tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61895700253283074982024-03-05T18:18:46.974-08:00mary-in-maliMaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16110979333308909880noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189570025328307498.post-51315588709478838412010-10-27T15:34:00.000-07:002010-10-28T13:35:54.217-07:00Aint No Party Like a Tongo PartyThe school in Tongo is finally finished, and we had a big party to celebrate. It was also the last time we would go to Tongo, and I must say we went out with a bang.<br />We rented a van to transport all the volunteers in the region, and rode down the bumpy dirt road in good spirits.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.9722px; ">the ride there</span></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyPPkQOI1-cnbhfiUyw1l_POXrBN6CikCn6S0qdifPRRS_NGlfGDbff6322pjhuPwxMInlJPDytHL9DRUTHSeV-HrfIz3efVhJTAkL1Q6rQUKNKQGrwIDmtsrwN6PBB9geLYXTtHoizBY/s1600/P1010901.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyPPkQOI1-cnbhfiUyw1l_POXrBN6CikCn6S0qdifPRRS_NGlfGDbff6322pjhuPwxMInlJPDytHL9DRUTHSeV-HrfIz3efVhJTAkL1Q6rQUKNKQGrwIDmtsrwN6PBB9geLYXTtHoizBY/s400/P1010901.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532863848889560082" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOwY9YWIGSuDcBBvjTHqgb8-Z-4fa0T8sfYhvGAiNuM6LyaVBD6bWPjLh1-RQXlKcKv0jT_eNvddHiTzlXjMFR62nvHVTyA4fESdEYzOVRzj6NqdunnGmbyTnPCpS6_W-fEQU_Yni4qz8/s1600/P1010898.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOwY9YWIGSuDcBBvjTHqgb8-Z-4fa0T8sfYhvGAiNuM6LyaVBD6bWPjLh1-RQXlKcKv0jT_eNvddHiTzlXjMFR62nvHVTyA4fESdEYzOVRzj6NqdunnGmbyTnPCpS6_W-fEQU_Yni4qz8/s400/P1010898.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532863839553269810" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTXiJeGR4LeLJHl1r70p7SVbI8tZrzuINldnXaxPOvRUIWxs4NXdi-1q7mYA3Lypao7Na6Urfkm6T07CAck1nKQd_AeuOl09ydGfKUWQra38_SYZrWahQ0RbqmSrw0Q-C6NKkCbOEsPdQ/s1600/SDC13003.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTXiJeGR4LeLJHl1r70p7SVbI8tZrzuINldnXaxPOvRUIWxs4NXdi-1q7mYA3Lypao7Na6Urfkm6T07CAck1nKQd_AeuOl09ydGfKUWQra38_SYZrWahQ0RbqmSrw0Q-C6NKkCbOEsPdQ/s400/SDC13003.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533166882133880290" /></a><br />We could see the crowd from the road but had no idea what was waiting for us when we arrived. Suddenly we were thrown into a mass procession with everyone chanting "Baseba, Baseba" (my Malian name).<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.9722px; ">the procession</span></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvBXkfu5msQjrA7mPbPimyNKIQ7V0VoobyGchSROXcpcySKvUZm8BWCyCf3Wtl2694OAvjvtOaVkTLhGqwlgU3ve63RHX3JaVzNnRS3R71cQtLaYjyDCMe-soWzHacIChQW2SlHbAhMYw/s1600/P1010906.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvBXkfu5msQjrA7mPbPimyNKIQ7V0VoobyGchSROXcpcySKvUZm8BWCyCf3Wtl2694OAvjvtOaVkTLhGqwlgU3ve63RHX3JaVzNnRS3R71cQtLaYjyDCMe-soWzHacIChQW2SlHbAhMYw/s400/P1010906.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532863858318832530" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.9722px; ">mary and kyle make a grand entrance</span></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKjchjcksCyVnMLBs8UGzjgWf6g97gwLTvJDtCj0P2MgOD90LhBtHTelqRc0sZgRA_mj2gqGe3VcDMVb8smwIEnl0r-Koy-oxgXIbB9uPlwIFVxPlxZOmQMVehwvmXj5vcZ5Pll0Q9Atc/s1600/IMG_6429.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKjchjcksCyVnMLBs8UGzjgWf6g97gwLTvJDtCj0P2MgOD90LhBtHTelqRc0sZgRA_mj2gqGe3VcDMVb8smwIEnl0r-Koy-oxgXIbB9uPlwIFVxPlxZOmQMVehwvmXj5vcZ5Pll0Q9Atc/s400/IMG_6429.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532861631710036018" border="0" /></a><br />We spent a good half hour shaking everyone's hands and making our way to our seats.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.9722px; ">shaking hands</span></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPvB8p_fmcXpb9RymG8DDRuOvCn3Ck7gfkQVWduqV7ZHo6yv_T7TiU39bb3mVY7mJBr_Zg14qg_xdTfKxwz0VSLBHHOKfbtyKgGX_37oFcs0oL8agAK-HeEFO7nIesGmm_7j81Mi2K5_8/s1600/IMG_6432.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPvB8p_fmcXpb9RymG8DDRuOvCn3Ck7gfkQVWduqV7ZHo6yv_T7TiU39bb3mVY7mJBr_Zg14qg_xdTfKxwz0VSLBHHOKfbtyKgGX_37oFcs0oL8agAK-HeEFO7nIesGmm_7j81Mi2K5_8/s400/IMG_6432.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532861639159562882" border="0" /></a><br /><div>The area around the school was decked out with flags and crowded with more people than I've ever seen in Tongo.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.9722px; ">crowds and flags</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEMFLwpAQ5PKYMllkoYtEq0OPbISVCb2Bzr1OMK_uR4ZuG-3BwcPn5ybtxvXXVzy01iClbz4OQMaL3PIxtc_-zPY8HdMgp2stzYlvrRQKmW-ahup9QCOlA_MLO111nZO6C_T_C4z9z7Xg/s1600/SDC13014.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEMFLwpAQ5PKYMllkoYtEq0OPbISVCb2Bzr1OMK_uR4ZuG-3BwcPn5ybtxvXXVzy01iClbz4OQMaL3PIxtc_-zPY8HdMgp2stzYlvrRQKmW-ahup9QCOlA_MLO111nZO6C_T_C4z9z7Xg/s400/SDC13014.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533167386396546514" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.9722px; ">flagpole</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSqOawEJUwYldppPZmfZwxSfYJw-GpNDVHkih6zH1MOESxRFResSNTID_I4DqOBnDUjQo_O22RDu0czwtg-bHiI3HGJGNZdtFtJmAhhgyMXoHMIHrr4OEdWYOrPq4gdXFy14sLRJwjJKQ/s1600/SDC13040.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSqOawEJUwYldppPZmfZwxSfYJw-GpNDVHkih6zH1MOESxRFResSNTID_I4DqOBnDUjQo_O22RDu0czwtg-bHiI3HGJGNZdtFtJmAhhgyMXoHMIHrr4OEdWYOrPq4gdXFy14sLRJwjJKQ/s400/SDC13040.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533167951923802258" /></a><br /></div><div>The crowd included a group of hunters, who welcomed us by shooting off their rifles.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWMYMEtaYND1dqQI9F1tSxiWFpBGsKcGTLJVC4oMDAIYNbEnIFW0dWPbsBXINeCDfeMUrg8-P9w-0m8ur-pWgjrhOShdg-fbZ3kKocEqrwh0WUqFOrLysmThERuO0kg6Dvy7SE5AROphI/s1600/IMG_6431.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWMYMEtaYND1dqQI9F1tSxiWFpBGsKcGTLJVC4oMDAIYNbEnIFW0dWPbsBXINeCDfeMUrg8-P9w-0m8ur-pWgjrhOShdg-fbZ3kKocEqrwh0WUqFOrLysmThERuO0kg6Dvy7SE5AROphI/s400/IMG_6431.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532861632464901522" border="0" /></a>Finally, after the grand entrance, everyone settled down to start the ceremony.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8CIuHhU6wLvYbvlRCtEgJR7T9WQFQS0zgMPFf-aCwxBIplINAF1CAKgxy3UqIlRzGpRA8SkeIrPM4Sl4l_Yuqh4VtpJOf0DmatEJbUTR0rV46KiVvCL4bn-jwYwslClYSliVSW7m1qmY/s1600/300.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8CIuHhU6wLvYbvlRCtEgJR7T9WQFQS0zgMPFf-aCwxBIplINAF1CAKgxy3UqIlRzGpRA8SkeIrPM4Sl4l_Yuqh4VtpJOf0DmatEJbUTR0rV46KiVvCL4bn-jwYwslClYSliVSW7m1qmY/s400/300.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532859443088328562" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6K5zKFS-RcyJr1XH3Rh3cYbQmKT_ZDtpHcMDLKJ3A7poFjAehRwtt8KARSq7i92iJNIhjHA3ERoIAwVO7aqnfrfNioS3ehowS6BCBjCYY2bKtu1UEb-Ib7MZlRGQVKarCpwHraBJw0cQ/s1600/SDC13009.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6K5zKFS-RcyJr1XH3Rh3cYbQmKT_ZDtpHcMDLKJ3A7poFjAehRwtt8KARSq7i92iJNIhjHA3ERoIAwVO7aqnfrfNioS3ehowS6BCBjCYY2bKtu1UEb-Ib7MZlRGQVKarCpwHraBJw0cQ/s400/SDC13009.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533167378311118754" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.9722px; ">our loyal fans</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl6SDGti7fVHaF4zy2pNJNbCBerUgmtv9XYrEmVwHryhr_O_8kAjwLRgSpM6PTxUQ6nbmZ6hh-GgRY0Y5sRjipmahGZk1pBpU8RTY-v1U6Ap4ogTscT53gjTSiu0cvbCPv8hLkPPohFFY/s1600/SDC13055.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl6SDGti7fVHaF4zy2pNJNbCBerUgmtv9XYrEmVwHryhr_O_8kAjwLRgSpM6PTxUQ6nbmZ6hh-GgRY0Y5sRjipmahGZk1pBpU8RTY-v1U6Ap4ogTscT53gjTSiu0cvbCPv8hLkPPohFFY/s400/SDC13055.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533170947030879090" /></a><br />I gave a speech thanking everyone who worked on the project, and acknowledged our homologues, Mazuru and Adama, who have done so much for us throughout our three years in Mali.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjidqywOBHm2yyinCJTgOv9A1TiXJsNiwAEwHqELJ-Bknfi3pWNR3yrqWlN5FZQM3wmjFmd7n7LsTtcrXd1sPDJ-EXtxD6hJFr-LH7umgsI_ldSjty0EMsCf8wEu9HPavJqbzD7cWAk2Nk/s1600/PA240106.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjidqywOBHm2yyinCJTgOv9A1TiXJsNiwAEwHqELJ-Bknfi3pWNR3yrqWlN5FZQM3wmjFmd7n7LsTtcrXd1sPDJ-EXtxD6hJFr-LH7umgsI_ldSjty0EMsCf8wEu9HPavJqbzD7cWAk2Nk/s400/PA240106.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533166364290258626" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdgBHNibctnjPA9pviUOwmX6OG-V6PfzWU1hgejIJ64IthXhPuFAHJwY-pygGhN-LNGv07QmDPOW-oapoFMXXWOdwDlMFkB7ql5NOzlRi5Kl6qhlhThXBYXzPlMgR1wwKlx2CYAi_XUf0/s1600/P1010917.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdgBHNibctnjPA9pviUOwmX6OG-V6PfzWU1hgejIJ64IthXhPuFAHJwY-pygGhN-LNGv07QmDPOW-oapoFMXXWOdwDlMFkB7ql5NOzlRi5Kl6qhlhThXBYXzPlMgR1wwKlx2CYAi_XUf0/s400/P1010917.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532865175348348034" border="0" /></a><br />The speech was well received.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihEPYsNl_3uReEnIAmPv91X1i0Hpyh6B7UUa8kB1F0fBb0w8SYkYHO4UEqgZTkhcjVo5292wxw3vc5-Icl-sHAwTfJJ1S7NQZNQg4eL0KkPvyorA8v5WESz6jGQcR6EHRqK26pfFni5-I/s1600/PA240116.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihEPYsNl_3uReEnIAmPv91X1i0Hpyh6B7UUa8kB1F0fBb0w8SYkYHO4UEqgZTkhcjVo5292wxw3vc5-Icl-sHAwTfJJ1S7NQZNQg4eL0KkPvyorA8v5WESz6jGQcR6EHRqK26pfFni5-I/s400/PA240116.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533166369308279714" /></a><br />hand in the air<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbR4zRFpUPwtmeWYWFm6y2iGSqWLgJUz26-4dIIfZxwBomX6FtSaAjfQA0kHUzxMXfWLeEmV74mSjRLbNN6V7qNu1DL-_4HQhTHpQPEPcqtfN2hOamsMfXJxgzEbf8qv3XjVGPQCosZjM/s1600/P1010929.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 305px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbR4zRFpUPwtmeWYWFm6y2iGSqWLgJUz26-4dIIfZxwBomX6FtSaAjfQA0kHUzxMXfWLeEmV74mSjRLbNN6V7qNu1DL-_4HQhTHpQPEPcqtfN2hOamsMfXJxgzEbf8qv3XjVGPQCosZjM/s400/P1010929.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533165787865923538" /></a><br />The mayor (who actually showed up!) said a few words about education and responsibility.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpYarIW1aIn5pA3F_kY_sa9TBBfconhXdxcyOsC35NUDpzmLfEMDwxNg530oYzIakNV-bxsYYImkjLgLtHtuxIIliXOWSNQrm4_rtRMKlSftFc5WBTj4LDjUIygLkAnuoKCvjI_PbsBEs/s1600/P1010926.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpYarIW1aIn5pA3F_kY_sa9TBBfconhXdxcyOsC35NUDpzmLfEMDwxNg530oYzIakNV-bxsYYImkjLgLtHtuxIIliXOWSNQrm4_rtRMKlSftFc5WBTj4LDjUIygLkAnuoKCvjI_PbsBEs/s400/P1010926.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532865182455276706" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJP-l9_yD2ZUemQj6q9fazzdgI0mXfUi_1-JWfo2Y_llAaAi-vTa3L0aHtCwsjbiCeEyYA9wKHyQV0GJIuRmwfXBdQQeQAMSlMFeWsTrm39O8jzZxM_vfaX5N6UHkcbEX5Rf3iPRqTaR0/s1600/P1010927.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJP-l9_yD2ZUemQj6q9fazzdgI0mXfUi_1-JWfo2Y_llAaAi-vTa3L0aHtCwsjbiCeEyYA9wKHyQV0GJIuRmwfXBdQQeQAMSlMFeWsTrm39O8jzZxM_vfaX5N6UHkcbEX5Rf3iPRqTaR0/s400/P1010927.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532865184306366546" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR3tAgySmWZyd6IMMXi9sHhkiqqutSCSK5CLzoWmGuNnaBfs1KCgwGhnDxLG3mLt9KNepS-HHczvAXEL2jzqMc-0pF1pr2Y5RdKqccdrQSLyXPbMcRgQPNIJfo2YgJfmxEo_iKWg_ns9M/s1600/IMG_6445.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR3tAgySmWZyd6IMMXi9sHhkiqqutSCSK5CLzoWmGuNnaBfs1KCgwGhnDxLG3mLt9KNepS-HHczvAXEL2jzqMc-0pF1pr2Y5RdKqccdrQSLyXPbMcRgQPNIJfo2YgJfmxEo_iKWg_ns9M/s400/IMG_6445.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532861645732733698" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And a speech was even given by the town "griot" or storyteller.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfT90yx8xoxgUezgSobNuaNnYHwgfKUKPQrATEOw0_IDd-LIk5MPxtcIMh8lnNDwJJTj5gsceGQYiXIo3XackUO5a5T48GOQTd5W8m1kZowFrR2XespaeN4NWfiq-8vW6UpueXi3jUpnQ/s1600/298.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfT90yx8xoxgUezgSobNuaNnYHwgfKUKPQrATEOw0_IDd-LIk5MPxtcIMh8lnNDwJJTj5gsceGQYiXIo3XackUO5a5T48GOQTd5W8m1kZowFrR2XespaeN4NWfiq-8vW6UpueXi3jUpnQ/s400/298.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532859431763514882" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGX46RxfJCiqaDDPZ_wP6El42fRLShurjk-x89miXPYQe7Q5iAiRKpAMdnOkRS8xcJZgDIsZVgbmw-5li-LIdNu_4PmWxnHR7R_m7CzVAMoUDXg34BmjpZOsQjSUjAMbpBzTnX8Crawms/s1600/261.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGX46RxfJCiqaDDPZ_wP6El42fRLShurjk-x89miXPYQe7Q5iAiRKpAMdnOkRS8xcJZgDIsZVgbmw-5li-LIdNu_4PmWxnHR7R_m7CzVAMoUDXg34BmjpZOsQjSUjAMbpBzTnX8Crawms/s400/261.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532859422112419122" border="0" /></a><br />After the speeches, it was time to party. </div><div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.9722px; ">dancing with the old women</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv9lwBVzaxLH_9LNBBruiIolZWdAsjDuSdRVLSywM4ecLKhX3bqrAQir95rOzgDWYm3_mxAgZcfAEbUm5jvsZEp9uim4DwVRQe4SeYJ_4l9WllEeX_P1wmFx6P992Z7qd_5WoFJeTFpFE/s1600/SDC13006.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv9lwBVzaxLH_9LNBBruiIolZWdAsjDuSdRVLSywM4ecLKhX3bqrAQir95rOzgDWYm3_mxAgZcfAEbUm5jvsZEp9uim4DwVRQe4SeYJ_4l9WllEeX_P1wmFx6P992Z7qd_5WoFJeTFpFE/s400/SDC13006.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533166886652930562" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.9722px; ">drummers</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1NQQ-l58EIK3qb97oL_okFVxlXQ7oniNFHW4hqYcrn4PZOxxmrUA823vaXwMa8pJX6b79FP7QLYgPVkIlLM8Nf8nDrZeF2fDFRIGNa0PEB3hSjqjeTMfhDA_EWYZqQ18BQVmC2zkTKUk/s1600/P1010916.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1NQQ-l58EIK3qb97oL_okFVxlXQ7oniNFHW4hqYcrn4PZOxxmrUA823vaXwMa8pJX6b79FP7QLYgPVkIlLM8Nf8nDrZeF2fDFRIGNa0PEB3hSjqjeTMfhDA_EWYZqQ18BQVmC2zkTKUk/s400/P1010916.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532865173895762770" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.9722px; ">gunners</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxEgDeqQN3b4NlFHs_Tg3LOmANTYKUNwOLAGdNt8_XLyLXTxBc-vtOK7kCo_yJY6Z3ZtIOjGsoRV_ocDnpFpABlXHEthjdAijpMKuz4yIMbPPbTnePto_dSQDo4tA9s2fZFh8PZZBCCfg/s1600/P1010912.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxEgDeqQN3b4NlFHs_Tg3LOmANTYKUNwOLAGdNt8_XLyLXTxBc-vtOK7kCo_yJY6Z3ZtIOjGsoRV_ocDnpFpABlXHEthjdAijpMKuz4yIMbPPbTnePto_dSQDo4tA9s2fZFh8PZZBCCfg/s400/P1010912.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532865168470730978" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.9722px; ">ladies dancing</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY2XjZLNJV6hQD8zx1uwrM7GbCr_KxeecBQkQ6WNey-sIzovQXHVjcwyIlEUvUUkUsmG7AI24V7RPbqsQxjPeFlpUA1i07LdNPa2OiMiupLCUhEUC_a7YDNQP5mWA09peKkoLNSS_6Bso/s1600/P1010910.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY2XjZLNJV6hQD8zx1uwrM7GbCr_KxeecBQkQ6WNey-sIzovQXHVjcwyIlEUvUUkUsmG7AI24V7RPbqsQxjPeFlpUA1i07LdNPa2OiMiupLCUhEUC_a7YDNQP5mWA09peKkoLNSS_6Bso/s400/P1010910.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532863869074071538" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.9722px; ">and more dancing</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKG8OX2h5_Y2Pb6H28TK6dOH2mA9aMe_oF0Enep4Wg4kTVOYP1cWi3XQaI2Xs9ZLVMh3p45LnjIKjjICJQxKBKAx0T_7ZmpGUHktNY16K07msy2cnycr56de1KcMbfDqltSqVqUHvPR6o/s1600/PA240139.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKG8OX2h5_Y2Pb6H28TK6dOH2mA9aMe_oF0Enep4Wg4kTVOYP1cWi3XQaI2Xs9ZLVMh3p45LnjIKjjICJQxKBKAx0T_7ZmpGUHktNY16K07msy2cnycr56de1KcMbfDqltSqVqUHvPR6o/s400/PA240139.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533166379832505650" /></a><br />After all that dancing, it was time for lunch. The week before, Kyle and I had bought 130 kilos(286 pounds) of rice, 200 litres(52 gallons) of peanut oil, 65 kilos(143 pounds) of onions, 500 maggi cubes, 3 kilos(6.6 Pounds) of salt, and a cow (actually the cow was donated by the Chief of Tongo). The menu: Malian fried rice, beans, cow, watermelon.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 7.63889px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="font-size: 13px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: normal; "><br /></h3></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkneI-YOoDC-x1hvZpk_KFAX8poYEvZfi0STeVlTvK2JfNDqDHe4pXHfS6Xq53vFczTmE7EFWuwoNCjsYiEFWu79wWC8Mkds3Tf763TYLnKFZAptawApYk5wI17YiDOZQMbUkTMShiixs/s1600/P1010954.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkneI-YOoDC-x1hvZpk_KFAX8poYEvZfi0STeVlTvK2JfNDqDHe4pXHfS6Xq53vFczTmE7EFWuwoNCjsYiEFWu79wWC8Mkds3Tf763TYLnKFZAptawApYk5wI17YiDOZQMbUkTMShiixs/s400/P1010954.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533165812232372594" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkeYREMa7DhSwyX5hodayhX6yVfUXfQIbN8lnCgs-jVKvj-zg5J7kFdEhvJurJgHTG7VMOUOkxGgwf3myChGdO2P0RWHiaeWa84dU7xGQzdDQ8M6eWwR9L6iIDdtmJE4GAf8yhCYgeLb8/s1600/P1010953.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkeYREMa7DhSwyX5hodayhX6yVfUXfQIbN8lnCgs-jVKvj-zg5J7kFdEhvJurJgHTG7VMOUOkxGgwf3myChGdO2P0RWHiaeWa84dU7xGQzdDQ8M6eWwR9L6iIDdtmJE4GAf8yhCYgeLb8/s400/P1010953.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533165802870183394" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.9722px; ">beans</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpnRoWHtgTpAe-DHalqxKPqH8M-XIwyPanxicI00P4TyVX8esSfgl-kSFGqUsoqWlDDoHCWpjTnxGDml0z-4piRAK9x0aGFCZ8GUpRV29zd5kBMdL9z3Ywg21eTsm1a26i3BgtG_GlBTo/s1600/SDC13093.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpnRoWHtgTpAe-DHalqxKPqH8M-XIwyPanxicI00P4TyVX8esSfgl-kSFGqUsoqWlDDoHCWpjTnxGDml0z-4piRAK9x0aGFCZ8GUpRV29zd5kBMdL9z3Ywg21eTsm1a26i3BgtG_GlBTo/s400/SDC13093.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533171562595412146" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.9722px; ">watermelon</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWIj4oKrGNNSAMES9aRgKAb3i6IFgMoxJkdh6gSvTfshkgcG5t-jopFib5fxVHxnEKcZfJtNqEmqblt8Py04pjZW4mTxxlSiRQyXrz21LhKL6fDBGFWiR4Ihqg2u7WyqwMUuwmxhhdrLU/s1600/SDC13105.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWIj4oKrGNNSAMES9aRgKAb3i6IFgMoxJkdh6gSvTfshkgcG5t-jopFib5fxVHxnEKcZfJtNqEmqblt8Py04pjZW4mTxxlSiRQyXrz21LhKL6fDBGFWiR4Ihqg2u7WyqwMUuwmxhhdrLU/s400/SDC13105.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533171589212204258" /></a><br />After lunch, we had a glorious photo shoot. We'd made signs to spell out Thank You (I ni che, in Bambara) and planned to get the kids to stand in front of the school and hold the signs. Easier said than done.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiryZUPfSSKBusUJrDyqdJvSQISPw35M9keNiilSjo_oPejT215j9FFTps6avlYuV5LctMvXcKUoN2IzAd0P75F7T0L3l3nRyB-Mxcihil-EKbU2tBgPyBVW06LaqEIP2o1JLjxTKAv03I/s1600/IMG_6466.