J'Adore Mali!

I have found my second home in Mali, where hospitality and kindness abound in unprecedented quantities!  Truly, I don't think I've ever met a group of people who are so generous and giving of themselves.  I was only scheduled to stay here two weeks, but changed my ticket for a bonus third week because I couldn't bear to leave so soon.  Things I loved most...the endless greetings between friends and strangers in Bambara (I ni sogmaho, i kan kene, hira sira, N'tse, M'ba, kan ben...); the mentality that all that is mine is yours; the beautifully adorned people on city streets; the easy laughter that happens on crowded sortirements (buses); the insane attachment people have to soccer, and in particular the Malian team; the lazy Niger river that separates the city; the bissop tea and gingenmbre jus; of course, the music (Salif Keita, Ali Farka Toure, etc) and dance; I could go on and on and probably will...but this will have to suffice for now.  I head back to the Green Mountains of Vermont in a mere four hours...very, very sad!  I am not ready to leave, but c'est la vie....will have to come back...maybe next December?!?!

All that is mine is yours