooking ameliorated porridge for their kids. I'm so proud of them:) I was able to fit two Hearths into the month of June, the first in Kanekebougou and the second in my own village, Tioribougou. That was a bit tiring, but it feels wonderful to be getting some substantial work done. Both Hearths went well and I already have other women from my village asking me when we're starting the next one. Soon, I hope, but rainy season might complicate things as everyone, men and women, go into the fields to farm millet, beans, and peanuts. It had already rained a few times when I began the project in Kanekebougou, making the road nearly impassable with mud some days. A few days dark clouds on the horizon made me nervous about going out there, but I was always lucky enough to make it back to my house before any serious deluges caught me. Is it strange that I seem so wary of the rain here after having grown up in the Pacific Northwest, loving the gray, rainy days? Rain in Mali is not like rain in Seattle. Here, there are no "rainy days" but rather sunny days with wicked rain storms with plenty of thunder which last no longer than an hour. I still love the rain, but neither Malians nor Seattlites dare venture out in these showers. Much more pleasant to enjoy from inside the view of the quickly flooding streets and the sound of huge drops on the tin roof. Another obstacle to getting out to Kanekebougou quickly became apparent. Along the road to Kanekebougou grows a certain bush with lots of sharp thorns. Coming into the Peace Corps I didn't even know what a tire iron was, but after changing and patching 8 tires in 12 days, I've developed an intimate working relationship with my Trek. In the end, the Hearth was very successful and I got a chicken out of it. Yes, I live squaking chicken which the women hung by the feet from the handle bar of my bike to take home, and my host family killed, feathered and cooked. Don't think I'm a horribly heartless person when I say this, but it was delicious. I hope you're all having a crazy fun summer. Until next time!