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiryZUPfSSKBusUJrDyqdJvSQISPw35M9keNiilSjo_oPejT215j9FFTps6avlYuV5LctMvXcKUoN2IzAd0P75F7T0L3l3nRyB-Mxcihil-EKbU2tBgPyBVW06LaqEIP2o1JLjxTKAv03I/s400/IMG_6466.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532862935855741746" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.9722px; ">"I ni che" spelled wrong - these kids really do need a new school</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgttoIDhnNpIVtlaJfcVO5HHeVHgWqO4WxArEPBfDWBjzUkUxmI8ga7AiPRFLO5k7M6um6SsKnppfJaEL43asP8y0KnZrIq6DQ8cGQ1mO8jgKHUcVVG7tWq1c9ib6FntL8R3jmJ6wwq4tM/s1600/IMG_6459.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgttoIDhnNpIVtlaJfcVO5HHeVHgWqO4WxArEPBfDWBjzUkUxmI8ga7AiPRFLO5k7M6um6SsKnppfJaEL43asP8y0KnZrIq6DQ8cGQ1mO8jgKHUcVVG7tWq1c9ib6FntL8R3jmJ6wwq4tM/s400/IMG_6459.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532862926210410162" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.9722px; ">Finally got it right</span></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUPiR9EDrUxHHS0OaO4m43neQcFzFJGFdY1b2ZUlXriWKxxmfwYf-1IXJk8QvQ8_RojvuFXzkrl4zliiTMa44VoHafBHitcNUewilT5uNvuCyGl9yc9wRgKGD7054QP4DdPnk4fJf_BA4/s1600/PA240129.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUPiR9EDrUxHHS0OaO4m43neQcFzFJGFdY1b2ZUlXriWKxxmfwYf-1IXJk8QvQ8_RojvuFXzkrl4zliiTMa44VoHafBHitcNUewilT5uNvuCyGl9yc9wRgKGD7054QP4DdPnk4fJf_BA4/s400/PA240129.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533166376336043778" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkrNUhLWvt_EB7F1ZVMfzvNobon2eQjwDLn-IrEG1dYL7jAhu7K15Xm0Q1BmVBXd9aqJRQg20S32ixo1x2Ht-u2dwAd50cocLg68-tLq9U3QFGvH_CosOUIPY4LFpmjFJzd0Y8IaRXO70/s1600/P1010935.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkrNUhLWvt_EB7F1ZVMfzvNobon2eQjwDLn-IrEG1dYL7jAhu7K15Xm0Q1BmVBXd9aqJRQg20S32ixo1x2Ht-u2dwAd50cocLg68-tLq9U3QFGvH_CosOUIPY4LFpmjFJzd0Y8IaRXO70/s400/P1010935.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533165791011452754" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheSGKtRNsbqaRaZxLOH8J3ZKrfkuk2XMHlLnnKJ8uH4Kmm-3pN6w9DbAUZrcdK6O23hVnopTfSoII0Ma6V3caKXAzNjI2LFujrBZz602LT-8N5rsPcHHxakiq8mSvg0SXJr_S3h4UMzdM/s1600/324.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheSGKtRNsbqaRaZxLOH8J3ZKrfkuk2XMHlLnnKJ8uH4Kmm-3pN6w9DbAUZrcdK6O23hVnopTfSoII0Ma6V3caKXAzNjI2LFujrBZz602LT-8N5rsPcHHxakiq8mSvg0SXJr_S3h4UMzdM/s400/324.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532859442542872978" border="0" /></a><br />The photo shoot went on:<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.9722px; ">kyle in the crowd</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkc19CfKjqhnEf3gF5XDtfiMKXRv_FfPIHY4Zk1JZvCKQZ7UbAFsjWRQ4GQ721VjqMQU4EfBEiU6vTA6uogGL5ymxOGKOQK5NQGoU5glK1xa10qX1ZoqQp0llQJ0lRYpnu-CmS3Gy91Hc/s1600/IMG_6449.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkc19CfKjqhnEf3gF5XDtfiMKXRv_FfPIHY4Zk1JZvCKQZ7UbAFsjWRQ4GQ721VjqMQU4EfBEiU6vTA6uogGL5ymxOGKOQK5NQGoU5glK1xa10qX1ZoqQp0llQJ0lRYpnu-CmS3Gy91Hc/s400/IMG_6449.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532861653273383970" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.9722px; ">with the chief of Tongo</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.9722px; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYqCcfR1KaQsJDbKMEG44wnTXsQ23X1nuA_v9M_9wI9Rfag9KBnf98mD16d0nXFhTgsTGAzg3lvvG2bu24eDLvwK1W8Nqge1ziThBlTDlZdL6uzePJfRshRvgLDMkWE15G26p83Bv6tBM/s1600/SDC13110.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYqCcfR1KaQsJDbKMEG44wnTXsQ23X1nuA_v9M_9wI9Rfag9KBnf98mD16d0nXFhTgsTGAzg3lvvG2bu24eDLvwK1W8Nqge1ziThBlTDlZdL6uzePJfRshRvgLDMkWE15G26p83Bv6tBM/s400/SDC13110.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533172412756942290" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><u><br /></u></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.9722px; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYqCcfR1KaQsJDbKMEG44wnTXsQ23X1nuA_v9M_9wI9Rfag9KBnf98mD16d0nXFhTgsTGAzg3lvvG2bu24eDLvwK1W8Nqge1ziThBlTDlZdL6uzePJfRshRvgLDMkWE15G26p83Bv6tBM/s1600/SDC13110.JPG"></a></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.9722px; ">chief on deck</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbz0MsPs6SujH2rdlUGRz9Ptg-u2p3fyD-23UBcW4SX7Mhlt1fYaxiqTNehE5IXOCfOkN7C0bLpfk2NkYdEkSw1avHZ9KPWYQtLSAymOGwJl2JyqPiwOMIkS3N269XNr-BxZ0RUsHrihc/s1600/SDC13067.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbz0MsPs6SujH2rdlUGRz9Ptg-u2p3fyD-23UBcW4SX7Mhlt1fYaxiqTNehE5IXOCfOkN7C0bLpfk2NkYdEkSw1avHZ9KPWYQtLSAymOGwJl2JyqPiwOMIkS3N269XNr-BxZ0RUsHrihc/s400/SDC13067.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533170951403949250" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.9722px; ">our amazing homologues</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDV1Xsr1dbMY9nhjeUn7ykZ2Kp-MSOikWTfbggiVwTc62ImsR_q08x86N7_Osi7YsMBpZzcjtDNmt7tk19BwdF-xFpOG5u6M2-U0pys5VStRFQCno6kk9erru05AIounrYpo5XjRRAIhU/s1600/SDC13113.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDV1Xsr1dbMY9nhjeUn7ykZ2Kp-MSOikWTfbggiVwTc62ImsR_q08x86N7_Osi7YsMBpZzcjtDNmt7tk19BwdF-xFpOG5u6M2-U0pys5VStRFQCno6kk9erru05AIounrYpo5XjRRAIhU/s400/SDC13113.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533172416545324802" /></a><br /></div><div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.9722px; ">me and maz</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZXlIwJB5gO0vit5HRO6-IVFHhwNoQ-ycJH655XKkyufRcBXVTW6FffqNhV8DDMLvVTACtb9owmLognIVTOBSpoK5MluzGrCE6tvATd0bg8csqDi7PKBAAqwOq3628fm12yA2q9r5MX1E/s1600/SDC13029.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZXlIwJB5gO0vit5HRO6-IVFHhwNoQ-ycJH655XKkyufRcBXVTW6FffqNhV8DDMLvVTACtb9owmLognIVTOBSpoK5MluzGrCE6tvATd0bg8csqDi7PKBAAqwOq3628fm12yA2q9r5MX1E/s400/SDC13029.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533167927891076770" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.9722px; ">the whole Famanta Family</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKJOKpHTMUwD5FdgAlfl_Y_msnzvmv_XM-gDhgEGWLOw72szC-5MAaNnZUgcWWxLqm636vygLbjI7sz6qcePiKmRa0dzbIh5jCGUPtV_1BTzI9ycT1QIrJl_rLWmEaWUSMaTPb0f7VKpo/s1600/SDC13022.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKJOKpHTMUwD5FdgAlfl_Y_msnzvmv_XM-gDhgEGWLOw72szC-5MAaNnZUgcWWxLqm636vygLbjI7sz6qcePiKmRa0dzbIh5jCGUPtV_1BTzI9ycT1QIrJl_rLWmEaWUSMaTPb0f7VKpo/s400/SDC13022.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533167394448153042" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.9722px; ">me and the rents</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSPoKKwFOsMiG-ZEtjVzewg-PFSmsEwtYw_6o1yprBOoZ-QeEXyn2fHNhjOfkXvIlDwd-y1gKkeHzkPTvM_1PLaUy6y_opDKYdi-vie63PqVBRcL7U25Qdgpt2ynwGZdH9CzKw6GBDjaY/s1600/SDC13026.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSPoKKwFOsMiG-ZEtjVzewg-PFSmsEwtYw_6o1yprBOoZ-QeEXyn2fHNhjOfkXvIlDwd-y1gKkeHzkPTvM_1PLaUy6y_opDKYdi-vie63PqVBRcL7U25Qdgpt2ynwGZdH9CzKw6GBDjaY/s400/SDC13026.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533167414675197426" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.9722px; ">kyle and the fam</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFMt9v5ftSpkKStYFhLzjCZVIgpaSLQvWZvpnMmcwFUQnJdXnuC-8VgcwXcbDDbEf5g-3DASy2bLiEsIFWnHSQBIzAY7DIb_5JQFQSQzkvPZsS28WG2zF651Djf359HBmHcKHD23pDMl4/s1600/SDC13025.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFMt9v5ftSpkKStYFhLzjCZVIgpaSLQvWZvpnMmcwFUQnJdXnuC-8VgcwXcbDDbEf5g-3DASy2bLiEsIFWnHSQBIzAY7DIb_5JQFQSQzkvPZsS28WG2zF651Djf359HBmHcKHD23pDMl4/s400/SDC13025.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533167406168518642" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.9722px; ">alou, the brick press owner</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIvDRiqKVH06UY8Tdf3X6kl1EmTqpRkYjiMnQAG11awY27atYh1rZCUGariPsuBu6eFXdM4ykiAQ31r0EVUz0uc2jkFP7t0EmOjK_HSdmCawCXhslxM3a5m1fbdFZXeqzNJveYJi8R9o0/s1600/SDC13099.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIvDRiqKVH06UY8Tdf3X6kl1EmTqpRkYjiMnQAG11awY27atYh1rZCUGariPsuBu6eFXdM4ykiAQ31r0EVUz0uc2jkFP7t0EmOjK_HSdmCawCXhslxM3a5m1fbdFZXeqzNJveYJi8R9o0/s400/SDC13099.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533171573595040690" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.9722px; ">kyle and Ba</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhodn5J5H60pzKIAfjjotJielyFmSuW54Dd9_ajSkJ-Riyry1kKC4DCYTyFKpXvxINlTNprRhcllQX08WLf7mBgVl3bAv0b5zHjxtfniWeGcUOc1i5NfrNwUTbvDgwp6r11-WWn5A7GUXU/s1600/SDC13036.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhodn5J5H60pzKIAfjjotJielyFmSuW54Dd9_ajSkJ-Riyry1kKC4DCYTyFKpXvxINlTNprRhcllQX08WLf7mBgVl3bAv0b5zHjxtfniWeGcUOc1i5NfrNwUTbvDgwp6r11-WWn5A7GUXU/s400/SDC13036.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533167938521227330" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.9722px; ">who's got guns?</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE9INJTeuG6udzu13rCwNSITNs0REsiZtsEGTanXDqqYBgOeX5rVrMPX848RsBb2q5k9ymCAY3w_VnNC-_6bMqLJGKkg9NnkMimfCfUPdNORrph6PSJ7Kw6RPefDmb7_4uqg8zMh-dKDM/s1600/SDC13108.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE9INJTeuG6udzu13rCwNSITNs0REsiZtsEGTanXDqqYBgOeX5rVrMPX848RsBb2q5k9ymCAY3w_VnNC-_6bMqLJGKkg9NnkMimfCfUPdNORrph6PSJ7Kw6RPefDmb7_4uqg8zMh-dKDM/s400/SDC13108.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533172410962794578" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0OXoqHSKPYMp1lfn-3V2nmKgBiBHjhjx5DxNmxIlk4sRSj6adOUHWsDGL6j846ApWYSNn6s1jMO48l0o_pmoGOPjyiaqNsEyfjmgK_YqZHKM81JysBAQDgoA8M-3iMeB2aK7CgS35gIY/s1600/SDC13107.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0OXoqHSKPYMp1lfn-3V2nmKgBiBHjhjx5DxNmxIlk4sRSj6adOUHWsDGL6j846ApWYSNn6s1jMO48l0o_pmoGOPjyiaqNsEyfjmgK_YqZHKM81JysBAQDgoA8M-3iMeB2aK7CgS35gIY/s400/SDC13107.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533171597206430786" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.9722px; ">i'm so bored</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL2-7CYDiUMwmI3Pu62TKw7u_ojAg0896W87bAofxga4Oyxl3cB9E442gBao8xzNbfMCvu54zaL0kwnE57pKIgoAH91HL7iqSEEbGrhOX9k4WwFyZImaNDM2k0LcpmKGxtFXJCs8Dnyr4/s1600/PA240141.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL2-7CYDiUMwmI3Pu62TKw7u_ojAg0896W87bAofxga4Oyxl3cB9E442gBao8xzNbfMCvu54zaL0kwnE57pKIgoAH91HL7iqSEEbGrhOX9k4WwFyZImaNDM2k0LcpmKGxtFXJCs8Dnyr4/s400/PA240141.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533166854860602674" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.9722px; ">through the wall</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN7D3ya0mWcQUerkcNYrEI6xBvy2CKcvw8ScvgcV87JR5VIZ1eooINUdXHW2j9j3dpYKdP7yFiqcjVwSkMqVDW7YEssF_otD-tlX91LLw66qD7hJrdn4L5QS3qACz096te-f-B88IKjPA/s1600/SDC13085.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN7D3ya0mWcQUerkcNYrEI6xBvy2CKcvw8ScvgcV87JR5VIZ1eooINUdXHW2j9j3dpYKdP7yFiqcjVwSkMqVDW7YEssF_otD-tlX91LLw66qD7hJrdn4L5QS3qACz096te-f-B88IKjPA/s400/SDC13085.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533170983831530226" /></a>The paint on the school was not quite finished, but they had managed to put on the first coat in time for the ceremony.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.9722px; ">the back side</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi32QEFbkWQdT16RnEbr-au34yRb8aSnzh0_koi7xVdwG_kUGOx1rQWeuisxVIpD8TEL2AENWFTmYz9RdIjxtHq3qlOeDj3zce75yOMu68S8wU1IO08zXtXQU7wAPiOfTJRmTArN75S_GE/s1600/SDC13071.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi32QEFbkWQdT16RnEbr-au34yRb8aSnzh0_koi7xVdwG_kUGOx1rQWeuisxVIpD8TEL2AENWFTmYz9RdIjxtHq3qlOeDj3zce75yOMu68S8wU1IO08zXtXQU7wAPiOfTJRmTArN75S_GE/s400/SDC13071.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533170976036000354" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi3-RktL-bhIKMSGCFpPL1_bJUNE0LyADtP4CAv-6WEb4iuM_jnOySrAYekzLkeh4M0fToKM7CWpWU7wjRmVIMP3EVyst9pMZ6ZITvx5VW37uoWG-xWd6ecHoq5_pufIJa5EMPSrOuOc8/s1600/SDC13068.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi3-RktL-bhIKMSGCFpPL1_bJUNE0LyADtP4CAv-6WEb4iuM_jnOySrAYekzLkeh4M0fToKM7CWpWU7wjRmVIMP3EVyst9pMZ6ZITvx5VW37uoWG-xWd6ecHoq5_pufIJa5EMPSrOuOc8/s400/SDC13068.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533170963738271714" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwf5aw4U0iBPFDZss5ON1Z3VPhrCbioQ3_MOUyRgSwNsqE9ngyO8o5Kg-uqkrh9WSSe8JC1FVAArmCUCmjwHr5XcvbQMLkntYwKLIHkhE0cjfQlMsz7Uvq1lbr-BL-KkPlcBoC_ePEKEM/s1600/PA240143.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwf5aw4U0iBPFDZss5ON1Z3VPhrCbioQ3_MOUyRgSwNsqE9ngyO8o5Kg-uqkrh9WSSe8JC1FVAArmCUCmjwHr5XcvbQMLkntYwKLIHkhE0cjfQlMsz7Uvq1lbr-BL-KkPlcBoC_ePEKEM/s400/PA240143.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533166862957103138" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.9722px; ">the front side</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieuG6niY6VbmmWtQnqxLFma65zD3t5V8hyg_POvmRoQtljt4FaMhbRiOFQDCmRywBmLMfYJ6yMnofajg8dF9IzU8hROluEZkJjZFpP96zUrTexh3OU-y_ok1J2990wQzax6aa90ULTyos/s1600/IMG_6454.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieuG6niY6VbmmWtQnqxLFma65zD3t5V8hyg_POvmRoQtljt4FaMhbRiOFQDCmRywBmLMfYJ6yMnofajg8dF9IzU8hROluEZkJjZFpP96zUrTexh3OU-y_ok1J2990wQzax6aa90ULTyos/s400/IMG_6454.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532862924361761458" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.9722px; ">the porch</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPqoWg7zDEhbvcIxOlMXUZh79w0gwRE1aai2yP5GGywzg5XR1PcOljYzJbkMXfl9vDfSxdh5VAGbnP3GjSl6Hr2nB9oulgz9sRklJ5YTdErEAqDP6zmz4QCSSOzcgXJaI9LpHiSlhGCMw/s1600/SDC13039.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPqoWg7zDEhbvcIxOlMXUZh79w0gwRE1aai2yP5GGywzg5XR1PcOljYzJbkMXfl9vDfSxdh5VAGbnP3GjSl6Hr2nB9oulgz9sRklJ5YTdErEAqDP6zmz4QCSSOzcgXJaI9LpHiSlhGCMw/s400/SDC13039.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533167940841940498" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_t7qlnyEPGojAlK9oIMEo6a14PQjTdpTSJtHRIhQUo_fGb40Zm0UcxIfyFyckNDaOPNhiGCH1S8ljORTAtIyrQl-vZ-GYPunrUMzUHieCfFHcwYZlxEDVtPx8talM0H8meTWvEBudInw/s1600/IMG_6469.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_t7qlnyEPGojAlK9oIMEo6a14PQjTdpTSJtHRIhQUo_fGb40Zm0UcxIfyFyckNDaOPNhiGCH1S8ljORTAtIyrQl-vZ-GYPunrUMzUHieCfFHcwYZlxEDVtPx8talM0H8meTWvEBudInw/s400/IMG_6469.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532862941366871810" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.9722px; ">the inside</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaAluQHiwIeF4Ja4UgzJ9D2lkm8BdPjcsY12xSQgZXEjfeEgZKNJdhxMwZjhscH7tSs6aLFf4yXH4TDjCVRtYPdGzXAbsBtwrRYqwicijoDQmLwB2eDx6bl5NHuuKpsMGLAAJ5R0OEu68/s1600/SDC13035.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaAluQHiwIeF4Ja4UgzJ9D2lkm8BdPjcsY12xSQgZXEjfeEgZKNJdhxMwZjhscH7tSs6aLFf4yXH4TDjCVRtYPdGzXAbsBtwrRYqwicijoDQmLwB2eDx6bl5NHuuKpsMGLAAJ5R0OEu68/s400/SDC13035.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533167934391087058" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhprDeoIT7WBYBtoxQBAEpa8Gs9FsML6Wn7MxJzc_ZMVbGQOMoUzMFT67lPZHJkO1ejQD2XEnK7gZcVF2i-TSoNS9EPx59IdOD8xOYg0Jyft6deLrlujWTkUAVKF5rC8R9NEGO8Jk52FNg/s1600/IMG_6470.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhprDeoIT7WBYBtoxQBAEpa8Gs9FsML6Wn7MxJzc_ZMVbGQOMoUzMFT67lPZHJkO1ejQD2XEnK7gZcVF2i-TSoNS9EPx59IdOD8xOYg0Jyft6deLrlujWTkUAVKF5rC8R9NEGO8Jk52FNg/s400/IMG_6470.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532862946511956434" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.9722px; ">the courtyard</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUsZaUZuOAn7Hq9_xMGzZ_BusKsL3pzqcc8sTaXo13iPtrChLxbpGLFrXnJ8MBjJEmtYLwHMkmCQ4A90kwyIJw8liW9HcJkB-2WHyaSA-i7WVck-zfftlrOC189LMeLenBCc8zLnYiOic/s1600/P1010950.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUsZaUZuOAn7Hq9_xMGzZ_BusKsL3pzqcc8sTaXo13iPtrChLxbpGLFrXnJ8MBjJEmtYLwHMkmCQ4A90kwyIJw8liW9HcJkB-2WHyaSA-i7WVck-zfftlrOC189LMeLenBCc8zLnYiOic/s400/P1010950.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533165797581800162" /></a>Then it was time to say goodbye.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.9722px; ">goodbye jeneba</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZVtN1ZG2odckLV3wvCVq5omZlagubLVUXFPVDYnm4kC8F_1hGz2K_KfhgR6F9QDVqYcFZtnBL1qo4QfA2JJNELrafk_TGp0fphp2X4D4MAHvE4lyJRqA5evclnnZsvGT7NHJ_RxEWGxo/s1600/SDC13101.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZVtN1ZG2odckLV3wvCVq5omZlagubLVUXFPVDYnm4kC8F_1hGz2K_KfhgR6F9QDVqYcFZtnBL1qo4QfA2JJNELrafk_TGp0fphp2X4D4MAHvE4lyJRqA5evclnnZsvGT7NHJ_RxEWGxo/s400/SDC13101.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533171576815719506" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj62L76oL7g85aq2hi4TB7wyllSeVjEgAVSDX6mrCDMPW4jrXoF-pwsY6DuYCsuoukk2L6GI82VFRmn_YWr1x4RN3Wx9XQcGUa2R3qO7c-aosn-3Tk7k1q4EYXdmQtiYdru4xGW0E9hkqw/s1600/P1010959.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj62L76oL7g85aq2hi4TB7wyllSeVjEgAVSDX6mrCDMPW4jrXoF-pwsY6DuYCsuoukk2L6GI82VFRmn_YWr1x4RN3Wx9XQcGUa2R3qO7c-aosn-3Tk7k1q4EYXdmQtiYdru4xGW0E9hkqw/s400/P1010959.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533166356032570818" /></a><br /><br />The women of Tongo had made matching outfits for the ceremony, and I couldn't leave without getting a photo with all of them together.</div><div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.9722px; ">matching outfits</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhVNhkeWJxrJnfPDGiLNepqx1uPGWfX4aSSMVzuIFrgadfLqNNpiCVDxzqnGFwPzxUweATDKKFLmuv7nEuZ1rEGG3KWLQ_WWDMxPxVTBMbrtG3hlMpbXw0ZQ0wUR0-GJYFoOQtjrLlj88/s1600/PA240146.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhVNhkeWJxrJnfPDGiLNepqx1uPGWfX4aSSMVzuIFrgadfLqNNpiCVDxzqnGFwPzxUweATDKKFLmuv7nEuZ1rEGG3KWLQ_WWDMxPxVTBMbrtG3hlMpbXw0ZQ0wUR0-GJYFoOQtjrLlj88/s400/PA240146.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533166873911491618" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLr8dfVA84UZ8Nsg4mTk9bW4o1UKSmiM5g5PwVFeOv2GH0fjog3Ahz4W5bxKcJAoxAb-sNzGy0ESikASR9qh-D21J1nrDB7-fSgF4lF8Rzb8rlFp90f6DGvvKBUzAvzBthkj0xtPc-wqk/s1600/SDC13120.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLr8dfVA84UZ8Nsg4mTk9bW4o1UKSmiM5g5PwVFeOv2GH0fjog3Ahz4W5bxKcJAoxAb-sNzGy0ESikASR9qh-D21J1nrDB7-fSgF4lF8Rzb8rlFp90f6DGvvKBUzAvzBthkj0xtPc-wqk/s400/SDC13120.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533172426101358930" /></a><br /><br />Then it was really time to say goodbye. </div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsWRamS_yqn_RFDiISaeepmEh4B3OpkCAGNFGoDW2PoVMQ7gFKNJXRgFAc28uqOWRU6s8sAJSnE6Lf_iKgO_4WNucf9MNQTF6Gxo6XzhvLggoFaF5mjzhvaAQHTlOKZ6vJZWs6LGZw-5I/s1600/SDC13122.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsWRamS_yqn_RFDiISaeepmEh4B3OpkCAGNFGoDW2PoVMQ7gFKNJXRgFAc28uqOWRU6s8sAJSnE6Lf_iKgO_4WNucf9MNQTF6Gxo6XzhvLggoFaF5mjzhvaAQHTlOKZ6vJZWs6LGZw-5I/s400/SDC13122.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533172431291311250" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.9722px; ">bye bye</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLX_Hp5ozi5KyUQWEuUppdDBm3-VgCAz2v-v7snxY5q3nGF-Syv3xPEiaCYHiH_vPRM4IbHGG1qa8IL5yh7CreKe5k503VFC-PPqVk_RxChXqYBsCRF3JelrH3iGm2RV78B20H-9mFu6w/s1600/SDC13134.