Famory, Sikasso Mali 2

For a moment I thought I was at home. Then I remembered where I was. As I came awake I realized that someone was rubbing my hair. I shifted and heard a stifled giggle. I looked up just in time to see Gerard and Jean dive into their beds. My Mom had made me get a fresh haircut before leaving. I guess that it doesn't matter where you are but people can't resist petting my buzz cut(sigh). I laughed and they started laughing too. We all got out of bed and went outside. We played around for a while. Famory came outside and said he was going to work. I asked if I could come. I really wanted to see what it is like. Also I wanted to see what my money went to.  We walked to the town, and then walked  around. We passed lots of interesting people. One older man was playing music, two women had a coal stand, and many other people doing things like that. Seeing another culture is so cool. Everything is so different and trying to soak it all in is overwhelming. It's like trying to listen to a conversation except that everyone is saying the words in a completely random order and not using vowels. We arrived at his food stand and I recognized it from the picture. He took a board of the front of the little shop and we sat on two stools. Then we waited for customers. It wasn't super busy but every once and a while someone would come and buy something. It wasn't like America where people would look around and decide what to buy or if they were going to buy at all. When they came in Mali, they knew what they were going to buy and they didn't waste a lot of time doing it. Famory looked happy at the end of the day. He put the board up again, and we set out. We walked a little and he pointed things out to me and I asked questions. But we decided to head home soon before it got dark. I thanked him for the day and went to sleep, promising myself I would wake up at 8:00 but when I woke and looked at my watch it was 10:00.

Famory , Sikasso Mali

Famory met me at the airport. It was nice to meet him in person. However we had already been emailing each other for a few weeks since I learned I was visiting him. We walked to a bus and then had to walk about 5 miles to his house.

Famorys house was interesting. It was to big to be called a shack and too small to be considered a full house. It was caught somewhere in between. It had a small porch in front and three rooms. Well, it was more like two and a half. There was Famory and his wife's room, and then there was another room with a wood divider in the middle. More door than wall so you could see through on both sides. Famorys two boys slept on one side of the divider, Famory and his wife slept in the big room and the smaller room was like a living room with the door to the outside. Famory and I stepped inside. His two boys both looked alike, one was just a little taller than the other. His wife came in and said hello kindly and said she was going to get me something to eat. I wasn't that hungry, just really tired but I didn't want to be rude so I thanked her and said okay. Famory introduced me to his two kids, Gerard and Jean. They said hello shyly and hid in their room. It was only four o'clock but I was practically asleep. By the time I touched the mattress I was asleep.

Famory Currency Sikasso, Mali

 I need to bring money to Mali for food, souvanirs etc. I didn't know how much to bring but when I looked this is what I found. You multiply whatever you have by five to make it what you would have in France.
1=5
2=10
10=50
20=100
So I realized that my 25 dollars was really 125 dollars, to Famory. Au revior.

Famory phrases Sikasso, Mali

In Mali the official language is French. There are also a lot of other languages but French is dominant. Also Famorys original Kiva request was made in French so I think learning French is a safe bet.
Here are the top ten phrases I need to know in order of importance:
1. Where is the bathroom? Ou est la salle de bain?
2. Hello! Bonjour!
3. What is your name? Qel es votre nom?
4. Is there food? Y at-il des aliments?
5. How are you? Comment allez vous?
6. My name is Alex. Mon nom est Alex.
7. Yes. Oui.
8. No. Aucun.
9. What? Que?
10.  Why? Pourquoi?
You might notice that I made most of them questions. I'm expecting to be asking more than answering considering I'm in Famorys home not mine. Rendez-vous au Mali.

Famory travel, Skikasso Mali

I get to go visit Mali and stay with Famory my Kiva loan. I'm going to be flying to Wayerma Sikasso, Mali. It is going to cost about $2,200. I'm really excited to meet Famory and his family. It will help make a connection to any future Kiva loans.