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLX_Hp5ozi5KyUQWEuUppdDBm3-VgCAz2v-v7snxY5q3nGF-Syv3xPEiaCYHiH_vPRM4IbHGG1qa8IL5yh7CreKe5k503VFC-PPqVk_RxChXqYBsCRF3JelrH3iGm2RV78B20H-9mFu6w/s400/SDC13134.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533173012618185730" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRVMgGZsnSd14RBgMtjMBBK25uRO_SjLA85iodHmuV_SVXWvo6IzRZ9CcZ4lDS3qqtwjLw1vnBM8Sjtq-z9Cfu1ikEUVvEnK6tAsFQJn4VoHbQXJEMco4dEfa_F0wBHfTNiKk0anT9dp8/s1600/SDC13132.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRVMgGZsnSd14RBgMtjMBBK25uRO_SjLA85iodHmuV_SVXWvo6IzRZ9CcZ4lDS3qqtwjLw1vnBM8Sjtq-z9Cfu1ikEUVvEnK6tAsFQJn4VoHbQXJEMco4dEfa_F0wBHfTNiKk0anT9dp8/s400/SDC13132.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533172997034832898" /></a><br />Malians don't hug, but we said goodbye to Mariam with one last cross-cultural exchange.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.9722px; ">hug</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjT00c4YOsc5z4tWMu_jJbemWdRyRRlBn-tdcnazc_Awa7zbPOD3osVVWcAPCdbq9w4NUpvklgFfHOx0Rg_8r1M0VNzTLquXstJ4d6D7pbMjJt0uLmj7nT0fk_A1bEglGadk5a6v-yJLQ/s1600/SDC13141.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjT00c4YOsc5z4tWMu_jJbemWdRyRRlBn-tdcnazc_Awa7zbPOD3osVVWcAPCdbq9w4NUpvklgFfHOx0Rg_8r1M0VNzTLquXstJ4d6D7pbMjJt0uLmj7nT0fk_A1bEglGadk5a6v-yJLQ/s400/SDC13141.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533173022869202962" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy1dNCgnw6tksuLqgCqi0CmoP72Gb9Chha6cvqBlyPJ6ITouWCZrxBv0kR5hyRr6_7-O_9JbXd_lDCKvcLV9nhXWhSgcuLbdhS0Bi3oXYJ1YGeDihQE9X9ALmnLC3VJC9_Il6In7fklJg/s1600/SDC13140.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy1dNCgnw6tksuLqgCqi0CmoP72Gb9Chha6cvqBlyPJ6ITouWCZrxBv0kR5hyRr6_7-O_9JbXd_lDCKvcLV9nhXWhSgcuLbdhS0Bi3oXYJ1YGeDihQE9X9ALmnLC3VJC9_Il6In7fklJg/s400/SDC13140.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533173019108128786" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Then we all piled back in the van and drove away into the sunset, our hearts a little heavier.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">...</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>When we got back to Segou, we had another party: the kind that wouldn't have been possible in my muslim village:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.9722px; ">pig roast!</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy46dq7K6LyyuKuDeP4y3KMHqLsPEgMQyphFVeDi_00h1zCguCadfWt7m6yqmN_fhdZYYAxUaeNjG8qljbP3myBxQFBzyP7klvsv3kJKWjwVORkejIoSCjST1VhSt_kd_OBmHyP3zRWnY/s1600/SDC13146.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy46dq7K6LyyuKuDeP4y3KMHqLsPEgMQyphFVeDi_00h1zCguCadfWt7m6yqmN_fhdZYYAxUaeNjG8qljbP3myBxQFBzyP7klvsv3kJKWjwVORkejIoSCjST1VhSt_kd_OBmHyP3zRWnY/s400/SDC13146.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533173032854996130" /></a></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16110979333308909880noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189570025328307498.post-29273690419000942812010-09-17T15:05:00.001-07:002010-09-17T15:51:47.812-07:00Muddy WatersThe most recent trip to Tongo gave us the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walkin%27_Blues">walkin' blues</a> as we braved the sludge to bring you these photos:<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt2eNo1Ebq0WQfn0nGaa_UYhzdk0C5S0r3UyUYMGTUzm4e5VA7cK9rgBiQoRtcNzilmG4nI8PFKrf9mopzjke35SgbH83xrRXhdCZMnV6J_oS7kGR385RISIE9BISIHyZGtFpIA1NxnX8/s1600/P9170001.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt2eNo1Ebq0WQfn0nGaa_UYhzdk0C5S0r3UyUYMGTUzm4e5VA7cK9rgBiQoRtcNzilmG4nI8PFKrf9mopzjke35SgbH83xrRXhdCZMnV6J_oS7kGR385RISIE9BISIHyZGtFpIA1NxnX8/s400/P9170001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518008122525278290" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgbpoFbhUaix9KyEsEvk5TYppWfvrADQJbdGuMP-9dpgqgEWBaxmQhwED5uyK9CF1da5EaB56zHojs3Ws26wN3odIMPnikjZZjx56qQhvsUD0YVLQcY7wVJkRq-Gy1z9VsbjyNLH-D1Ao/s1600/SDC12974.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgbpoFbhUaix9KyEsEvk5TYppWfvrADQJbdGuMP-9dpgqgEWBaxmQhwED5uyK9CF1da5EaB56zHojs3Ws26wN3odIMPnikjZZjx56qQhvsUD0YVLQcY7wVJkRq-Gy1z9VsbjyNLH-D1Ao/s400/SDC12974.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518008114049131938" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV_GX0q67Jagm0yaOg8g5X2PC6sRgaGWNDYbxVf4b9TsV3UEZQgnhhL29QFs6ci1MNMQ4FBqFJW-hD_Pa4qyDLGoUaSkRlGMs8b0lQVQxhow7qQIG1U3-S3f1xakC80bp1gvXotXAlfKw/s1600/P9170020.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV_GX0q67Jagm0yaOg8g5X2PC6sRgaGWNDYbxVf4b9TsV3UEZQgnhhL29QFs6ci1MNMQ4FBqFJW-hD_Pa4qyDLGoUaSkRlGMs8b0lQVQxhow7qQIG1U3-S3f1xakC80bp1gvXotXAlfKw/s400/P9170020.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518011610386517186" border="0" /></a>The roof is finished and all the walls have been primed with cement.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq85ZrFJUIprqa_YsJScHqcKSgV44KjRCCftCClQQEXhokN3T7kAJwilhkNKfGNBwUR_eXvm6Ym0co-TBBiUSWPYSsCuTpRmswm3AR2Y7sus9lzHB3bpmlaOsyh2CbvPubLtjDYw2EXKc/s1600/SDC12963.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq85ZrFJUIprqa_YsJScHqcKSgV44KjRCCftCClQQEXhokN3T7kAJwilhkNKfGNBwUR_eXvm6Ym0co-TBBiUSWPYSsCuTpRmswm3AR2Y7sus9lzHB3bpmlaOsyh2CbvPubLtjDYw2EXKc/s400/SDC12963.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518011598859840946" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb1Eq7Vzt-YMYVxQYcaBM5YefhYbDFfi8wBAlMUNe86lCoqV8sxNtyLqLfmj5TMWdGi_5v1J0f5L2l_acqabNLBC5OK07JkQieD9WDMBibKDq9kx4ANb6jpS88sXX5Pq7ODOjvnSL8dnc/s1600/P9170003.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb1Eq7Vzt-YMYVxQYcaBM5YefhYbDFfi8wBAlMUNe86lCoqV8sxNtyLqLfmj5TMWdGi_5v1J0f5L2l_acqabNLBC5OK07JkQieD9WDMBibKDq9kx4ANb6jpS88sXX5Pq7ODOjvnSL8dnc/s400/P9170003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518008937672999778" border="0" /></a><br />What remains is to put cement down on the floors and paint the walls.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7c5AB1ScgoH1tj07tx4K8-K8H7b2iZf-byAQHFVewbW1W2ZLHLRusaB3IPGrSgFGoGzzt-QmUiZRN8agzez-gRUU_vJDqcPYvNz_AiPpZZELLhkX9JacfJ83E0PbQLIiFU_xkBbAiQhQ/s1600/P9170018.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7c5AB1ScgoH1tj07tx4K8-K8H7b2iZf-byAQHFVewbW1W2ZLHLRusaB3IPGrSgFGoGzzt-QmUiZRN8agzez-gRUU_vJDqcPYvNz_AiPpZZELLhkX9JacfJ83E0PbQLIiFU_xkBbAiQhQ/s400/P9170018.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518008932132250242" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOz_pXWUwlAZaGRBK-wl1IjtmRim4yjG4XDjC2los3mCsMxRdaJotTcxrQHaV_HPwuL_8tIaEuleZ0wVq2OE3qXotqp_eIAyFa8arX8Aux8kCw1ECk4MyBld6O1sdh1RtsX3ArfobshuE/s1600/P9170016.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOz_pXWUwlAZaGRBK-wl1IjtmRim4yjG4XDjC2los3mCsMxRdaJotTcxrQHaV_HPwuL_8tIaEuleZ0wVq2OE3qXotqp_eIAyFa8arX8Aux8kCw1ECk4MyBld6O1sdh1RtsX3ArfobshuE/s400/P9170016.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518008926303146210" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg79MWgWcNQfdBdfLzE8hfqlvz9bpTVIB9dmO4UdKhVPxhCIBMh42D8q6wATWee9UkhaHpU0hMjMTXxWIB8FD_NFF14f2aIEdfavF6FEu6N_k9J2-PoWftq_qr_FpzEPMxJDnfZ6JhS8OQ/s1600/P9170019.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg79MWgWcNQfdBdfLzE8hfqlvz9bpTVIB9dmO4UdKhVPxhCIBMh42D8q6wATWee9UkhaHpU0hMjMTXxWIB8FD_NFF14f2aIEdfavF6FEu6N_k9J2-PoWftq_qr_FpzEPMxJDnfZ6JhS8OQ/s400/P9170019.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518008125737357282" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnPt7dMZNimqt1gwJT_XqBpyN8zTJZibsYz4X6WHqBa4dMXlYNIsAJOFln6lM-BeW8KkJhycdvB9Ep3cax7nxcHqfktzS_fRwDsRp2tQOX2JRliUYWS4PZ0b-IFTSaT11qqPkKpQeEPSU/s1600/SDC12971.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnPt7dMZNimqt1gwJT_XqBpyN8zTJZibsYz4X6WHqBa4dMXlYNIsAJOFln6lM-BeW8KkJhycdvB9Ep3cax7nxcHqfktzS_fRwDsRp2tQOX2JRliUYWS4PZ0b-IFTSaT11qqPkKpQeEPSU/s400/SDC12971.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518011593206899922" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgFhcvRtO2-KajDY7QdrLaEzniFxNTkAcvL8r6Ef_sqjfSIXCZ7USaFtFmb8wLHYGRbf4ewfztbOA9yzAqzMVLo9_FXnXTCMUu6N0NUBIuj7fQNM2W3Fxld8h7Plm_tqb9qKQ2W9POipo/s1600/SDC12970.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgFhcvRtO2-KajDY7QdrLaEzniFxNTkAcvL8r6Ef_sqjfSIXCZ7USaFtFmb8wLHYGRbf4ewfztbOA9yzAqzMVLo9_FXnXTCMUu6N0NUBIuj7fQNM2W3Fxld8h7Plm_tqb9qKQ2W9POipo/s400/SDC12970.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518011583095227682" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkvqjbpJZhhyDAnVfoiiwgyocwfpBxBQNBL19iNJuX3Qm3E826IY-2Nlx78_uy_CuJiw8DOWvI6VmOBa967B695Ls297_ELS5Kp6s7Xkdw1edt1LzSqkKmIoQua7CLOBu8iFDxI2nCqdM/s1600/maryandkyle.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkvqjbpJZhhyDAnVfoiiwgyocwfpBxBQNBL19iNJuX3Qm3E826IY-2Nlx78_uy_CuJiw8DOWvI6VmOBa967B695Ls297_ELS5Kp6s7Xkdw1edt1LzSqkKmIoQua7CLOBu8iFDxI2nCqdM/s400/maryandkyle.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518008108067849522" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwX3brmYeCJ0-KOSQ0seMfPT_hvEy5DBxCZF5cZ8b6u35nCmJUATmtWEwPsq2yVZ3iqQ6FxibylF-orQEufcAtnvFo8ewjFpdE33THRlJa8GuNwGrQZqIkr8-qd8knT60-MoE5tqToK-s/s1600/maryandkyle2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwX3brmYeCJ0-KOSQ0seMfPT_hvEy5DBxCZF5cZ8b6u35nCmJUATmtWEwPsq2yVZ3iqQ6FxibylF-orQEufcAtnvFo8ewjFpdE33THRlJa8GuNwGrQZqIkr8-qd8knT60-MoE5tqToK-s/s400/maryandkyle2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518008102283965138" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The contractor estimates that the work could be finished in as little as 15 days. We've got <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forty_Days_and_Forty_Nights">40 days and 40 nights</a> left in Mali (yes, we're counting), so we should definitely see it finished. All I can say is: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I%27m_Ready_%28Blues_song%29">I'm ready</a>.Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16110979333308909880noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189570025328307498.post-3194049476143408492010-08-30T18:08:00.000-07:002010-09-03T14:23:29.646-07:00Almost done!!Construction of the school is almost finished! All that's left is to fasten the roof, cement the floors, and paint it! It's hard to believe, but my stint in Mali is coming to an end as well. As I prepare for the next chapter of life, I look at this project as evidence that my time here was well spent. We are planning a closing ceremony when the school is finished, and it will be around the time I'll have to say my final goodbyes. In the meantime, here are photos of the amazing progress we've made:<br /><br /><br /><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6FBn5LdGfgH_SHWJ99NGE_0nRR3la0C0nG3a6BA9iOn4jeEWTPvCVmYlh5X7781qorwZQvfJ2uawRx3aRE-80qcRZC8sN5uxA5Y6CVvvLuo1vcFc4NcURYhQ2SvH8BvhnnVPlr6osWJQ/s400/SDC12914.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511380478659090978" border="0" /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL-uFn8lkyB2hwNzki0sLiCLR-M8s0AQTVKe0rhLXaGQsoc3vrmgsF1Iho4QDshTcW8_QX9hfJeSXSCkSvSWf-O1uiyGc_1hK896jFUU1_BMyQNRxyrWzp3oWT7C14hRVfeIcyHQmI1MQ/s1600/SDC12922.JPG"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL-uFn8lkyB2hwNzki0sLiCLR-M8s0AQTVKe0rhLXaGQsoc3vrmgsF1Iho4QDshTcW8_QX9hfJeSXSCkSvSWf-O1uiyGc_1hK896jFUU1_BMyQNRxyrWzp3oWT7C14hRVfeIcyHQmI1MQ/s1600/SDC12922.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL-uFn8lkyB2hwNzki0sLiCLR-M8s0AQTVKe0rhLXaGQsoc3vrmgsF1Iho4QDshTcW8_QX9hfJeSXSCkSvSWf-O1uiyGc_1hK896jFUU1_BMyQNRxyrWzp3oWT7C14hRVfeIcyHQmI1MQ/s400/SDC12922.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511376420853101554" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2JfF0jl7pVBJn92CeaelaeNy3lczuZpmSzw6Xh30DiBL72yorfKpP6lJElBqMje-_jvRX_I5Bxs8LSJGuV5667PPwVPnWUpIBydf5foHZBaaLL4jVamP_eUQ8DnoxsRict7TQuFVQDaM/s1600/SDC12923.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2JfF0jl7pVBJn92CeaelaeNy3lczuZpmSzw6Xh30DiBL72yorfKpP6lJElBqMje-_jvRX_I5Bxs8LSJGuV5667PPwVPnWUpIBydf5foHZBaaLL4jVamP_eUQ8DnoxsRict7TQuFVQDaM/s400/SDC12923.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511376418079345042" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrMoMfXsJf0BNcgXzfMyX_0KJBOd_VZYA2fLjxXKTyuIkbfBxBoGDuRoJNDNO7jXtvCVG5B_lI0mkmmQzVN83NtD34vcAPCiIAzqc_qOoOQmdKCCDmuIpEtzF05EO_8V3xaARyKtkN0lM/s1600/SDC12917.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrMoMfXsJf0BNcgXzfMyX_0KJBOd_VZYA2fLjxXKTyuIkbfBxBoGDuRoJNDNO7jXtvCVG5B_lI0mkmmQzVN83NtD34vcAPCiIAzqc_qOoOQmdKCCDmuIpEtzF05EO_8V3xaARyKtkN0lM/s400/SDC12917.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511376423395060546" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSYNN4a6GRtN3l1kuh2m13ecfvUhy6EKu3vlMkndGaDtAJyxaDATeMJEtLwNJyUHhepMcmkAzaaC1QXOsa5Q_jWt0GDz6rioxSVirCN5VSfcDzmBqPXARfZSMKfLwJ_COXQqsnoYYEmOI/s1600/SDC12926.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSYNN4a6GRtN3l1kuh2m13ecfvUhy6EKu3vlMkndGaDtAJyxaDATeMJEtLwNJyUHhepMcmkAzaaC1QXOsa5Q_jWt0GDz6rioxSVirCN5VSfcDzmBqPXARfZSMKfLwJ_COXQqsnoYYEmOI/s400/SDC12926.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511376413582318530" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU7RUlABw7TlaREuVgwvcB45Q6-XCnyWogSjm2-hj1Y7Q2UwspzyJyiz7HcJa2qpapmW4H4LvTymE8M3scepkc2v-e6BSbHlAahNCsWKN5EvvG8brkyYJHBkHo2BdDZUfRHUysgXmpNTs/s1600/SDC12929.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU7RUlABw7TlaREuVgwvcB45Q6-XCnyWogSjm2-hj1Y7Q2UwspzyJyiz7HcJa2qpapmW4H4LvTymE8M3scepkc2v-e6BSbHlAahNCsWKN5EvvG8brkyYJHBkHo2BdDZUfRHUysgXmpNTs/s400/SDC12929.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511376407696314962" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihEr-qbrKBxenktZFVBQpkOLAFVUNFAUC5h-Gjl5zB0UNUkfK5k5cZFHKsZC4d1AREg6ar3fcTesN8APmqPldClrNnbwtiXs87a_ZZ6w5tX4sy9xjfPW1wvKO5U88vpArnVg3IDcNv6pM/s1600/SDC12907.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihEr-qbrKBxenktZFVBQpkOLAFVUNFAUC5h-Gjl5zB0UNUkfK5k5cZFHKsZC4d1AREg6ar3fcTesN8APmqPldClrNnbwtiXs87a_ZZ6w5tX4sy9xjfPW1wvKO5U88vpArnVg3IDcNv6pM/s400/SDC12907.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511381187365693458" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZh1L294GYM43r82OU5dKvrMIvEXdUMyrFL3IxVxi1amsrDSknCcYLKnXVhyphenhyphenhiRQAK5Ah49v-B_kXGUCWX20OzQjISi44Jt8MPKMA9YfHb8klsUJ2xHXYnZMh18iwY0p12WOKEQgHhot4/s1600/SDC12906.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZh1L294GYM43r82OU5dKvrMIvEXdUMyrFL3IxVxi1amsrDSknCcYLKnXVhyphenhyphenhiRQAK5Ah49v-B_kXGUCWX20OzQjISi44Jt8MPKMA9YfHb8klsUJ2xHXYnZMh18iwY0p12WOKEQgHhot4/s400/SDC12906.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511381183229792418" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt13yNTtQvKApMV6DRPtodPafCDPhCxUm8ux0imN4DB_3wns6O0NIDUHqaZ8nnvk3uLJDdMogBjOTW1lRz1QFMWZNCZwDJT8IX1sxSbohKZx86crr1e9rSR-ps13jaiH4U4SBvThH0lB8/s1600/SDC12896.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt13yNTtQvKApMV6DRPtodPafCDPhCxUm8ux0imN4DB_3wns6O0NIDUHqaZ8nnvk3uLJDdMogBjOTW1lRz1QFMWZNCZwDJT8IX1sxSbohKZx86crr1e9rSR-ps13jaiH4U4SBvThH0lB8/s400/SDC12896.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511381181356664850" border="0" /></a><br />Addendum: After much deliberation and soul searching, we decided to use the funds for the rainwater harvesting tanks to build an office for the teachers. In the long run, an office will give teachers an incentive to stay in Tongo (which has been a problem in the past), and it will provide a lockable place to store classroom materials like books and maps. And sadly the probable fate of the cisterns is that they would not be properly maintained and end up being unused in a matter of years (like everything else in Mali).<br /><br />Building the cisterns is still a possibility, depending on what funds we have left over, but they're on hold for the moment.Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16110979333308909880noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189570025328307498.post-29574154010049287942010-08-04T09:43:00.000-07:002010-08-04T10:13:36.655-07:00Times Two<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl8etybl2IMBoL8KKthD63LU-eVuqgwqqpgbmgFkFQXoFiDsCmCAaVu9b_ROvG48mBzq8fSz8Fny3m4w3Tjc2M_UdM2VcRGN5sGXSpcJR9wkK3fuYAtnLkDsErvQhpi57enllXfcBY2Xo/s1600/SDC12842.jpg"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"></span></a>The second block of classrooms is rising as fast as the first and the brickwork for both is now finished! The next step is to put on the metal roof and plaster over the walls.<br />The level of participation from the village has been overwhelming. Both men and women show up to work everyday and don't stop until the sun goes down. We've got enough gravel for now to finish these two blocks. Things couldn't be going better!<br />It's an amazing feeling to stand between the two buildings, watching the work being done, and feel such a sense of pride and accomplishment. <br />More photos of the progress:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdRQv_smriNZqBu2I_rGRHNTucV49zsVoUX16l6iFvo7vy3kyO8AFAL-_pgWnvwZN1VzSCgPJ80qgw90ufvGKV_k1V_bbB3Yx8eeRFS-zE90WrpfVvm6F1jqhHDkmA-AiX2jpnscVVX3M/s1600/SDC12834.jpg"><br /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl8etybl2IMBoL8KKthD63LU-eVuqgwqqpgbmgFkFQXoFiDsCmCAaVu9b_ROvG48mBzq8fSz8Fny3m4w3Tjc2M_UdM2VcRGN5sGXSpcJR9wkK3fuYAtnLkDsErvQhpi57enllXfcBY2Xo/s1600/SDC12842.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl8etybl2IMBoL8KKthD63LU-eVuqgwqqpgbmgFkFQXoFiDsCmCAaVu9b_ROvG48mBzq8fSz8Fny3m4w3Tjc2M_UdM2VcRGN5sGXSpcJR9wkK3fuYAtnLkDsErvQhpi57enllXfcBY2Xo/s400/SDC12842.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501600581292741298" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTnWXOWYdrJvNtZW2eDfLL0KzgL5NmiKjRfzptOMM0eeI_vSzl9UnsJ12MHMXF2dHLvrOynBbJgVBsN6Q2c3Tw5r0NvX2RUmZFnqq0IWYUTOOfn3rZIyu_iPCoEqE-dKUYU8i6ZEW7lfM/s1600/SDC12822.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTnWXOWYdrJvNtZW2eDfLL0KzgL5NmiKjRfzptOMM0eeI_vSzl9UnsJ12MHMXF2dHLvrOynBbJgVBsN6Q2c3Tw5r0NvX2RUmZFnqq0IWYUTOOfn3rZIyu_iPCoEqE-dKUYU8i6ZEW7lfM/s400/SDC12822.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501600574788438242" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi287JnX-E_gPUekQ6hxw1lnCjlZjuQTdEhiQTFQ6WxYJsmBrEQJTevjbz2Qh4SnqNXr78nLYR-2VgBL3bb0XIf2TtwZgmwCoMabgU5GjU7AVpIfiV7_JZaqK9Wh9rbqjiG2WnhYnTf_IY/s1600/SDC12824.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 310px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi287JnX-E_gPUekQ6hxw1lnCjlZjuQTdEhiQTFQ6WxYJsmBrEQJTevjbz2Qh4SnqNXr78nLYR-2VgBL3bb0XIf2TtwZgmwCoMabgU5GjU7AVpIfiV7_JZaqK9Wh9rbqjiG2WnhYnTf_IY/s400/SDC12824.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501598420227181522" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB7i_CmRADz7zdLsohIbaTq44ZPwvUEHakXbBXFNg078GebUuY0igO0AWqSbo7gBPBh0G41FOdmbNaLszjXq5FJkri0pe2dg4VNN9WCeWlBFQpaj_8ExZ5ZqF4G86xiWtZ0GHcKoWBC3o/s1600/SDC12840.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB7i_CmRADz7zdLsohIbaTq44ZPwvUEHakXbBXFNg078GebUuY0igO0AWqSbo7gBPBh0G41FOdmbNaLszjXq5FJkri0pe2dg4VNN9WCeWlBFQpaj_8ExZ5ZqF4G86xiWtZ0GHcKoWBC3o/s400/SDC12840.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501598414999859234" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFZETW2teF0uD37L_HW644LbFZpwkX7SsoONgKbpZ675H-pVOr2Z72uwNK_ucF4EMoQzfx9p_w_GyVnQujElE03NK4zRjAlh4KX5NQ8bqi4XATSz7Yy7PzVxQy8eIkBIVZwsAifYgyNe8/s1600/SDC12830.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFZETW2teF0uD37L_HW644LbFZpwkX7SsoONgKbpZ675H-pVOr2Z72uwNK_ucF4EMoQzfx9p_w_GyVnQujElE03NK4zRjAlh4KX5NQ8bqi4XATSz7Yy7PzVxQy8eIkBIVZwsAifYgyNe8/s400/SDC12830.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501598411967894674" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWC3C9QMSzmiIvMUMOD2279PJ39X2VMo0uwNGLWnMPVaj6MXIJ_fYFz6ZO-czKj9qatMks3RFxzCm1-LUIxCUTR1oamipoG_1fwJF1EMu-3vYgJ6dLrng7LxTmnkz0NCICVxzraLgld1Y/s1600/SDC12846.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWC3C9QMSzmiIvMUMOD2279PJ39X2VMo0uwNGLWnMPVaj6MXIJ_fYFz6ZO-czKj9qatMks3RFxzCm1-LUIxCUTR1oamipoG_1fwJF1EMu-3vYgJ6dLrng7LxTmnkz0NCICVxzraLgld1Y/s400/SDC12846.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501598408023588690" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXMxbC9mtRDl1E_TdZIOHsHsW-U8skalT6NVWgX1sJaRTuRej0RQQEeYnnUHWCLgqoCWltA1fwRE4m_yUxB2WbDrKLnrpzOTci1rhNJJYrZVrU2GnCXEJn52BLFacFaLi3DGPlFhASIVQ/s1600/3rZuu.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXMxbC9mtRDl1E_TdZIOHsHsW-U8skalT6NVWgX1sJaRTuRej0RQQEeYnnUHWCLgqoCWltA1fwRE4m_yUxB2WbDrKLnrpzOTci1rhNJJYrZVrU2GnCXEJn52BLFacFaLi3DGPlFhASIVQ/s400/3rZuu.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501598407987940034" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdRQv_smriNZqBu2I_rGRHNTucV49zsVoUX16l6iFvo7vy3kyO8AFAL-_pgWnvwZN1VzSCgPJ80qgw90ufvGKV_k1V_bbB3Yx8eeRFS-zE90WrpfVvm6F1jqhHDkmA-AiX2jpnscVVX3M/s1600/SDC12834.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdRQv_smriNZqBu2I_rGRHNTucV49zsVoUX16l6iFvo7vy3kyO8AFAL-_pgWnvwZN1VzSCgPJ80qgw90ufvGKV_k1V_bbB3Yx8eeRFS-zE90WrpfVvm6F1jqhHDkmA-AiX2jpnscVVX3M/s400/SDC12834.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501600578388963282" border="0" /></a>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16110979333308909880noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189570025328307498.post-31991719021167173292010-07-29T07:56:00.000-07:002010-07-29T08:03:59.827-07:00Newton's LawJust when we thought a project in motion would stay in motion, we hit another glitch. The workers ran out of sand and gravel at the site. Since BuildOn now controls the funds for the project, we asked them to approve the purchase of more material. That's when we found out that they don't have the funds in hand at this precise moment, and we'll have to wait a week or so for the funds to be transferred and the purchase approved. Meanwhile, the village will get a break from working to go plant their fields as we wait for the next shipment.<br />So it goes!Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16110979333308909880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189570025328307498.post-41385780788522086412010-07-18T06:55:00.000-07:002010-07-18T07:18:02.971-07:00From the Ground UpI can't believe how fast this school is shooting up! We're up to the windows on the first block! <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ebJzxIeSMZHrQYvqdjAoVlkAVkKUwy2_g5yuDgNgKGKb0l4535Dzd06sU6J3yFIVahZF19vZY2MIfFoFm8r3XYF4miWId9BRZe53b1PP3bXp2F0DPi3q9gumkD8k8xTs5RTv8Lm7gqQ/s1600/SDC12797.jpg"><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBWVlFoXl1-l7em_TGceXqz1k6jbS29Rem37UeW3Vgke_YroxTKo8SZ3t8TXTqJp7nxY8sAP0X_ddFmK2fIlN9Syspx5q6Q2RWnvZlK7cM6j3zPOvulyYuTBFLLmodyTSER3eG83paN1U/s1600/SDC12809.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBWVlFoXl1-l7em_TGceXqz1k6jbS29Rem37UeW3Vgke_YroxTKo8SZ3t8TXTqJp7nxY8sAP0X_ddFmK2fIlN9Syspx5q6Q2RWnvZlK7cM6j3zPOvulyYuTBFLLmodyTSER3eG83paN1U/s400/SDC12809.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495248966009440706" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguwXzkRx4XoRmu8rF8EE58vOtA97Z9odazwYDsFMHFM3B_fz21nLGfwT8nriwd7cdsnZ3wSVgMa6TUmeGAVOZ0NR72Fw8rdQRY63oazhc6hNtc2Gl8_c2kR0IzcxjYMla7gNB6-jsHsmY/s1600/SDC12803.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguwXzkRx4XoRmu8rF8EE58vOtA97Z9odazwYDsFMHFM3B_fz21nLGfwT8nriwd7cdsnZ3wSVgMa6TUmeGAVOZ0NR72Fw8rdQRY63oazhc6hNtc2Gl8_c2kR0IzcxjYMla7gNB6-jsHsmY/s400/SDC12803.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495247589544052674" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzREbaZjOT5GU0hhVsJgmakcbrvaM-Ni5rknDNe4p1vHfSU26SFBloVKYNAamgnuqpftUP5JJYuWHriEO41u0qFrRm5RBmi0wuXQ_pDneB1u7P6MWyDlV_uQ0GJTtZY1f3psFkUqKAPYg/s1600/SDC12798.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzREbaZjOT5GU0hhVsJgmakcbrvaM-Ni5rknDNe4p1vHfSU26SFBloVKYNAamgnuqpftUP5JJYuWHriEO41u0qFrRm5RBmi0wuXQ_pDneB1u7P6MWyDlV_uQ0GJTtZY1f3psFkUqKAPYg/s400/SDC12798.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495247587046517202" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJaTxQzcCWlXMdsmy1e1e85SG0JcYQKa8pQty1OrkJHxTQbiOV93yefTXt5d1XV9ZFEyONtJUZgU7u17qkwT-GTMneAFy1FWFcQP3tRU5zLD4QqkKAU285Vx3jZFW6o8n97v1CSzs0c14/s1600/SDC12813.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJaTxQzcCWlXMdsmy1e1e85SG0JcYQKa8pQty1OrkJHxTQbiOV93yefTXt5d1XV9ZFEyONtJUZgU7u17qkwT-GTMneAFy1FWFcQP3tRU5zLD4QqkKAU285Vx3jZFW6o8n97v1CSzs0c14/s400/SDC12813.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495247580190580514" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinc5DvdFX0Xl7AEw-n1T1-C3pbatZXznT1O-zE9gh1w_PIH4dSPsSItmviHbj55ubjW7epV3_vfSn51XuKAKwcdYbOJrxR1crWCN7xDrlW_OqeKbibaHJ44RZYYShyY8AzvDuphGZ857c/s1600/SDC12806.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinc5DvdFX0Xl7AEw-n1T1-C3pbatZXznT1O-zE9gh1w_PIH4dSPsSItmviHbj55ubjW7epV3_vfSn51XuKAKwcdYbOJrxR1crWCN7xDrlW_OqeKbibaHJ44RZYYShyY8AzvDuphGZ857c/s400/SDC12806.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495247576557660050" border="0" /></a><br />The foundation is finished for the second block, and the walls will start going up later this week.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDKZ0l3Z7xPhL_VnA9b185yFYCumMMqFuaQpuLTvppxsqh6fDNrctJzfvEcIQccEay54-Hmji8_iIQYe2ekf8VSPFQZ0cLW5p_gAU9KFEHcm9HYMYUQhpvcGq6S501jHfNhCGnPrGPeJI/s1600/SDC12804.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDKZ0l3Z7xPhL_VnA9b185yFYCumMMqFuaQpuLTvppxsqh6fDNrctJzfvEcIQccEay54-Hmji8_iIQYe2ekf8VSPFQZ0cLW5p_gAU9KFEHcm9HYMYUQhpvcGq6S501jHfNhCGnPrGPeJI/s400/SDC12804.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495247577362520306" border="0" /></a><br />At this rate, we're very optimistic that it will be totally finished before we leave in November. Keep your fingers crossed!Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16110979333308909880noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189570025328307498.post-56953982824928171292010-06-25T04:48:00.000-07:002010-06-25T06:19:41.846-07:00Breaking Ground(s)They say you're supposed to measure twice, cut once. Whoever came up with that obviously never worked in Mali. Here it's likely to turn out double: measure 4 times, cut twice. At least that's how it happened at the groundbreaking in Tongo.<br /><br />The Mayor didn't show up (he now says he's coming to lay the first brick...), but we kicked off nonetheless. We measured the footprints of the buildings manually by tying strings to metal rods and stretching them across the ground, using geometric cunning to make sure the lines were square:<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbgJ5ORxHYSIPw0S7d49ckhjrbzCNU7mh-MJFTH45Xi0Lb34FZtrRn_w2Vly5QUTapBQ6MuJ4-X7sKChnoXmGTgC-z279ZQGI727QMHMJt_cfnXEZTkKqNUEZAvzkr8QwKsEwbBS6nfLc/s1600/SDC12763.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbgJ5ORxHYSIPw0S7d49ckhjrbzCNU7mh-MJFTH45Xi0Lb34FZtrRn_w2Vly5QUTapBQ6MuJ4-X7sKChnoXmGTgC-z279ZQGI727QMHMJt_cfnXEZTkKqNUEZAvzkr8QwKsEwbBS6nfLc/s320/SDC12763.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486681342548824594" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo1yMZHDgJ3DhTsKtqNbemR8-wnHaa0nEopB148XXScuWrbSkUATM471_dfe7msKeGKTjE99xZek9yLT8PBtrLZ-JO58UBvP_HEgL1C9lh2aW2ULIK7WzIh9B-qmvlweVzk47RVgy1_yQ/s1600/SDC12764.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo1yMZHDgJ3DhTsKtqNbemR8-wnHaa0nEopB148XXScuWrbSkUATM471_dfe7msKeGKTjE99xZek9yLT8PBtrLZ-JO58UBvP_HEgL1C9lh2aW2ULIK7WzIh9B-qmvlweVzk47RVgy1_yQ/s320/SDC12764.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486681339716108498" border="0" /></a><br />Once the area was marked, pick axes and shovels sent dirt flying as a team of volunteers from the village got to work digging the foundation.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnFeIwVNZTa1pn2x1Cs-ofKOZ2cKZzgjCI0OWrNi26eRPqtJdNxjeJt7h4KO-P3_D9fnlWMoenNlroP4d3jFekov7VOZTaBTttaNnOklFOAx20JzuvAvW_tHeFmSar1HH2hfwOZAMZ-MU/s1600/SDC12773.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnFeIwVNZTa1pn2x1Cs-ofKOZ2cKZzgjCI0OWrNi26eRPqtJdNxjeJt7h4KO-P3_D9fnlWMoenNlroP4d3jFekov7VOZTaBTttaNnOklFOAx20JzuvAvW_tHeFmSar1HH2hfwOZAMZ-MU/s320/SDC12773.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486678873708359538" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrz9aBptP7hpkFlwEFGbN97a00JfpUNKqfcrdp438X4hm5gg5K-I57v1HxF1NK4MMA_UGYjOjknPGsdvrzCQf0XvzhruRfxJZ4o_D7-yO5OqoG94BU1IB_Il63hVKUTPJSkGHu58t1EOE/s1600/SDC12770.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrz9aBptP7hpkFlwEFGbN97a00JfpUNKqfcrdp438X4hm5gg5K-I57v1HxF1NK4MMA_UGYjOjknPGsdvrzCQf0XvzhruRfxJZ4o_D7-yO5OqoG94BU1IB_Il63hVKUTPJSkGHu58t1EOE/s320/SDC12770.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486678877591515218" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnFeIwVNZTa1pn2x1Cs-ofKOZ2cKZzgjCI0OWrNi26eRPqtJdNxjeJt7h4KO-P3_D9fnlWMoenNlroP4d3jFekov7VOZTaBTttaNnOklFOAx20JzuvAvW_tHeFmSar1HH2hfwOZAMZ-MU/s1600/SDC12773.jpg"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFsB8PZowCAnMdQOCUow5dTFf6vBLvMVmBBdutsZ48Rmzv6-mvy1R1NpquP9FyhgrgVBC3UECgl1hNL9BS4yF_z9aGM9xGkscG1Df5tSzNzXkzA3Yd6TpE-XefikAhZX5ByTHES3xZ3hw/s1600/SDC12782.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFsB8PZowCAnMdQOCUow5dTFf6vBLvMVmBBdutsZ48Rmzv6-mvy1R1NpquP9FyhgrgVBC3UECgl1hNL9BS4yF_z9aGM9xGkscG1Df5tSzNzXkzA3Yd6TpE-XefikAhZX5ByTHES3xZ3hw/s320/SDC12782.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486678855234703906" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjnL6nlbxyGENk16zPUXTJYUyzsolJe9pDpx20YaRXnkrh8nwUuGJimxaI7fYW3gCevn7Gpa8FkHLuZVjG7vjXOFA4yJA57-WH-_0pmoceusMTWFyVQaKxJCtpmLfWe-k_2r5vMEgOitk/s1600/SDC12786.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjnL6nlbxyGENk16zPUXTJYUyzsolJe9pDpx20YaRXnkrh8nwUuGJimxaI7fYW3gCevn7Gpa8FkHLuZVjG7vjXOFA4yJA57-WH-_0pmoceusMTWFyVQaKxJCtpmLfWe-k_2r5vMEgOitk/s320/SDC12786.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486678838609809042" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpeWSecHU5rx2jAy_S08LNkDQ4XMlzwbik1HdjWIc0q0QfYImOUm-dZROwszWUCpDHfNZkATqa3rATkCjHFHPSwKtk3GmeSHT09lF_YS7gc8PDWw4qoSF8th2in0_UzxEizR08xgn5LGo/s1600/SDC12789.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpeWSecHU5rx2jAy_S08LNkDQ4XMlzwbik1HdjWIc0q0QfYImOUm-dZROwszWUCpDHfNZkATqa3rATkCjHFHPSwKtk3GmeSHT09lF_YS7gc8PDWw4qoSF8th2in0_UzxEizR08xgn5LGo/s320/SDC12789.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486678827395176258" border="0" /></a><br />All the construction materials arrived in Tongo. We unloaded the truck and took an inventory:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvPpzm3uaG7god70vzAAIp53snAP4rozRxzvf-ewhwheTRC-Lhge5FaXCL1QC7byqa7cebFwhSh81lR_QxkpKf0WI1uZtmj26JwtD_1LITWkhwE1iZ_ab2qgeco-81ZVeVC0oTSvzrcrc/s1600/SDC12739.jpg"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJzydQfjefHv1fxEh9wk-LfXYv5sfc5mRrUNNPGPtbTlQNPHXitgiH4cYW1b54M6_tPuUmMRHNX0dylwCOXii0iFgm7SkOoOrLKxckLn45G976XfaKVSop8mX2ZRzhM1EYliGB4TO8aEA/s1600/SDC12741.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJzydQfjefHv1fxEh9wk-LfXYv5sfc5mRrUNNPGPtbTlQNPHXitgiH4cYW1b54M6_tPuUmMRHNX0dylwCOXii0iFgm7SkOoOrLKxckLn45G976XfaKVSop8mX2ZRzhM1EYliGB4TO8aEA/s320/SDC12741.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486683612415980994" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhhhiwXTmAxmpcq3z5Fk2mhs47nd54A0weErk6gl8zAeqv-XZwEbDr9ty87iEBS6Tt6_AaVTyvYDIAqSJtj9xvtnCN8bMuwNHSNfdSjCjg_0-cBEik3eFe5T5q6Tg2RYrxkwQkzpBHHcA/s1600/SDC12744.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhhhiwXTmAxmpcq3z5Fk2mhs47nd54A0weErk6gl8zAeqv-XZwEbDr9ty87iEBS6Tt6_AaVTyvYDIAqSJtj9xvtnCN8bMuwNHSNfdSjCjg_0-cBEik3eFe5T5q6Tg2RYrxkwQkzpBHHcA/s320/SDC12744.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486681379802809746" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvPpzm3uaG7god70vzAAIp53snAP4rozRxzvf-ewhwheTRC-Lhge5FaXCL1QC7byqa7cebFwhSh81lR_QxkpKf0WI1uZtmj26JwtD_1LITWkhwE1iZ_ab2qgeco-81ZVeVC0oTSvzrcrc/s1600/SDC12739.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvPpzm3uaG7god70vzAAIp53snAP4rozRxzvf-ewhwheTRC-Lhge5FaXCL1QC7byqa7cebFwhSh81lR_QxkpKf0WI1uZtmj26JwtD_1LITWkhwE1iZ_ab2qgeco-81ZVeVC0oTSvzrcrc/s320/SDC12739.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486683626795564114" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiozzD_sEOtbEgW29Vnhncta7ayAiPK18vuLDnPoEiHLSPSaTvpmXzh1jGtx5EF4E2j8e4aLK0YhFzQyKl8OHxBZMLmP4zzVwnf1StZV8hkpg9-X3ywv-ZUvA76cgvwTua8CM7Y-tZKZcQ/s1600/SDC12745.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiozzD_sEOtbEgW29Vnhncta7ayAiPK18vuLDnPoEiHLSPSaTvpmXzh1jGtx5EF4E2j8e4aLK0YhFzQyKl8OHxBZMLmP4zzVwnf1StZV8hkpg9-X3ywv-ZUvA76cgvwTua8CM7Y-tZKZcQ/s320/SDC12745.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486681370086081426" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGXn08__QyReaze1_bhR6QY6PxkRqh8jWDkyRogbeK4oyh1dk0fL7_DmZnlAWI5JEeZEAg_dV9YoJg_IGhtlgKV1aj_qZJkV39zAOd3wjKg4CowEthvnJdezsMb1kARi13_du_t23OeTI/s1600/SDC12751.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGXn08__QyReaze1_bhR6QY6PxkRqh8jWDkyRogbeK4oyh1dk0fL7_DmZnlAWI5JEeZEAg_dV9YoJg_IGhtlgKV1aj_qZJkV39zAOd3wjKg4CowEthvnJdezsMb1kARi13_du_t23OeTI/s320/SDC12751.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486681356446597794" border="0" /></a><br />Everything came that we ordered, but upon further inspection we deduced that the number of metal roof sheets (determined by the supplier) would not be enough to cover both buildings. We could either pay for a few more sheets plus their transportation from Bamako to Tongo, which would put us over budget, or we could reduce the size of the classrooms. We chose the latter and set about re-measuring the building footprint, filling in the old, and digging the new. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi16p9eSOBawLBrNfx8QRzN3rvlOfAX89pkGep724ppB0Eo-g06DgARm7zI5dcyarCWlqxqHdRbff3q_2srYmiC6ow3L-kj5bC1hSRiS3J3BAfyrEUIECSsohwq7zwxjX15qWrGK6s3lgo/s1600/SDC12790.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi16p9eSOBawLBrNfx8QRzN3rvlOfAX89pkGep724ppB0Eo-g06DgARm7zI5dcyarCWlqxqHdRbff3q_2srYmiC6ow3L-kj5bC1hSRiS3J3BAfyrEUIECSsohwq7zwxjX15qWrGK6s3lgo/s320/SDC12790.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486683654449387266" border="0" /></a><br /><br />As an architect, I'm quickly learning an important lesson regarding when to accede to changes and when to stick to my guns and uphold the original design. At this point, the school that will be built is, in physical appearance, far from what I initially imagined but, in concept, still right on the mark. Due to limitations in the technical skills of the construction workers in Mali, as well as budgetary considerations, we've changed many of the details of the design such as using concrete columns instead of I-beams, sitting the roof directly on the wall instead of raising it up, etc. The key concepts (sustainability, cost-effectiveness, transfer of technical skills) are still manifest in the use of compressed bricks, rainwater harvesting, and training of members of the village. <br />We are also 'breaking ground' in another sense. BuildOn specifies that 15 men and 15 women from the village work each day. However, Tongo is a Muslim village and the men were initially not comfortable with the idea of their wives leaving their household chores to assist with the school construction. After several meetings with the village elders, we came to a compromise that the women would be responsible for supplying water for the work site. This means working along side the men to draw water from the well, fill up large barrels, and generally keep water in stock. So not only is this the first use of compressed bricks and rainwater harvesting in the area, it's a small step toward woman's empowerment in Tongo.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi16p9eSOBawLBrNfx8QRzN3rvlOfAX89pkGep724ppB0Eo-g06DgARm7zI5dcyarCWlqxqHdRbff3q_2srYmiC6ow3L-kj5bC1hSRiS3J3BAfyrEUIECSsohwq7zwxjX15qWrGK6s3lgo/s1600/SDC12790.jpg"><br /></a>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16110979333308909880noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189570025328307498.post-62455778635331517132010-06-19T07:25:00.001-07:002010-06-19T07:35:51.707-07:00The date is setAt only 19 days off schedule (or 2 years, depending on how you count), we've set the date for the groundbreaking ceremony for this Wednesday. The Mayor of Cinzana will come for a quick photo opp, we'll all eat some rice, and work will begin! The windows and doors are finally all finished and making their way to Tongo as I type. We have 12,954 bricks and 900 bags of cement. We've got a full work force lined up and on the starting line. It's go time.<br /><br />(ps I got a new camera so pictures galore are coming soon!)Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16110979333308909880noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189570025328307498.post-55684784262114536182010-05-27T06:52:00.001-07:002010-05-28T15:03:54.526-07:00Just call me the camera killerIn the course of a week, I managed to break Kyle's camera (by trying to film a dust storm) and lose mine, so we are without photos until I can get another one. This means I can't show you pictures of the 5000+ bricks we've made so far. Just imagine an ocean where each wave is a single brick. There's a pier at one end, which is actually a giant stack of bricks. In the foreground is the brick press, it's arm like the mast of a ship, diligently churning out brick after brick.<br />This is the scene in Tongo now as we prepare to start the foundation and really get going with construction. Excitement is in the air (along with frequent dust storms - cameras beware!)Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16110979333308909880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189570025328307498.post-53242401593814159542010-05-17T11:10:00.000-07:002010-05-17T14:20:59.265-07:00Enter SandmanWith over 2000 bricks and counting, we've begun preparing for work on the foundation by bring truckloads of sand and gravel to the site.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigtz4B9O24BqTLe6bs_MUcdUhE7hXXb6foxKaaRs_GmPuieRE00F0rRjj0HaQbuxQIAw4MYAYrt92H9V86vnZyXl4rfDB81kOsOwxY2Mls6BXVtMgnzz5LLlJs5mMvJzk8JyEjteXqHC0/s1600/sand.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigtz4B9O24BqTLe6bs_MUcdUhE7hXXb6foxKaaRs_GmPuieRE00F0rRjj0HaQbuxQIAw4MYAYrt92H9V86vnZyXl4rfDB81kOsOwxY2Mls6BXVtMgnzz5LLlJs5mMvJzk8JyEjteXqHC0/s320/sand.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472303925746908210" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Group Jaba-Ji (Onion Sauce) is still in the lead, although Tiga-Diga is inching closer. More as it happens!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigtz4B9O24BqTLe6bs_MUcdUhE7hXXb6foxKaaRs_GmPuieRE00F0rRjj0HaQbuxQIAw4MYAYrt92H9V86vnZyXl4rfDB81kOsOwxY2Mls6BXVtMgnzz5LLlJs5mMvJzk8JyEjteXqHC0/s1600/sand.jpg"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-2OYF_QiIO2tbD76ZqoSEFKT5rUuIPXhZnmD8A1Gszv0VXGVjtKZeNE30R0sPgq0rc2XD6qcVxWlYk5MZumatFeOHjmRmAz4QeHvuwyYn9AaU4wIsHeUfDIv8hbTWSEKXIeBrXo_9aw/s1600/bricks.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-2OYF_QiIO2tbD76ZqoSEFKT5rUuIPXhZnmD8A1Gszv0VXGVjtKZeNE30R0sPgq0rc2XD6qcVxWlYk5MZumatFeOHjmRmAz4QeHvuwyYn9AaU4wIsHeUfDIv8hbTWSEKXIeBrXo_9aw/s320/bricks.jpg" alt="" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHXdbUHZTbMeN3L2mK2HTeXK8LrKZM_C1zNSuzdV3dgXEw_C8Mu6ZEJ7qqh2BBzU_MxVIi8Mo-6Rr6uOK5qcZWQKDPxaqE-3QPNSOO-zJrfeAwmcmdByeGI2a-tokBJFmG65O7dsJ7aFo/s1600/bricks2.jpg"><br /></a>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16110979333308909880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189570025328307498.post-80333718354048472582010-05-12T08:07:00.000-07:002010-05-12T16:38:35.968-07:00Peanut Butter vs. Onions<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin392l1ZZsjXVtpOJo6chyqWDBuWDE1sV4FnF4_0hQjFZDeyxLuk_I41DHRRuvTSoys78Sf3as458P4ZMX31CItuAiHUvCdmRezS-ov7oVGk9hq_cIu3SlohTbwM__U9h3pz-g_jEgIkk/s1600/bricks1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 481px; height: 360px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin392l1ZZsjXVtpOJo6chyqWDBuWDE1sV4FnF4_0hQjFZDeyxLuk_I41DHRRuvTSoys78Sf3as458P4ZMX31CItuAiHUvCdmRezS-ov7oVGk9hq_cIu3SlohTbwM__U9h3pz-g_jEgIkk/s320/bricks1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470406054591310034" border="0" /></a><br />Brick making has officially begun and is now in full swing! The first 3 days were spent training men in the village how to use the machine and how to properly mix the dirt, sand, and cement.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSHi9XQ3MslEwI5W8RbMM0qsQC3Pbo_zvRcVEmoJQ4bOZUQmRCPp1upiSnv1D_azXhMTDA2pck3Z2gmBzIKqlbcE5NJkgYI-YGBDQ4u2qkEln9Tn27XcCUtl6j1tK_LAFOnVDFpLgfrBY/s1600/bricks13.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSHi9XQ3MslEwI5W8RbMM0qsQC3Pbo_zvRcVEmoJQ4bOZUQmRCPp1upiSnv1D_azXhMTDA2pck3Z2gmBzIKqlbcE5NJkgYI-YGBDQ4u2qkEln9Tn27XcCUtl6j1tK_LAFOnVDFpLgfrBY/s320/bricks13.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470429181040338818" border="0" /><br /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuQHtzD8DbpIo7uf9L1YawV9pDOF5xg4Yw0HyqhuIHgtnhGiAtOE6vsqGHfGqwXHEy0LU3v_yk-4p3jtEu9H6ss19x1Qt1Gfj3cCuuyc33sgp0Ljo7eIUmiZNcEsOs8wkm0JbzG0h-HlU/s1600/bricks11.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuQHtzD8DbpIo7uf9L1YawV9pDOF5xg4Yw0HyqhuIHgtnhGiAtOE6vsqGHfGqwXHEy0LU3v_yk-4p3jtEu9H6ss19x1Qt1Gfj3cCuuyc33sgp0Ljo7eIUmiZNcEsOs8wkm0JbzG0h-HlU/s320/bricks11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470417675697471250" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXm_8mA68ltWeVOkHCJNLjA5PE-NPMJEczq8x8LQShJ2gztU476XkGzZHiT_otjr1XsnIhO1N6fhAdx2PSONbd1jwbQ4pEmktpZhqfGZq2Wx6L-Pn6cpyotRTsZNNU7sZim2AS9EHS7DQ/s1600/bricks15.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXm_8mA68ltWeVOkHCJNLjA5PE-NPMJEczq8x8LQShJ2gztU476XkGzZHiT_otjr1XsnIhO1N6fhAdx2PSONbd1jwbQ4pEmktpZhqfGZq2Wx6L-Pn6cpyotRTsZNNU7sZim2AS9EHS7DQ/s320/bricks15.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470429195591328002" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPGVghU_ati8yAOKJIaVTNBf4e04R6gu1OPOOG-MJIbrZqIcmZelYxOSOH_0s1IepaD2AgMFsRmo_crTORzmId5v0CZSaS9p1zsZZaLpL0SuUFb79bQPj71Y_9CtXIJV8mPcp7dsYrvT4/s1600/bricks17.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPGVghU_ati8yAOKJIaVTNBf4e04R6gu1OPOOG-MJIbrZqIcmZelYxOSOH_0s1IepaD2AgMFsRmo_crTORzmId5v0CZSaS9p1zsZZaLpL0SuUFb79bQPj71Y_9CtXIJV8mPcp7dsYrvT4/s320/bricks17.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470430557368991298" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUYToVx4R6xOcMWl3axJNKxJ_HwpA6WeVIal75OQKn2eVySvHv7_Y7Btaljnbq-K9cGf2MelJ3HJALWKpZ37rc6HLRhBiI6MfnG0hSivI_ZFMIBFtHA88xAjgCdQO8SAola9iMsCex94g/s1600/bricks16.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUYToVx4R6xOcMWl3axJNKxJ_HwpA6WeVIal75OQKn2eVySvHv7_Y7Btaljnbq-K9cGf2MelJ3HJALWKpZ37rc6HLRhBiI6MfnG0hSivI_ZFMIBFtHA88xAjgCdQO8SAola9iMsCex94g/s320/bricks16.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470429200359033554" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSxu17SdVb-koW_gUUwEMOzgs3Y3b0hi0wwv9PuysamQL9h2YVV234MycQ2c0F9oG8YZstqxfRH_EeAm62aEceBiPSV0-UZmrNSnqNdGJZSnD0047ljl6R9nhXkQVL-gX3S_PMeDA7u10/s1600/bricks6.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSxu17SdVb-koW_gUUwEMOzgs3Y3b0hi0wwv9PuysamQL9h2YVV234MycQ2c0F9oG8YZstqxfRH_EeAm62aEceBiPSV0-UZmrNSnqNdGJZSnD0047ljl6R9nhXkQVL-gX3S_PMeDA7u10/s400/bricks6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470408942086558002" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYIQwE1fH-z5WUKSWIQug2DsUYlX6JQdnEWjcOMl0XWZFEx7R5MeWMfhnueFd1SCXFmcfBlwDe5u5kTT_MrK1AI-pGFl-8ui_P0_7O9qFAoAyFJ8umH-yfmujz6pOGdj5JmsJEBlRWSBg/s1600/bricks9.jpg"><br /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMdMLaKb2grfri3kDOJm8MuiBMQhNp4IqCFzDLgW22vnh7ZVR0kI5VtEqRT2qH8U7ihK0knXLi4rnkRs679yyuBVA6eN-I2dIO30-syZaIrRA5XUAXPdGnk-AAhAaXSGOVSOHhbwdVmgg/s1600/bricks5.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMdMLaKb2grfri3kDOJm8MuiBMQhNp4IqCFzDLgW22vnh7ZVR0kI5VtEqRT2qH8U7ihK0knXLi4rnkRs679yyuBVA6eN-I2dIO30-syZaIrRA5XUAXPdGnk-AAhAaXSGOVSOHhbwdVmgg/s400/bricks5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470408938035177602" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYIQwE1fH-z5WUKSWIQug2DsUYlX6JQdnEWjcOMl0XWZFEx7R5MeWMfhnueFd1SCXFmcfBlwDe5u5kTT_MrK1AI-pGFl-8ui_P0_7O9qFAoAyFJ8umH-yfmujz6pOGdj5JmsJEBlRWSBg/s1600/bricks9.jpg"><br /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG8IJFkCzEqFj2QlWI8PlItp8y9UWlIyxtYQCYGSqrZksObHTKkhll0bk2YyAWWBqsdYJ2aExHiD401AkbZBB5pm60OX1mJY6AkwIAlKjDf0sl4QBwjZbq7zgusXkQmlOvbHYklQ6xv78/s1600/bricks10.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 396px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG8IJFkCzEqFj2QlWI8PlItp8y9UWlIyxtYQCYGSqrZksObHTKkhll0bk2YyAWWBqsdYJ2aExHiD401AkbZBB5pm60OX1mJY6AkwIAlKjDf0sl4QBwjZbq7zgusXkQmlOvbHYklQ6xv78/s320/bricks10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470417673585288354" border="0" /></a>The first brick! (Isn't it beautiful?)<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUdd-JGmcU9n3gOT78mhxbBITVzN_1Ou569AKxytQYs7qJm_M_JTtwpQTGIvzEtYDuwl074HpU4W3GGiNsVHz80PiWEumSI1q5kZX8JZ0TyuhSBSHcNScP5xWXlp7-5YbeRFLfBhdrhdg/s1600/bricks7.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUdd-JGmcU9n3gOT78mhxbBITVzN_1Ou569AKxytQYs7qJm_M_JTtwpQTGIvzEtYDuwl074HpU4W3GGiNsVHz80PiWEumSI1q5kZX8JZ0TyuhSBSHcNScP5xWXlp7-5YbeRFLfBhdrhdg/s320/bricks7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470417651913985666" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPgsoSx6M6iynC8nxNayuSiP-Zg0T15epCicYjZ3fpLxIkJr-WgynAlEjDPWqKiNejtivQObAY37q5Q0YE5yGpjcADAFPzbNXR-5JN_41OKo7uSRkydFVvKAGn8L3iZ33K9FXDjgJt8D0/s1600/bricks2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPgsoSx6M6iynC8nxNayuSiP-Zg0T15epCicYjZ3fpLxIkJr-WgynAlEjDPWqKiNejtivQObAY37q5Q0YE5yGpjcADAFPzbNXR-5JN_41OKo7uSRkydFVvKAGn8L3iZ33K9FXDjgJt8D0/s400/bricks2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470408922467724370" border="0" /></a><br /><br />After the training, the men were divided into 3 teams, which I nicknamed: 1) Group Tiga-Diga Na (Peanut Sauce), 2) Group Jaba-Ji (Onion Sauce), and 3) Group Saga-Saga (Leaf Sauce). The teams would alternate days to split up the work and would compete with each other to see which could make the most bricks in a day and overall.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj8HrnoEUzIvPcPgxapRzsyekpKsTxZunploS-tuLw5aNqzhY3aFPKA3eQwmu6D9GvUwRod60S-JlCf3qqvwE72AmhF8pgnQvRCA6yZ2JQ71LS9ixg_DA16x3xNf8-XlCDqimf3HPqQSU/s1600/bricks18.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 397px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj8HrnoEUzIvPcPgxapRzsyekpKsTxZunploS-tuLw5aNqzhY3aFPKA3eQwmu6D9GvUwRod60S-JlCf3qqvwE72AmhF8pgnQvRCA6yZ2JQ71LS9ixg_DA16x3xNf8-XlCDqimf3HPqQSU/s320/bricks18.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470430558200949570" border="0" /></a>Meet the dream team: Group Jaba-Ji. After Tiga-Diga set the bar high at 372 bricks the first day, Jaba-Ji took the reigns the second day:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp1k4j8gKZ0ewOfinHr1A0h0Qd3iI43JQ9Td2vXfi375Zzu2CBxz-h-IKOs-we0ScNFsGWGXFIZN5IB1ZLGVOjcrC6TotCnxYugdV5Z9QIARmDJjUvHGIOuvCMgh355rnuwqRI0yppNE0/s1600/bricks14.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp1k4j8gKZ0ewOfinHr1A0h0Qd3iI43JQ9Td2vXfi375Zzu2CBxz-h-IKOs-we0ScNFsGWGXFIZN5IB1ZLGVOjcrC6TotCnxYugdV5Z9QIARmDJjUvHGIOuvCMgh355rnuwqRI0yppNE0/s320/bricks14.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470429184357337474" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYIQwE1fH-z5WUKSWIQug2DsUYlX6JQdnEWjcOMl0XWZFEx7R5MeWMfhnueFd1SCXFmcfBlwDe5u5kTT_MrK1AI-pGFl-8ui_P0_7O9qFAoAyFJ8umH-yfmujz6pOGdj5JmsJEBlRWSBg/s1600/bricks9.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYIQwE1fH-z5WUKSWIQug2DsUYlX6JQdnEWjcOMl0XWZFEx7R5MeWMfhnueFd1SCXFmcfBlwDe5u5kTT_MrK1AI-pGFl-8ui_P0_7O9qFAoAyFJ8umH-yfmujz6pOGdj5JmsJEBlRWSBg/s320/bricks9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470417668058125666" border="0" /></a><br />They worked with enthusiasm and gusto and by the end of the day turned out a whopping 378 bricks!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUdd-JGmcU9n3gOT78mhxbBITVzN_1Ou569AKxytQYs7qJm_M_JTtwpQTGIvzEtYDuwl074HpU4W3GGiNsVHz80PiWEumSI1q5kZX8JZ0TyuhSBSHcNScP5xWXlp7-5YbeRFLfBhdrhdg/s1600/bricks7.jpg"><br /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVcvUOA-oe1Z0faNz00X7fQLY9IOrjNIs05AIXLDp1UyRumviHabzeb5bBET97rloFQ61TjayTXH6aFhAP7Zkj9vq0dXQbgzK4uF3_xLB0AYiGzO4crj2oV2Eac4zxv4fZf1oNNetcAVA/s1600/bricks3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVcvUOA-oe1Z0faNz00X7fQLY9IOrjNIs05AIXLDp1UyRumviHabzeb5bBET97rloFQ61TjayTXH6aFhAP7Zkj9vq0dXQbgzK4uF3_xLB0AYiGzO4crj2oV2Eac4zxv4fZf1oNNetcAVA/s400/bricks3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470408928776977778" border="0" /></a><br />Then they took a much deserved break:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2FUzJkPoitW7By9IMZyAeHEPpVGno51NC8FeW1RMeXN8e4C-Ei3hJA2ApFh-gX1RiNIhunQPJa0Jea0s82vWm5M2tlFEwZ4W9j9OlfhWxzoXdpVVvLgmTFHbuHPdYHfbgKBNGDqZj55w/s1600/bricks8.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2FUzJkPoitW7By9IMZyAeHEPpVGno51NC8FeW1RMeXN8e4C-Ei3hJA2ApFh-gX1RiNIhunQPJa0Jea0s82vWm5M2tlFEwZ4W9j9OlfhWxzoXdpVVvLgmTFHbuHPdYHfbgKBNGDqZj55w/s320/bricks8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470417656208976866" border="0" /></a>When I left this morning we'd made just over 1,000 bricks and counting. Only 11,000 more to go!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMdMLaKb2grfri3kDOJm8MuiBMQhNp4IqCFzDLgW22vnh7ZVR0kI5VtEqRT2qH8U7ihK0knXLi4rnkRs679yyuBVA6eN-I2dIO30-syZaIrRA5XUAXPdGnk-AAhAaXSGOVSOHhbwdVmgg/s1600/bricks5.jpg"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkr7QpNsBTrDLsKGr30YLCWzV0HNpgJhTI-9vQZ03FKXU9g_2litRXi__wyWdZDpUyrA3ilgUKbBmFR-IqVvZHLhtbpIbU9qXA3ZMKRxdjn8nJIli8E95CzKbXgdI6gNk9jnLoYpgHSdY/s1600/bricks4.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkr7QpNsBTrDLsKGr30YLCWzV0HNpgJhTI-9vQZ03FKXU9g_2litRXi__wyWdZDpUyrA3ilgUKbBmFR-IqVvZHLhtbpIbU9qXA3ZMKRxdjn8nJIli8E95CzKbXgdI6gNk9jnLoYpgHSdY/s400/bricks4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470408930861913874" border="0" /></a>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16110979333308909880noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189570025328307498.post-29614249359039225782010-05-01T12:02:00.000-07:002010-05-02T09:06:07.366-07:00Flying Buttresses!<div>We got the brick press to Tongo in the back of a truck, and have successfully "installed" it on the work site. This consisted of cementing it into the ground so it won't wiggle around. Now it needs to cure for a few days, then we'll start training the village on how it works!</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh4BQpKJQgFje4om5hP2ZVGmpQVFcRXLZmUKWbhQJ-lNt4YxB_DDVq9QLRerhyphenhyphenW_OKv02VEobKG-n7aKyONUkLYTM1J-uvoolF3cyN6enPlgK_WLjMKrzrqBbxXxgcEhonKTVQmpr-a9c/s1600/press1.jpg"><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh4BQpKJQgFje4om5hP2ZVGmpQVFcRXLZmUKWbhQJ-lNt4YxB_DDVq9QLRerhyphenhyphenW_OKv02VEobKG-n7aKyONUkLYTM1J-uvoolF3cyN6enPlgK_WLjMKrzrqBbxXxgcEhonKTVQmpr-a9c/s320/press1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466379673430827298" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUWKVCGnB7Jyc6kEIgN5uaITEatr8zdjz9l0qDaozp45D5N4QT1Ak6MHIFi9wTSQNStg38MyKlleug9IAwluTki5MO4OzTI_4SdiXgez8dYSnAzKYV_N872gx6z_khH2BerPvG-fhuDOA/s1600/press2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUWKVCGnB7Jyc6kEIgN5uaITEatr8zdjz9l0qDaozp45D5N4QT1Ak6MHIFi9wTSQNStg38MyKlleug9IAwluTki5MO4OzTI_4SdiXgez8dYSnAzKYV_N872gx6z_khH2BerPvG-fhuDOA/s320/press2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466379665677950770" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMTFij7UFXGYboUqwZXf4QNdUoactFzV_PyBtyxEsGIiQVoqf3OwgDmhB5DCS55w2rIeV8Ik8N4Y_5d9W1vgCNZU1EziOK-2guONg3myaU-ifRKeiRGP7evscIjjU7SRIp1rWbWNH5zoE/s1600/press3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 232px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMTFij7UFXGYboUqwZXf4QNdUoactFzV_PyBtyxEsGIiQVoqf3OwgDmhB5DCS55w2rIeV8Ik8N4Y_5d9W1vgCNZU1EziOK-2guONg3myaU-ifRKeiRGP7evscIjjU7SRIp1rWbWNH5zoE/s320/press3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466379664742819970" /></a><br /><div>Look familiar? Yes, those are the leftover bricks from the <a href="http://mary-in-mali.blogspot.com/2008/08/africa-is-not-place-for-perfectionists.html">well project</a>, being used as flying buttresses. I also see a striking resemblance to another structure....<div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYlypyIiB89dLKxbXqQ3K2IX9TMc2aRbOezTnZYo7nJHUsTQG7cbV3Ovj2IV1MH-qFtOgZJgZt_7kKxBOXhc3qS3F423pIA0wmNK4qnOUpYPvQb0dyVT3a6zWd-vZV6YdXZ4QIyb9dI6Q/s1600/FlyingButtressND.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYlypyIiB89dLKxbXqQ3K2IX9TMc2aRbOezTnZYo7nJHUsTQG7cbV3Ovj2IV1MH-qFtOgZJgZt_7kKxBOXhc3qS3F423pIA0wmNK4qnOUpYPvQb0dyVT3a6zWd-vZV6YdXZ4QIyb9dI6Q/s320/FlyingButtressND.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466379656614087858" /></a><br /></div></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16110979333308909880noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189570025328307498.post-24157267555915848382010-04-26T09:17:00.000-07:002010-04-26T10:48:49.372-07:00The Epic of the Brick Press<div>We found another brick press! </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "></span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ4oFo8rcbMK5LDlYs4GBB3FucO6ls2D3AK9FpOWsZi5fS0Zv98h4ZiqBZRYUHpLHqx8u4hrVlcSyOZdcXOG0DKA35yfch-QalzFoxrnQVT94Z7_7AN0TLjXMyK61WKJqemCGdfjLpCtU/s320/brickpress1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464496906987384674" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmARq_qC_7PO6rfgsXpdiOg3H7RWJlWj5Rjtly0eVrA5_154UbaKLVzOkksdxyzw3ZULVbROpExoTPT6XUxDHyTI5k-r-VpNyLQKiEJPtDfT-ioZkvlUGql2pouR3ndCz7ZkMWZAZhCcI/s1600/brickpress2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmARq_qC_7PO6rfgsXpdiOg3H7RWJlWj5Rjtly0eVrA5_154UbaKLVzOkksdxyzw3ZULVbROpExoTPT6XUxDHyTI5k-r-VpNyLQKiEJPtDfT-ioZkvlUGql2pouR3ndCz7ZkMWZAZhCcI/s320/brickpress2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464496915890766770" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1d9qzZUSoNXXbYkw5a6y5-y4DAXij-relGFYbinY_pd8t-CLnNL4ltNidCFqPDVeSgyzuyaF-hUTY2qyqVF7Bm-v_jjmEsOtheMjIUOAao4bGorce5OclfdQhhrV9jRqqkHwKzLfU6oo/s1600/brickpress3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1d9qzZUSoNXXbYkw5a6y5-y4DAXij-relGFYbinY_pd8t-CLnNL4ltNidCFqPDVeSgyzuyaF-hUTY2qyqVF7Bm-v_jjmEsOtheMjIUOAao4bGorce5OclfdQhhrV9jRqqkHwKzLfU6oo/s320/brickpress3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464496910877744290" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ4oFo8rcbMK5LDlYs4GBB3FucO6ls2D3AK9FpOWsZi5fS0Zv98h4ZiqBZRYUHpLHqx8u4hrVlcSyOZdcXOG0DKA35yfch-QalzFoxrnQVT94Z7_7AN0TLjXMyK61WKJqemCGdfjLpCtU/s1600/brickpress1.jpg"></a><br /><div> </div><div>It seems that we've actually gone full circle, finally locating the brick press of a time long ago. I don't think I've ever told this story on the blog, so it seems time to share the epic of the brick press:<br /><br />It all started in February 2008. But I didn't know that at the time. I didn't start really planning this school project until at least April. I was curious if Malians knew about compressed bricks (if you don't know what they are at this point, please <a href="http://www.appropedia.org/Compressed_earth_brick_press">educate yourself</a>). I started asking around if anyone knew of construction that had been done or brick presses that might be in use in the country. I met a mason who told me he'd used one once, many years ago, while working for someone named George Samake, but he had no idea how to contact him now. A month or two went by without finding him before I registered that George is an odd name for someone in Mali, unless he is a Christian and thereby associated with the Catholic mission. So off I went to the catholic mission and after a few weeks of missed connections, I finally found George. Yes, he had done a project with compressed bricks about ten years ago. Did he still have the machine? No, he had rented it from a friend named Joe Kieta. Can I get in touch with Joe? Sorry, Joe died five years ago.</div><div> </div><div>...but his wife, Madame Kieta, works in town at the bureau "gene rural" (pronounced in french). So off I went to the bureau "general" (my french is still a little faulty), where there was no one by that name. I did, however, encounter Madame Kieta's sister (!), who led me across the street to the correct office. Yes, Joe was her late husband. Yes, she had a brick press! I got her number and we agreed to meet the next week to look at the machine, which was collecting dust in her back yard.</div><div>That weekend I attended a wedding for Adama's wife's sister, who was marrying a man named Yaya, who turned out to be a contractor. Has he ever worked with compressed bricks? Yes. Does he know where we could find a brick press? Yes, he has one in Koutiala. Can he give us a good price? Agreed. I called Madame Kieta to tell her thanks, but we're going with someone else. </div><div>Fast forward to April, 2010. We're ready to start making bricks when the deal with the press falls through (remember <a href="http://mary-in-mali.blogspot.com/2010/04/blacky.html">Blacky</a>?). So I go back to the bureau "gene rural" (the correct one this time) to find old Madame Kieta. Yes, she still works there. No, she doesn't have the machine anymore. She's sold it to a guy named Alou Kieta. No, she doesn't have his number. Dead end.</div><div> </div><div>Rewind all the way back to February 2008. I attended an <a href="http://mary-in-mali.blogspot.com/2008/02/i-just-got-back-from-bamako-after.html">architecture conference</a> in Bamako about building with dirt. Here I met a man who worked with compressed bricks and who gave me a brochure for his organization. I put it in a folder and forgot about it. Until yesterday.</div><div> </div><div>Fast forward (is this making you dizzy?) back to 2010. Racking my brain to find another lead on a brick press, I suddenly remember this brochure. I pull it out, blow off the dust, and who's name, phone number, and email are written on the front? Alou Kieta. I call him and meet with him that same day; he's easy to work with, gives us a great price, and voila! We have a brick press.</div></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16110979333308909880noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189570025328307498.post-11043571130178577332010-04-23T11:19:00.001-07:002010-04-23T11:29:33.493-07:00Design Like You Give a Damn 2I'm happy to report that the design for the school (henceforth known as the "Yellow Submarine") has been submitted for consideration to be published in Architecture for Humanity's book <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Design Like You Give a Damn 2. </span>You can see the entry and more about the competition here:<div><a href="http://openarchitecturenetwork.org/projects/tongoschool">http://openarchitecturenetwork.org/projects/tongoschool</a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Wish it luck!</div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16110979333308909880noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189570025328307498.post-370752671827081232010-04-22T07:33:00.000-07:002010-04-22T07:59:29.172-07:00"Blacky"We'd be making bricks now if it weren't for Blacky. <div>We organized a meeting in Cinzana today to finalize plans with the owner of the brick press. We'd already agreed on a price to rent the machine per day and just wanted to iron out the details. That's when Blacky changed his mind. Now, I've never even met this Blacky character, so for him to hold up the entire project was not a great introduction. Thus far, we'd been working with Yaya, who's Adama's wife's sister's husband and who we thought was in charge of this machine. Turns out, he's just the messenger. And an expensive messenger to boot. Each time he's come for a meeting we've had to pay his transport and of course he can't take public transportation like everyone else, he's gotta drive his gas guzzling car 100K. So Yaya shows up and says 1) the price has changed and now includes a fee per brick, a transportation fee, fees for skilled and unskilled labor per day, and oh yeah, the price we'd agreed on to rent the machine has also gone up. and 2) all of this is non-negotiable because Yaya doesn't actually own the machine, can't bargain on behalf of the machine's owner, and has mysteriously lost this guy's number. So, enraged at wasting our time, we scrap the meeting and eat lunch. That's when Yaya suddenly relocates the number for the machine owner and voila: our first encounter with Blacky. <div>us: "what happened to the price we agreed on?"</div><div>blacky: "I increased it."</div><div>us: "why?"</div><div>blacky: "because I don't need your money to be able to eat and I can charge whatever I want. take it or leave it."</div><div>us: "fine. we'll just find another brick press. jerk."</div><div><br /></div><div>So that's where we're at now. While we should be making bricks, instead we're looking for another brick press in Mali that's willing to charge a reasonable rate. Maybe Blacky will come to his senses but he doesn't seem like some I'd like to work with for the next 6 months!</div></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16110979333308909880noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189570025328307498.post-12920990961089865132010-04-16T05:38:00.000-07:002010-04-16T10:41:06.172-07:00Opus Initium!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMVjmas6xpI3OcvLJ7CvPpIjL1XOy3QWnzFOFmENtXOhVZP22XGHyaJ0KMqauqSLsqEMuGR7gEF-AydRgqZA-HIqG8kMbDSH7P7zqK-7t8d9OLeEXPEOqicl8qYT1qKbELfOKNmo_ni10/s1600/P4140065.JPG"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><b>dimidium facti qui coepit habet</b> <br />He who has begun has the work half done (Horace)</span><br /><div><br /><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">Monday, April 12 (Day 1)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">The day started in a taxi to the bank with $20,000,000 cash tied up in a black plastic bag. We deposited the money into an account that would be used to purchase all the materials for the school project, and hopped on a bus to Bamako where we would buy the cement. The ride to Bamako from Segou is roughly 3 to 4 hours, depending on the quality of bus, number of flat tires, and conditions on the road. It's about 120 degrees inside and the windows don't open. It took us about 3 1/2 hours. Not bad. As soon as we pulled into the bus station, we got a call from BuildOn saying they'd changed their minds, and would now like to purchase the cement in Segou (which we had wanted to do in the first place). Since we were already in Bamako we took advantage of the availability of ice cream and ham sandwiches, and spent the night in air conditioning.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"> </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-family:Georgia;font-size:16px;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgefh3NXRVZNNg11JPolF97DpoVGTNlC8jqfgcdEnLscn_Jx4r9rjL_2VF0QWkicALubBXlWum_KT8q8ECOX2_pe3rcV2U1f9MnKImfhZa9k23luQ1z8cWje5VYqvpI1emZO-tyGX0-wsI/s320/PA130017.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460775935919159362" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"> </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">Tuesday, April 13 (Day 2)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">Bus back to Segou. 1 flat tire. 4 1/2 hours. 120 degrees. Not bad.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">Wednesday, April 14 (Day 3)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">Met with the cement vendor in Segou, negotiated the price of cement, the cost of transport, and struck a deal. $14,323 for 1100 bags of cement. $573 for transport to Tongo. Not bad. The payment would be made by wire transfer into the vendors bank account. He seemed unfamiliar with this practice and slightly anxious but he eventually agreed and ordered the truck to start loading. The biggest truck they had could only carry 800 bags, so it would take 2 trips. The truck arrived around 4pm and was loaded with 800 bags (40 tons) of cement in about 3 hours.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"> </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-family:Georgia;font-size:16px;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHvhGapCjoKKEfb83NypD18NkqA8S0NS9zaWi6BhJxb0XRUWN72dgdCggchH2frcNqWJbv_7y3emFTX57HyzAiHg2H_habq0tK11qYC-A3Bdq7eB25-aUmb-nq-flTuuZUr9fmv-y1Okw/s320/P4140015.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460723758576987874" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "> </p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-family:Georgia;font-size:16px;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio514Ls4vNBm6-LBYIQnhjjsmCdPZLsnxuEstnILi1T33-IWymWaA7JU9YGdeZFYsRe3ZbFXq-T6Sh7gC72ilY0lNv7FGTzUUr3bBH1ZsLDIXqMPAnxqHXa4QZGYaaeKBSRgdsWGomqUM/s320/KhEi0.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460775946801459762" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-family:Georgia;font-size:16px;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIOWhqWf3AFmQVVCRm9svXfshlhMvKQMJgfGPUVDXTnh5r4_kcwLWDY021FVKjpPc6JofLKjFe4PaNWFAp_bKbjpfvWiSE6KDdxxvSM__Kxn6Ttbvg0XAPdegsTTypmWZTQFEczpoBipw/s320/P4140030.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460723763966532706" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "> </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-family:Georgia;font-size:16px;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAnBXjuvpMxMhvnkcTS7wKvrR1O6OnKYW0NNlJtDXGm1_UaC0m-vzxbw15vr1igep1oreT9Zuh1Y8Heo_bAGxXgWbyrJBIymapOl2LjrB_ocOckeZ7QjiNPoCz09khaLFgz44ODqwRXBo/s320/P4140043.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460723766451262786" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "> </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-family:Georgia;font-size:16px;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWlegrsQKhQg24fhbRKiuU2V1ImUgNennMF4jtgm01H1vho8PwZxusYUBLkIt49iKnmfLbR4lMH7hnrh58J5Dv4ctbMzyYvBMSV5zPsIjeYbEJp31Je9hWsdZdgCdmsRP1g2DX7knweYg/s320/P4140063.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460739014034051858" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">We sat in the front of the truck for the 35 mile ride to Tongo and the sun began to set.</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMVjmas6xpI3OcvLJ7CvPpIjL1XOy3QWnzFOFmENtXOhVZP22XGHyaJ0KMqauqSLsqEMuGR7gEF-AydRgqZA-HIqG8kMbDSH7P7zqK-7t8d9OLeEXPEOqicl8qYT1qKbELfOKNmo_ni10/s320/P4140065.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460787965596560514" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></p><p></p><p></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"> </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">When we arrived in Tongo it was nearly dark but we were met with enthusiastic cheers and greetings as what seemed like the entire village crowded around the truck to help unload. The chief told me his mind had settled after the long delays and he was excited about the work that we were starting. "This will be very good for the village," he said as bag after bag left the truck and was stacked in the only room in Tongo with a cement floor and metal roof. </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"> </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"> </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-family:Georgia;font-size:16px;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLUfkhfQco3LFWP1MhzY2FDhjDt-j7POZMfE6Y_tHYafxr7IInbD75rdsKU7oh3s4KR40wNvJGqc4FbxiXPP-GFKpPR-KlIdowB_gFGCDvw8052g4sU3WzPkehcghEojcswbOMb9ez28c/s320/P4150109.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460771501918977970" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-family: Georgia; font-size: 48px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdSkoizi9HGwUPn6WjBaQQdVreJCdayesp7ZBqLIQp0hvBzxAP_GPXXugXDiBuFdsuJ5rd2HjBLs7ZRqo_ZEkPTrHkI3p6toXnuNSMAl0xymrtHSg7KkVlktn35vOztDbJ2dAAr1E6y6o/s320/P4150106.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460771491373870738" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVdXhAvE6K8GkM3wvp4anROCea9co1I4krIY0xJXvE05GwudtVB2taUiHVU2q6pmkN07n-N8igdxXUlJvt4QrRiIvEvLGPC0rTD781qi0eSngFKbUKfuy1fJZDozOQGrVyp3p5TjY6MBo/s320/P4150113.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460771504447912610" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfyBQ7MISI-3RvC2gLVyj3Q4fgqEv7vTJxt6GIx27hujZvlnBovxKy7WN3sbRsz0WFu2dRuHTqpILktypkza0fj-DZiD_IvErqMmRP1MCoji4uEi4OpMwS_xSeWk2n1g4DDKh6iTJTS2U/s320/P4150102.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460771484285850434" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSh46i8iSYvrvGzZSG6ioZVCljOlbWxw80IPY-00V3hW0UJ9tfuW0_8eTAGPGneESLQFfbYo0808abfQ06euOUy573YQfmGtmnSOuTqbdaCOzrUpqridPsJGGwpDuVxBlGB1PLOtWv9dU/s320/P4150091.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460739036283957154" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi90BSrnEKS1CRADQ2UbzlFap0XZ4D6nhyphenhyphenxqbBvhA5z2mgnDwrI4NfYT9CKMANp4RfsAf3ebqb55HVQ6VNzPhHEgqop8GeL-5n9y3XXW6TS7tVqIW5PjYkxynQnRzt2hAHMT4tZvtm3Odg/s1600/uucwV.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi90BSrnEKS1CRADQ2UbzlFap0XZ4D6nhyphenhyphenxqbBvhA5z2mgnDwrI4NfYT9CKMANp4RfsAf3ebqb55HVQ6VNzPhHEgqop8GeL-5n9y3XXW6TS7tVqIW5PjYkxynQnRzt2hAHMT4tZvtm3Odg/s320/uucwV.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460775940409927426" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtHAjXZWQnTyyrQNZSKPvCgyykcJe8PAjJcJ4mpCe104udTSbXc0JkmzlMB_VMdyFgH2vExmXycVGRLteZPy7iz6Vv5Ahyb__CRK2hh5vP8l6Mzl6gmONU5Xxll1D118Mjm2Wf72RCgJ0/s320/P4140074.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460739026343244930" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbg5sdmM7luTU4PWFchIoRTwzj8wBBVP2w4-jeKoVxaD3v2g7RAxUGu5TtUS6_cXo3z8VMi2Vyu1eeOVdCRQG2D6YHjz_5-J_FyTEcm5qFakd8zDwI-ZTIowlzXQfnOBvT3-oF8mlK5ow/s320/P4150100.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460771480486404066" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">We finished unloading the truck and in true Malian style hospitality we were invited to eat dinner before we left. By the time we were back on the road it was after 10pm. Riding back we took the sand road through the fields, the only light coming from the trucks headlights. It was one of those rides where everyone is quiet, lost in their own thoughts, and the world seems infinitely beautiful. Not bad for a day's work.</p><div><br /></div> <p></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">Thursday, April 15 (Day 4)</p><p></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">There were still 300 bags of cement that needed to be transported to Tongo. Again the truck came around 4pm, was loaded, and set off with us in the front seats. Again we were met with a crowd in Tongo and the unloading went quickly. Again we stayed for dinner and drove back through the fields at night. Again, not bad.</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><br /></p><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiijw-ubcy8dNPUj-jnB4WrD0qud5_qTzWq3zHJCWebnecCsJlZrKVtwmZ_hRF1wf_Oba8ZSJjno1OrgwGWZGCayt4xhwFN6FSkJeDfKdKVZMUsCAp_IELAVr76NcFXJ_x2XakSZuAbj2E/s1600/P4140008.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 206px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiijw-ubcy8dNPUj-jnB4WrD0qud5_qTzWq3zHJCWebnecCsJlZrKVtwmZ_hRF1wf_Oba8ZSJjno1OrgwGWZGCayt4xhwFN6FSkJeDfKdKVZMUsCAp_IELAVr76NcFXJ_x2XakSZuAbj2E/s320/P4140008.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460722926941676610" /></a><div><br /><div> </div><div> </div></div></div></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16110979333308909880noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189570025328307498.post-46593347264728697882010-03-29T09:52:00.000-07:002010-03-29T10:14:24.288-07:00Teach a Man to FishOur <a href="http://mary-in-mali.blogspot.com/2010/02/noma-face-of-poverty.html">encounter with Noma disease</a> last month brought us to a specialized clinic outside Bamako where they care for patients and perform surgeries. Impressed with the work they did, Kyle and I wanted to spread the word about both the disease and the treatment center. So last week we rounded up a group of 10 malians who work in health clinics in and around Cinzana, and we brought them down to Bamako. We were met by the clinic's head doctor, who had organized a tour of the facility and a presentation explaining what Noma is, how you get it, how you prevent it, and how you treat it. Now these health workers can spread this knowledge through the rest of the region, limiting the impact of this terrible disease.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHKD3p3YXNNEmn_UQbzcDiYuHML4MF3sJbubB3IPfNablIwBiuPER9fW-PSBHJgWGKn7rnrO9WyZJ3crT0Xx4mnQjDwOE01euu0Yl6k0yWwl563rh5spRlfOhrWq4reuPwe8ozChKQzJw/s1600/P3270128.jpg"></a><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHKD3p3YXNNEmn_UQbzcDiYuHML4MF3sJbubB3IPfNablIwBiuPER9fW-PSBHJgWGKn7rnrO9WyZJ3crT0Xx4mnQjDwOE01euu0Yl6k0yWwl563rh5spRlfOhrWq4reuPwe8ozChKQzJw/s1600/P3270128.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><br /></a></span><img style="text-decoration: underline;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHKD3p3YXNNEmn_UQbzcDiYuHML4MF3sJbubB3IPfNablIwBiuPER9fW-PSBHJgWGKn7rnrO9WyZJ3crT0Xx4mnQjDwOE01euu0Yl6k0yWwl563rh5spRlfOhrWq4reuPwe8ozChKQzJw/s320/P3270128.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454100222169397650" /><br /></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16110979333308909880noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189570025328307498.post-44837352338460609352010-03-29T08:20:00.001-07:002010-03-29T09:51:16.837-07:00Pig Roast<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeso9BJlA1BrNBXw1_AinGPhVNZ0hs9SDlrddzms5UVEuTkky7uQbxJhpHi0n2JPookvWA5CjaLqIaOG9lwK1ciiMJw_xgnRl5oWBIpRyBirsyNLb33wl2rN5CSlzXgWf5NRSNrH8ksFo/s1600/P3190102.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeso9BJlA1BrNBXw1_AinGPhVNZ0hs9SDlrddzms5UVEuTkky7uQbxJhpHi0n2JPookvWA5CjaLqIaOG9lwK1ciiMJw_xgnRl5oWBIpRyBirsyNLb33wl2rN5CSlzXgWf5NRSNrH8ksFo/s320/P3190102.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454077680715524306" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz4KyAn0bDojVrbRqT3sA-AEonvoLHRv2S6aZpjT9MeNGxdmIz4syCZ1sXXM7oe0cK5V_Esnb-Rj_3siEHZftbQHbydWPBFwn1mMK6eLjIz1yTWhqSHgbrevZ7DMIovgz6sT-5IoUsdtE/s1600/P3190103.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz4KyAn0bDojVrbRqT3sA-AEonvoLHRv2S6aZpjT9MeNGxdmIz4syCZ1sXXM7oe0cK5V_Esnb-Rj_3siEHZftbQHbydWPBFwn1mMK6eLjIz1yTWhqSHgbrevZ7DMIovgz6sT-5IoUsdtE/s320/P3190103.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454077674245285026" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAVDUB2x9ZjzEw50FgH6FuBoykOvabSvk2Ni3-eMh74TkdNKQDZwSCKXdJUmGyN4-FhqecjaOfz9q3RH4uT2KCCinJi4FKYRqb08aOhWh5irHoUGtX8BrSfoEGh0_NY4lv-oZ3CjsS1xc/s1600/P3190105.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAVDUB2x9ZjzEw50FgH6FuBoykOvabSvk2Ni3-eMh74TkdNKQDZwSCKXdJUmGyN4-FhqecjaOfz9q3RH4uT2KCCinJi4FKYRqb08aOhWh5irHoUGtX8BrSfoEGh0_NY4lv-oZ3CjsS1xc/s320/P3190105.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454077664052904578" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO8I24g4gFZuYfcX8zISEYdIh-wJ-bPyqgc8QhZa1SP3enQwVi6KR_7NkvnXjrZlbwTJi17xcmjPlwHlR3EwQF71Fi5EREujLM1NNq5yVmdkqiafLNiAvWEXIZeSNGemae3olTVPbFimY/s1600/P3190110.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO8I24g4gFZuYfcX8zISEYdIh-wJ-bPyqgc8QhZa1SP3enQwVi6KR_7NkvnXjrZlbwTJi17xcmjPlwHlR3EwQF71Fi5EREujLM1NNq5yVmdkqiafLNiAvWEXIZeSNGemae3olTVPbFimY/s320/P3190110.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454077660750352530" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyd3kkG8c3Ck8L3N7gs0NCs1TO3d-_ZC-1GD-9tecWCQ564dsWiS554tHCaCRDlWgZKhJ4vYaY8cmJfuqbpE0rDCz1q5MZIel5zDKQ2sgNzmw1p7hxvg6dE1FhkoZQIGCwU-Vi8aczor0/s1600/Slow_Cookers_BBQ_Pulled_Pork.ashx.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyd3kkG8c3Ck8L3N7gs0NCs1TO3d-_ZC-1GD-9tecWCQ564dsWiS554tHCaCRDlWgZKhJ4vYaY8cmJfuqbpE0rDCz1q5MZIel5zDKQ2sgNzmw1p7hxvg6dE1FhkoZQIGCwU-Vi8aczor0/s320/Slow_Cookers_BBQ_Pulled_Pork.ashx.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454077654853955106" /></a>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16110979333308909880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189570025328307498.post-14973859301431927532010-03-09T06:34:00.000-08:002010-03-29T08:19:22.491-07:00Festival of Masks<div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeWE93E90GUtqhdyqDXDV8BRjyHRGu8wGGaTajTSwjabxpkNpHdFS7TMxRQjrIU2RvDuaHtdQs52ysJPeQCV6Lp48AQtZBrdhYCcUiX5SLPtj1Z0ns7EN4LWUa-S7mxfLVJTI1paV4dRo/s320/IMG_4726.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454073873747560098" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQSZgRraDQp0tXaAHzEf7d1eD4FAoO8TZH89Q08DxuJ7IUUm7As-NR4zS4zCMrV-46bBTX5XqLpAOOrUOSUEZ89HmC1VoR0Rh_YMjabMOjKjKqAzPkV54xxmqDQhpynwABCDLGWaXs7zg/s1600/IMG_4797.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQSZgRraDQp0tXaAHzEf7d1eD4FAoO8TZH89Q08DxuJ7IUUm7As-NR4zS4zCMrV-46bBTX5XqLpAOOrUOSUEZ89HmC1VoR0Rh_YMjabMOjKjKqAzPkV54xxmqDQhpynwABCDLGWaXs7zg/s320/IMG_4797.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454073890758344882" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7SBdTOQo6c5W5E4iEy3g8cDAdElD_MoOjzyc8xxeMksz56RH6m4c9VSELPnDDv__XIJjgdjDGI8gn3avXqZUEyzsiuIrfzdgR4UoTsic7vdj-X2IdOk8tAvdNCa49SaynkIxeVrB2gA0/s1600/IMG_4795.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7SBdTOQo6c5W5E4iEy3g8cDAdElD_MoOjzyc8xxeMksz56RH6m4c9VSELPnDDv__XIJjgdjDGI8gn3avXqZUEyzsiuIrfzdgR4UoTsic7vdj-X2IdOk8tAvdNCa49SaynkIxeVrB2gA0/s320/IMG_4795.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454073892486251570" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigBWl0bczJhY5Z5Tx6WNqv-tlfSQfDjBHCTB-H0mML4NlZ059MKzJ21PkQUZ6xodABYwX6kUKIas67BnJO67rGGuXe2uxbCJhlNTYZuAgGT51iw8EU94yozVBgQaw6HnM8WB7TIF__1Ic/s1600/IMG_4791.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigBWl0bczJhY5Z5Tx6WNqv-tlfSQfDjBHCTB-H0mML4NlZ059MKzJ21PkQUZ6xodABYwX6kUKIas67BnJO67rGGuXe2uxbCJhlNTYZuAgGT51iw8EU94yozVBgQaw6HnM8WB7TIF__1Ic/s320/IMG_4791.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454073880705806658" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKShkyY3CWdE2wMdD692a5RlV9-Mzz8s_ft9aknQi72s3a18_5gnEjIiJo47B3X73vB_OPYC-FTUqqW-rTQpWC9jppa5R6Z8X0rQulNE610c5Zh8d1mtvSQCPA4yzZfoXpQtY0MmlMjjE/s1600/IMG_4727.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKShkyY3CWdE2wMdD692a5RlV9-Mzz8s_ft9aknQi72s3a18_5gnEjIiJo47B3X73vB_OPYC-FTUqqW-rTQpWC9jppa5R6Z8X0rQulNE610c5Zh8d1mtvSQCPA4yzZfoXpQtY0MmlMjjE/s320/IMG_4727.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454073878138879266" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeWE93E90GUtqhdyqDXDV8BRjyHRGu8wGGaTajTSwjabxpkNpHdFS7TMxRQjrIU2RvDuaHtdQs52ysJPeQCV6Lp48AQtZBrdhYCcUiX5SLPtj1Z0ns7EN4LWUa-S7mxfLVJTI1paV4dRo/s1600/IMG_4726.jpg"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX_GPHclgC5-q7R_Y-4ygtX_3i138Gmg60muQ8RByBMVIY45S7mOtNzcGVgjsfnphI1z272h_6CvTtAnmcu4BcapILNY1v1Cr1xA1YMo0zLrYlmHdpqUAvNhTBbrct7Chq2Oh9J-zqPrc/s1600/P3060080.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX_GPHclgC5-q7R_Y-4ygtX_3i138Gmg60muQ8RByBMVIY45S7mOtNzcGVgjsfnphI1z272h_6CvTtAnmcu4BcapILNY1v1Cr1xA1YMo0zLrYlmHdpqUAvNhTBbrct7Chq2Oh9J-zqPrc/s320/P3060080.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454067369687285170" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGb4T_Os2V_Va0R8cH5pyDc9rT66VJ_D0IUk8VHBJI_74fFlp7VWMHNXQNXprzCaPrZhtvs_Nt-9wZGu3YrFSK337D33J97uvyu3evjHssRgQkV052URzoJrfvIac_tG1elDTUU5_wn0Y/s1600/P3060052.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 220px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGb4T_Os2V_Va0R8cH5pyDc9rT66VJ_D0IUk8VHBJI_74fFlp7VWMHNXQNXprzCaPrZhtvs_Nt-9wZGu3YrFSK337D33J97uvyu3evjHssRgQkV052URzoJrfvIac_tG1elDTUU5_wn0Y/s320/P3060052.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454067367082523122" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMIGbU1W9cLihHZx8bifH7fErkaA-cz5srocexFCWSIz65DfGxtGQdajyUJ1vxpobcuHEljPUt9jWOjd7Fis5bwEk77ICuPVrtZmfsASQgJqMnWdxi5JZg-IFGiiOqVyLlCXxRZMeHrTY/s1600/P3050047.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMIGbU1W9cLihHZx8bifH7fErkaA-cz5srocexFCWSIz65DfGxtGQdajyUJ1vxpobcuHEljPUt9jWOjd7Fis5bwEk77ICuPVrtZmfsASQgJqMnWdxi5JZg-IFGiiOqVyLlCXxRZMeHrTY/s320/P3050047.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454067359111107554" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLUZJWpHYOqITuxeuLLliscjyfaHEIxvHC6060Op89Ec6v9jdDCMkLjwQhmmMWg3_G1OH6lXnEl_a-YLic0HJO9MXNiTFzwAipSo9n-rbt0OoME-qKxw8ubOvqtULr1yfLO3OjH7bmbyA/s1600/P3050040.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 223px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLUZJWpHYOqITuxeuLLliscjyfaHEIxvHC6060Op89Ec6v9jdDCMkLjwQhmmMWg3_G1OH6lXnEl_a-YLic0HJO9MXNiTFzwAipSo9n-rbt0OoME-qKxw8ubOvqtULr1yfLO3OjH7bmbyA/s320/P3050040.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454067352997901234" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS1-64d6KZlH4oD3qB_CZDMb8ZaHLn5cCaVdQNs9j23bJ6Pt_r4ZecjwrsQFGu3Uc0pKHC4BFFcahGH_eMI806Do7uA2adln6gN42gWTyxePumgHk1QvkiKdCklKkvKFklgZJRqdjDLhU/s1600/P3050033.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS1-64d6KZlH4oD3qB_CZDMb8ZaHLn5cCaVdQNs9j23bJ6Pt_r4ZecjwrsQFGu3Uc0pKHC4BFFcahGH_eMI806Do7uA2adln6gN42gWTyxePumgHk1QvkiKdCklKkvKFklgZJRqdjDLhU/s320/P3050033.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454067350423797602" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg77_ZGLwf96k4iAl1Y6bOKnVgcXpv8DPqVlswhyphenhyphenAId9ILI2NBD16O6dibTjnUll7czoD4MwuBpGDSga5YtXZapvqGrRjvvS_20M8ahnuRFYlyNmuU-u5rLxizMixnKspyyPFT2cU3eoaM/s1600/P3050032.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg77_ZGLwf96k4iAl1Y6bOKnVgcXpv8DPqVlswhyphenhyphenAId9ILI2NBD16O6dibTjnUll7czoD4MwuBpGDSga5YtXZapvqGrRjvvS_20M8ahnuRFYlyNmuU-u5rLxizMixnKspyyPFT2cU3eoaM/s320/P3050032.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454058216869356130" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjicf_4froTqhvuAfSAAxBImMmX715LpuJsatQiuw1DvODSZnNCgRzmqtTag96C8n2LvTFbvzQN3ys-H7NdvRpfBXpoMqmQioYIOxPpO2nkMYv_x9hmlIBzV4gxZjG8shWqduHMB0UwWnY/s1600/P3050030.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjicf_4froTqhvuAfSAAxBImMmX715LpuJsatQiuw1DvODSZnNCgRzmqtTag96C8n2LvTFbvzQN3ys-H7NdvRpfBXpoMqmQioYIOxPpO2nkMYv_x9hmlIBzV4gxZjG8shWqduHMB0UwWnY/s320/P3050030.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454058211351628370" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQrs9SsBbRFFkAtlSgEMfTtc5yALjxob5_YHi4An4dc5nT-Y8vuwNIM3x9KbucCV8UBtS6u9Bc87ISXHfHXPUezHc-26QVecmwfcAuHiHdwrTnAJpXOrnboUxcxtJGpVmRMhKgHNRiqNo/s1600/P3050025.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQrs9SsBbRFFkAtlSgEMfTtc5yALjxob5_YHi4An4dc5nT-Y8vuwNIM3x9KbucCV8UBtS6u9Bc87ISXHfHXPUezHc-26QVecmwfcAuHiHdwrTnAJpXOrnboUxcxtJGpVmRMhKgHNRiqNo/s320/P3050025.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454058211784449666" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgssj4aDYztgy7XJWkviyqv2X_kBxZodZ2b8MFWIg0vcvluW8Sqd2y_pKuLjWqWBnna7To7VDFWpQWVMxaChtJH-1TZufsItR2rZ_df4YHnYSrbD2ez-TQBK9ZByLf4-C57H5KSLDtLcBs/s1600/P3050015.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 251px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgssj4aDYztgy7XJWkviyqv2X_kBxZodZ2b8MFWIg0vcvluW8Sqd2y_pKuLjWqWBnna7To7VDFWpQWVMxaChtJH-1TZufsItR2rZ_df4YHnYSrbD2ez-TQBK9ZByLf4-C57H5KSLDtLcBs/s320/P3050015.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454058204380350786" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw2Lcc5ddwF4vC42PntkHY58VoJQeeWE5C4eyr_o9aRrdKiOhO8Z-cUBwMlj8EcxVHx-44hwDkYMx-HcYT71wikFSZXpq7lAp3QE7tEOOs60FCWpw1IFJn-DJIB5onBDUByl3VlydLySE/s1600/P3050009.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw2Lcc5ddwF4vC42PntkHY58VoJQeeWE5C4eyr_o9aRrdKiOhO8Z-cUBwMlj8EcxVHx-44hwDkYMx-HcYT71wikFSZXpq7lAp3QE7tEOOs60FCWpw1IFJn-DJIB5onBDUByl3VlydLySE/s320/P3050009.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454058198363605154" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlfbi5Vck5snLh4rybuENPe5sFPqiB2arhH_OHydd4qLY2S1509mC83zMraMyHUt7DiDmF01KM2XFg-kOypMkTVhE9FbJbTstN49XYk54w8VnsdmUm_qNjayztMXPXZhrqfwq3ZRyJsvQ/s1600-h/IMG_4685.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlfbi5Vck5snLh4rybuENPe5sFPqiB2arhH_OHydd4qLY2S1509mC83zMraMyHUt7DiDmF01KM2XFg-kOypMkTVhE9FbJbTstN49XYk54w8VnsdmUm_qNjayztMXPXZhrqfwq3ZRyJsvQ/s320/IMG_4685.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446660662004437090" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGbTKZCVFEnoEB0voWO0iS77UbAQdBgrwXwCOvL8CU22iK1n7oFBz-ggAXNPKopLDxB0h053Ojv0rVe-gPSp5tUeHYHUcn0Uvv0VrE7YDKPIDRDr7AlfQUanC1G7Zpi5CRB9wiEAWjNrU/s1600-h/IMG_4677.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGbTKZCVFEnoEB0voWO0iS77UbAQdBgrwXwCOvL8CU22iK1n7oFBz-ggAXNPKopLDxB0h053Ojv0rVe-gPSp5tUeHYHUcn0Uvv0VrE7YDKPIDRDr7AlfQUanC1G7Zpi5CRB9wiEAWjNrU/s320/IMG_4677.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446649155093480994" /></a>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16110979333308909880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189570025328307498.post-43803506201878834692010-03-02T08:43:00.000-08:002010-03-02T11:27:33.459-08:00In the meantimeAs we wait with bated breath for the school construction to commence, the temperature gets hotter and hotter. It got up to 120 degrees today - hard to believe for those of you still laden with snow!<div>In the meantime, we've been keeping busy with smaller projects. This week we repaired a pump in the school garden in Cinzana that had been broken for nearly 10 years! The garden is tended by schoolchildren who sell what they grow to buy pens and books for class. Now that the pump is working, we'll fix the fence around the garden, and help finance seeds to begin planting.<br /><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvx_AiJef3DEnoiZRLvgWE6q-PLiJaE-ypxt-q1xK4tByYGZq_Yo67pJ6z-W2VUBppYuUOESndGvlIAeQtKVs879_tRDMeeVPCHO2tmrcnjlS71ibFIe1Kg36aCwcQunIM1nVvc6adUUI/s1600-h/P3010094.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvx_AiJef3DEnoiZRLvgWE6q-PLiJaE-ypxt-q1xK4tByYGZq_Yo67pJ6z-W2VUBppYuUOESndGvlIAeQtKVs879_tRDMeeVPCHO2tmrcnjlS71ibFIe1Kg36aCwcQunIM1nVvc6adUUI/s320/P3010094.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444108726642742802" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii7oNP7J5GnO0NqFWfHHLEBl5h_hC1UQKjdPTehK6Zej44iHGPWKkD8M3k8HmvOwGrHccv9XZLAGEcKhhsnaMGAMig-tuyFXbFhIeRfqu627n-bxLktZU7x64ohIAtKeruHWyqB0YTSGI/s1600-h/P3010112.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii7oNP7J5GnO0NqFWfHHLEBl5h_hC1UQKjdPTehK6Zej44iHGPWKkD8M3k8HmvOwGrHccv9XZLAGEcKhhsnaMGAMig-tuyFXbFhIeRfqu627n-bxLktZU7x64ohIAtKeruHWyqB0YTSGI/s320/P3010112.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444106787191982754" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJSRAWZYQVGb5zdX_Mt2tJuj7j0hl4ZjseDaXj_SJqkjhDbwzTEfkuPROaNjlQfdMJW5ZZOsqHp4OJUwusCdzFacN7LgbFnHe_ChK_-fNLjW7t9PSvFzaib6BmAodXToGFZogOEVYtrZo/s1600-h/P3010115.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJSRAWZYQVGb5zdX_Mt2tJuj7j0hl4ZjseDaXj_SJqkjhDbwzTEfkuPROaNjlQfdMJW5ZZOsqHp4OJUwusCdzFacN7LgbFnHe_ChK_-fNLjW7t9PSvFzaib6BmAodXToGFZogOEVYtrZo/s320/P3010115.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444102928512941730" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUJbuXoLuuMz9WkG5kGDYSmm34pAPYgaMU9pQiZWQh6H4vVkxroTOr42JGD3KmXQFsbbsgy4qKvpqpHywt-awyThCD1XB0OaSFoFsynfO4s6mdJTM-FCmRZhdynQ_52L1UKZX5334Dmnw/s1600-h/P3010126.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUJbuXoLuuMz9WkG5kGDYSmm34pAPYgaMU9pQiZWQh6H4vVkxroTOr42JGD3KmXQFsbbsgy4qKvpqpHywt-awyThCD1XB0OaSFoFsynfO4s6mdJTM-FCmRZhdynQ_52L1UKZX5334Dmnw/s320/P3010126.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444092024198037378" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi58Letf22JjpYbPBU_sENfjoPpdvA2WS02zfkR0QOpHrqCIusDxfehM4U7I6k3enK7Ag-WMvWj2U8E3GNIMPqbHAqrKKI0CGB7_CVyfl2SoE_o31KS_wXPyKfQC-CjO3PnpzyYGNAeqV0/s1600-h/P3010131.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi58Letf22JjpYbPBU_sENfjoPpdvA2WS02zfkR0QOpHrqCIusDxfehM4U7I6k3enK7Ag-WMvWj2U8E3GNIMPqbHAqrKKI0CGB7_CVyfl2SoE_o31KS_wXPyKfQC-CjO3PnpzyYGNAeqV0/s320/P3010131.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444086346228556626" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUlOCzLvvT05S_3jEgLZtjgaRvjA8Isg8FfGDrRNrqgyLS-oZUou6JBD6t7p2QFHhMoHjEVURMUcqcUfAQhT_K2jYpmaoFYFV4ZBLXujb_dqIo6Gu-xOdQdXgSI-C4kdrYfAfSLDuFwn4/s1600-h/P3010133.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUlOCzLvvT05S_3jEgLZtjgaRvjA8Isg8FfGDrRNrqgyLS-oZUou6JBD6t7p2QFHhMoHjEVURMUcqcUfAQhT_K2jYpmaoFYFV4ZBLXujb_dqIo6Gu-xOdQdXgSI-C4kdrYfAfSLDuFwn4/s320/P3010133.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444082517121850898" /></a><br /></div><div>Then of course these are those very small projects, like teaching kids to burn ants with a magnifying glass, to keep us busy:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYQBKU6Ob1Acy7OwyRR_efcwHJJlBKHZAOEuWzqavsEIvl6NsFlaHt6cRDxyduYKQWRKw21HAvPuciiuW_qOFND4HkJ0A5Xwm-NJGN_Ayuz2XV-DgwQpU8HtwSBwlnkxkyGLrLPuDooDw/s1600-h/P3010093.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYQBKU6Ob1Acy7OwyRR_efcwHJJlBKHZAOEuWzqavsEIvl6NsFlaHt6cRDxyduYKQWRKw21HAvPuciiuW_qOFND4HkJ0A5Xwm-NJGN_Ayuz2XV-DgwQpU8HtwSBwlnkxkyGLrLPuDooDw/s320/P3010093.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444115586525747554" /></a><br /></div></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16110979333308909880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189570025328307498.post-89165687411997563512010-02-14T06:41:00.000-08:002010-02-14T07:43:18.641-08:00Changes and Frustrations (We should be starting any day now...)For the sake of candor, I feel obliged to write about the bad was well as the good regarding this epic school project. First let me say that we still expect to start buying materials and making bricks any day now. We've been saying that for almost a year now. Here's where we're at: Kyle and I raised over $20,000 (thanks to many of you) toward the cost of the school. We then partnered with the organization BuildOn to fund the remainder of the budget and help oversee construction. BuildOn cannot finalize their commitment to the project until we know all the details of the budget, i.e. total cost of the project. We can't finalize the budget until we stop making changes. Which should be any day now. <div>Last week, we thought we had a final budget until it turned out the total cost of the project was nearly $80,000 - much more than we expected. The original goal of the design was to introduce the technologies of compressed earth bricks and rainwater harvesting, to develop a LESS expensive alternative to Mali's standard cement construction. But so much had been added to the design that this benefit was no longer discernible. Thus we began the process of value engineering. We have since settled on a scheme that keeps the original goals of design intact and takes out the unnecessary expensive materials (like I-beam columns and metal roof trusses). These changes brought the budget down to $60,000 which is a much more manageable figure. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd0I3sbIC6f788pdztob9f7nzNXlmQkt8cX64vK859mFY23CFKdZVw8V3bPj8-s_8lGpSoX9Z6JK9BiDVD8jyAz3yPJ7DDiFsSedfF04II9p6JI4YQh57HKKyTDY6rcMsQ_9GhsSbDwhY/s1600-h/school_SIMPLE2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 219px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd0I3sbIC6f788pdztob9f7nzNXlmQkt8cX64vK859mFY23CFKdZVw8V3bPj8-s_8lGpSoX9Z6JK9BiDVD8jyAz3yPJ7DDiFsSedfF04II9p6JI4YQh57HKKyTDY6rcMsQ_9GhsSbDwhY/s320/school_SIMPLE2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438113144158189586" /></a><br /><div> But we're still not out of the woods. Construction in Mali has to happen in within a precise window of time based on seasonal changes and farming calendars. It's very difficult to continue projects during the hot season, the rainy season, or during the harvest. Even if we start construction now, there's a chance we'd be encroaching these seasons before we finish, pushing the project's completion back even further.</div><div>So that's where we're at. Pending finalization of the budget, we should be starting any day now.</div><div><br /></div><div>Postscript - If anyone knows how Madonna manages to pop out <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/10/26/malawi.madonna.school/">$15 million schools in Malawi</a> so effortlessly please let me know.</div></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16110979333308909880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189570025328307498.post-32230349740826078812010-02-02T13:15:00.000-08:002010-02-02T16:04:45.886-08:00Noma: "The Face of Poverty"Noma (derived from the Greek "nomein" meaning "to devour") is a devastating gangrenous disease which attacks children, quickly destroying their mouth, nose, and face, and which can prove fatal after just a few weeks. Without prompt treatment, mortality rates from this disease are as high as 70-90%. I won't post pictures. If you are curious and have a strong stomach, search "noma disease" in google images.<div>Why am I talking about Noma disease? It's a long story that starts about a week ago in Cinzana. Kyle and I were packing our things to go back to Segou when Adama, Kyle's host father, shows up with a young couple and their newborn baby. The baby has a cleft palate and the couple wants to know what we can do to help them. Not wanting to give them false hope, we say we'll look into it when we return to Segou. Later that day, while leafing through an old Rolling Stone magazine, an ad serendipitously catches my eye:<div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQKbjx3J-B_uitUMZxv-TGPYdpv9eQxSeYWHye2nWuqrMIfy1_YusAvhpz5f75IYuDbPr3TWnYeOIGLsvIoCG1Z7X3anrOJFAns1BfYXb-CC5QtGjsffTFvQOrfcVUgct9n0G8sNR9yLA/s1600-h/11017.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 31px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQKbjx3J-B_uitUMZxv-TGPYdpv9eQxSeYWHye2nWuqrMIfy1_YusAvhpz5f75IYuDbPr3TWnYeOIGLsvIoCG1Z7X3anrOJFAns1BfYXb-CC5QtGjsffTFvQOrfcVUgct9n0G8sNR9yLA/s320/11017.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433779090647708946" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.smiletrain.org/site/PageServer">Smile Train</a> is an organization that provides free cleft surgery for children in developing countries. I shot them an email. Their quick reply brought news that not only do they work in Mali, but there was a team of Canadian doctors coming to Bamako the first 2 weeks of February to perform free surgeries! Within a few days we were on a bus to Bamako with mother and child, headed for the hospital. </div><div>The baby, less than 1 month old, was severely malnourished and underweight (only 3 lbs!). The doctors told us they couldn't operate on the cleft until the child was in better health. They arranged for them to stay at the hospital, free of charge, while the baby was given a strict regiment of proper nutrition. </div><div>In the meantime, we had been contacted by another family from a neighboring village that had heard about the project. They had a daughter in need of cleft surgery, and they met us at the hospital in Bamako. Upon examination, the doctors informed us that the girl's condition was not actually a cleft palate, but rather an infection called "Noma." Half of her mouth and her entire cheek had been destroyed by the disease. Due to the severity of her condition, she was transfered to a special clinic outside Bamako designed specifically for Noma patients. There she will receive free treatment for the infection and eventually free surgery to reconstruct her face.</div><div><br /></div><div>In the developed world, children who acquire an infection of this sort are simply treated with penicillin and cured. The disease has been virtually eradicated in America. In countries like Mali, the same infection, when combined with malnutrition and poor oral hygiene, often causes death.</div><div>The moral(s) of this story: 1. Don't take your health (or your healthcare system) for granted. 2. There are groups out there doing amazing work. I don't often make plugs like this, but if you're looking for a good place to make a donation, I recommend <a href="https://secure2.convio.net/st/site/Donation2?df_id=1020&1020.donation=form1&JServSessionIdr004=ubt02ebrf5.app5b">Smile Train,</a> a light at the end of the tunnel. </div></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16110979333308909880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189570025328307498.post-38915329299002635322010-01-27T07:25:00.000-08:002010-01-27T08:13:55.263-08:00BuildOnBuildOn, the group we are working with on the school project, was just featured in a 2 part segment on the Today Show. Learn more about them and what they do stateside:<div><br /><object width="925" height="944"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/MHYJkmqrPAU&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://e2ma.net/go/100002141560/2523969/90824717/14080/goto:http://buildon.org/buildOnontheTodayShow.aspx" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="925" height="944"></embed></object></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16110979333308909880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189570025328307498.post-65834809645464087202010-01-25T10:53:00.000-08:002010-01-25T14:33:24.310-08:00Dream within a dream<div>Going from Mali to America and back to Mali, it's hard to decide which feels more like a dream. I got to spend the holidays home with family and friends and had a wonderful time, ate good food, and generally lived it up:</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy56TwPpaUWhMfqChz5Hw0B9MuydCsVUKDqEYohofTKbFtDPTwmK_Jj_19B3aMjFwSlhdUvUb7devaT21x9k1Tyku1Df-eEy4-dVN_dEx7g0Zk-YF70jDR17rk7gjMx1bBISt6x7nJ5Is/s1600-h/PC220253.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy56TwPpaUWhMfqChz5Hw0B9MuydCsVUKDqEYohofTKbFtDPTwmK_Jj_19B3aMjFwSlhdUvUb7devaT21x9k1Tyku1Df-eEy4-dVN_dEx7g0Zk-YF70jDR17rk7gjMx1bBISt6x7nJ5Is/s320/PC220253.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430764563603879666" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib53OOxD6f_O1aaSMG3QT-WkDvnVJmYVaja80H055B-uIJxEUtLpGiz2fb2vbjW5htTs07v_tMqfrXXTuFXXV00XrnXzfSAmG-0AsA7AfFpInXzVpAydvwn4P5ntwFyYY89-B5Xq9Yiq0/s1600-h/PC230297.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib53OOxD6f_O1aaSMG3QT-WkDvnVJmYVaja80H055B-uIJxEUtLpGiz2fb2vbjW5htTs07v_tMqfrXXTuFXXV00XrnXzfSAmG-0AsA7AfFpInXzVpAydvwn4P5ntwFyYY89-B5Xq9Yiq0/s320/PC230297.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430770415446295522" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ9Y0PfUWdtz9_2XNvDkkpdQHHoJlD4ZJMFmPgghyK4ZD4WVN6HGrcYxJceSfPulGjHoTt45uzEwidFqbWQlGQiWgPwQGY0Vl9GP0oJsReyiNgHLxL-XMObyUPSYbJv6wDUL9By-UHawg/s1600-h/PC170196.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ9Y0PfUWdtz9_2XNvDkkpdQHHoJlD4ZJMFmPgghyK4ZD4WVN6HGrcYxJceSfPulGjHoTt45uzEwidFqbWQlGQiWgPwQGY0Vl9GP0oJsReyiNgHLxL-XMObyUPSYbJv6wDUL9By-UHawg/s320/PC170196.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430773215882942738" /></a><br /><div>Now I'm back, and I'd almost say it seems like I never left. I got quickly back to work on the school project, and progress is slowly being made! We had a big meeting at the mayor's office in Cinzana with all the key players involved, many of whom were meeting for the first time. Now that we're all on the same page, the next step is to finalize the budget, which means negotiating. No one in Mali can ever just say what the price of something is. Sometimes getting prices can be like talking to a small child: " How much is cement?" "I don't know, how much IS cement? How much can you give me?" Infinitely frustrating. But we're all still optimistic about starting soon. It's amazing to think that this dream of a project which started almost 2 years ago as an inkling of an idea, is now so close to being actualized. Exciting!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2LXOMZ0VMkVJbjRbjfkgmHwBnFsPFE3EP5k29UNutb1siYUnQ-nmARBa1zILlnUV6RsVJpEE6q4hGEeDMv3fiKzVN-ZgnmUMQfCDmwn2aa-bZR1ZhDikUKdgDla6g0Ye2_MOQ_7EnpAc/s1600-h/althoff_school_front.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2LXOMZ0VMkVJbjRbjfkgmHwBnFsPFE3EP5k29UNutb1siYUnQ-nmARBa1zILlnUV6RsVJpEE6q4hGEeDMv3fiKzVN-ZgnmUMQfCDmwn2aa-bZR1ZhDikUKdgDla6g0Ye2_MOQ_7EnpAc/s320/althoff_school_front.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430774231998951250" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk_9hfxqDcdHzc0dzKMXNVFXlYKwrqbMIEyu6welVvsiAqbn6czcbfBGwNLVqvydnxAr3BipwG-_U-OzDp5q21ur7XDOQchdOyHeU1oconcrw5x54QOpcgxHU2LNWdCtFSeW7NhRBTTPs/s1600-h/althoff_school_cistern.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 165px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk_9hfxqDcdHzc0dzKMXNVFXlYKwrqbMIEyu6welVvsiAqbn6czcbfBGwNLVqvydnxAr3BipwG-_U-OzDp5q21ur7XDOQchdOyHeU1oconcrw5x54QOpcgxHU2LNWdCtFSeW7NhRBTTPs/s320/althoff_school_cistern.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430774774654474178" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPnGd42ljuqh0jv5C5k6ks6hYL4gfhFIcwJsHZUBUmhJpRFTLc9frL-Zxusl7zzx-ZuL8Lre6uYwhiCOq_0wY4BDtiw4WO_pj3C8qUcwr2y6hCXjoUkxdB4fki7tsl4iaMkqwu_2Ik38M/s1600-h/althoff_school_inside.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 177px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPnGd42ljuqh0jv5C5k6ks6hYL4gfhFIcwJsHZUBUmhJpRFTLc9frL-Zxusl7zzx-ZuL8Lre6uYwhiCOq_0wY4BDtiw4WO_pj3C8qUcwr2y6hCXjoUkxdB4fki7tsl4iaMkqwu_2Ik38M/s320/althoff_school_inside.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430778362629306450" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ui9FqZhLLH1aEi4HVxCo59yXRzWr2OvsCAZA5XsvVXPNsTCX_lQ9QSmKwcqaToINKOMcHIzKK_4beLTEghKf1rJ3G6eHkfwFaCq_p1WV1tG8zWjY1nAfODDKqFsZFWqi9arQp-rQ_z4/s1600-h/althoff_school_courtyard.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 165px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ui9FqZhLLH1aEi4HVxCo59yXRzWr2OvsCAZA5XsvVXPNsTCX_lQ9QSmKwcqaToINKOMcHIzKK_4beLTEghKf1rJ3G6eHkfwFaCq_p1WV1tG8zWjY1nAfODDKqFsZFWqi9arQp-rQ_z4/s320/althoff_school_courtyard.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430778715243661378" /></a><br />In the meantime, life in Tongo goes on. The garden project is a total success. The women have planted tomatoes, onions, peppers, cabbage, papaya, okra, and whatever else suits their fancy. They show such pride in their accomplishments, and compete for the most luscious plot: <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd6Hj3Wsm35ExB-9SlWhH7Hx2NWWF4thtiy6FKaElkZLnjCJZ8sIS6S9U4fNNRIp6CdPsM58mKimoU7Z1IiOxheuu_mJnzxk-n7ovl93L1J0-KBUMQiSh3IR_57H3trW6c41omiLU_V10/s1600-h/P1150404.JPG"><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd6Hj3Wsm35ExB-9SlWhH7Hx2NWWF4thtiy6FKaElkZLnjCJZ8sIS6S9U4fNNRIp6CdPsM58mKimoU7Z1IiOxheuu_mJnzxk-n7ovl93L1J0-KBUMQiSh3IR_57H3trW6c41omiLU_V10/s320/P1150404.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428484607443032498" /></a><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5dFAXkLuAWC-_Jf8qCcYu7AmSEgW9Sxkwmv9LO-5JwaKjm9izCstWm9U-YoMF2tk7bluM4oG_w8_GcJKyy5U8NqpeZYBk-OGhbRor21M9wKSd2FqqLhv6RXs_gLvgCfTLgUETwg1Z9po/s1600-h/P1150389.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5dFAXkLuAWC-_Jf8qCcYu7AmSEgW9Sxkwmv9LO-5JwaKjm9izCstWm9U-YoMF2tk7bluM4oG_w8_GcJKyy5U8NqpeZYBk-OGhbRor21M9wKSd2FqqLhv6RXs_gLvgCfTLgUETwg1Z9po/s320/P1150389.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430799972696468562" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG_eLi8bGT6dZ1ifkZBcaj260uBy5YLk62jw2WyEQSE8zan9O_o0w-nFQcGfE_yww3KLESLOhQQzS7flRlvOIjlzdczmK27XOcQvPd3wR4K2MI9AFTkwCCgnDmDnXEgTdQo8qGQuzYdB8/s1600-h/P1150392.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG_eLi8bGT6dZ1ifkZBcaj260uBy5YLk62jw2WyEQSE8zan9O_o0w-nFQcGfE_yww3KLESLOhQQzS7flRlvOIjlzdczmK27XOcQvPd3wR4K2MI9AFTkwCCgnDmDnXEgTdQo8qGQuzYdB8/s320/P1150392.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430801403252503810" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNrndwPiDYiGUdAbbCCwl1j1xGfIyEXZJFmfiUNNYgJV4idOaVQRbf2jej2UEpgsvp3OrlA8GPEdU93IHRrdFBB3Y9pbkuI26ZXR2eZDhBtHmZGtlwwEiPFEr33uwFVhCV2GI-_1hJ3Kg/s1600-h/P1150395.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNrndwPiDYiGUdAbbCCwl1j1xGfIyEXZJFmfiUNNYgJV4idOaVQRbf2jej2UEpgsvp3OrlA8GPEdU93IHRrdFBB3Y9pbkuI26ZXR2eZDhBtHmZGtlwwEiPFEr33uwFVhCV2GI-_1hJ3Kg/s320/P1150395.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428465457802508050" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1eNPUCyCiEzLvJKQJs3VAQOiG4P4KzsQFl4gz5P4biYacBFHO3uQsGuzg2OofClDzT1M_ZmPh-Wk1Z8GsuK3b-jeP8qs8zLbuBHxGdNO7ElN40L5pFnLcnuMEbtZaibFJBKwo7LC2kTI/s1600-h/P1150396.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1eNPUCyCiEzLvJKQJs3VAQOiG4P4KzsQFl4gz5P4biYacBFHO3uQsGuzg2OofClDzT1M_ZmPh-Wk1Z8GsuK3b-jeP8qs8zLbuBHxGdNO7ElN40L5pFnLcnuMEbtZaibFJBKwo7LC2kTI/s320/P1150396.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430757474520906946" /></a><br /></div><div>I've also found a little spare time to relax by the river. Kyle and I went fishing and caught several plastic bags, an old shirt, and a huge mango tree (twice). We think we need to go a little farther upriver...</div><div><br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2eF5wYUBg2EOVawEzooJ7c7Z-v3FSIgNIxoTffmu6Dd9p5OwwqXtTrHlL65bolpNA9l2sSlz6vSMOvb4otGulfs97OK6qvnNwR-LiisjEzAqWLjecAyyT8hTdOIWBiGvO_ds3fZQ7kUk/s1600-h/P1170422.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2eF5wYUBg2EOVawEzooJ7c7Z-v3FSIgNIxoTffmu6Dd9p5OwwqXtTrHlL65bolpNA9l2sSlz6vSMOvb4otGulfs97OK6qvnNwR-LiisjEzAqWLjecAyyT8hTdOIWBiGvO_ds3fZQ7kUk/s320/P1170422.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430755032019530690" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div>And apparently I'm famous now - check out these links about the project:<br /><div><br /><a href="http://architectafrica.com/Mali-School-in-Tongo">http://architectafrica.com/Mali-School-in-Tongo</a></div><div><a href="http://theroofabovemyhead.blogspot.com/2010/01/escola-no-mali.html">http://theroofabovemyhead.blogspot.com/2010/01/escola-no-mali.html</a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16110979333308909880noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189570025328307498.post-33391678770183549032009-09-07T13:36:00.000-07:002010-01-27T08:35:04.434-08:00To honor and OBEY<span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(70,70,70); LINE-HEIGHT: 18pxfont-family:verdana;font-size:13;"><p class="first" size="13px" color="initial" style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 10px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-"><span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">DISCLAIMER: </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The Views Represented on this Website Are Expressed as a Private Citizen, and Do Not Necessarily Represent Those of the Peace Corps or the U.S. Government. </span></i></span></span></p><p class="first" size="13px" color="initial" style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 10px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-"><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">THIS IS BULLSHIT! Just when Mali starts to make progress on equal rights, the president pushes it way back. It's so disheartening!</span></span></b></p><p class="first" size="13px" color="initial" style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 10px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The following information is taken from an article on </span></span><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8223736.stm"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">BBC news</span></span></a><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">: </span></span></p><p class="first" size="13px" color="initial" style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 10px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The president of Mali has announced that he is not going to sign the country's new family law, instead returning it to parliament for review.</span></span></p><p size="13px" color="initial" style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 10px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Muslim groups have been protesting against the law, which gives greater rights to women, ever since parliament adopted it at the start of the month.</span></span></p><p style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 10px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-font-size:13px;color:initial;"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">President Amadou Toumani Toure said he was sending the law back for the sake of national unity.</span></span></p><p size="13px" color="initial" style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 10px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Muslim leaders have called the law the work of the devil and against Islam.</span></span></p><p size="13px" color="initial" style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 10px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">More than 90% of Mali's population is Muslim.</span></span></p><p size="13px" color="initial" style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 10px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Some of the provisions that have proved controversial give more rights to women.</span></span></p><p size="13px" color="initial" style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 10px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">For example, under the new law women are no longer required to obey their husbands, instead husbands and wives owe each other loyalty and protection.</span></span></p><p size="13px" color="initial" style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 10px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span></span></span><table style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; FONT-SIZE: 13px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="231" align="right" border="0"><tbody style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; FONT-SIZE: 13px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial"></tbody></table><p size="13px" color="initial" style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 10px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Women get greater inheritance rights, and the minimum age for girls to marry in most circumstances is raised to 18.</span></span></p><p size="13px" color="initial" style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 10px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">One of the other key points Muslims have objected to is the fact that marriage is defined as a secular institution.</span></span></p><p size="13px" color="initial" style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 10px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"></span></span></p><p size="13px" color="initial" style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 10px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Mali's current law specifically states that a wife must obey her husband, and that is the way things should stay says Mahmud Dicko, president of Mali's High Islamic Council.</span></span></p><p size="13px" color="initial" style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 10px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">"We're not trying to make women slaves. Not at all," he says.</span></span></p><p size="13px" color="initial" style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 10px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">"It's just the way our society is organised. The head of the family is the man, and everyone in the family has to obey him.</span></span></p><p size="13px" color="initial" style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 10px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">"It's like that to create harmony."</span></span></p></span><p><span></span></p><p size="13px" color="initial" style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 10px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-"><span>Tens of thousands have turned out at protests in Bamako in recent weeks and there have been other demonstrations against the law across the country.</span></p>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16110979333308909880noreply@blogger.com4