July 18th

What a day!

This morning, I managed to join a group of French graduate students from Angers who have all come here within a city pairing agreement with Bamako. I had seen a little flyer at the cyber cafe where I go, and so I asked the owner. He then hooked me up.

And so I went this morning to help them on their community initiative which basically consists in renovating/mostly painting, the city hall building of this small town on the outskirts of the city. I had initially wondered why the city hall rather than a school or a community center but then I heard that the Bamako organizer had some political ambitions, so that explained...smart guy to get bunch of French people to come repaint his potential future office. Lol

The whole thing was quite badly organized for sure. Way to many volunteers and barely any equipment. But it did spark my interest for this kind of activity, pairing two cities together via student bodies and building up social and cultural projects around it.

In any case, while I was there scraping the walls, I got a call from the guy I had contacted via couch surfing. He was supposed to be in Bamako, but told me that instead he was based in Kalana, the exact same town where the Hermana Magdalena is. Some would call it a coincidence, I saw it as a sign. So it dis motivate me even more to go check it out.

When the two hours of work on that city hall were finished...yes, they only do two hours per day. Ufff! Shame! I headed back home for a good shower. I was covered in white cement.

I checked again for tickets to Brazil, but nothing new...overpriced for my meager budget.

I spent some times playing a bit with the kettle devilish kid of the mission. His name is Adams, he is around 5yrs old max. Such a character and a trouble maker.

Marie, the help/cook of the mission showed me a new place to eat. Since I got to Bamako, I haven't really had lunch since it is so hard to find food during the day time and since what I can find is usually not appetizing at all. So I had a nice poulet yassa. Expensive, but filling and nourishing, so it's OK.

Later I met with Petit Dogon to hang out and also to go get some passport photos done. I ran out of the after my Mali visa, and will,need some for Burkina as well as to renew my Mali visa and Senegal visa.

And then I went to mass again. Such a different experience from last night. Almost no one in the place. No songs, and no emotions. Just the loud noise of the fans covering up the voice of the priest.

But I stayed till the end. It made me feel good to be there. Yes, I still have a bit of the blues to be far from the Camino and far from Angelina. It shall pass.

On my way back home I started feeling feverish.

When i got home, the fever was at its peak. Beyond any kind of fever I have ever had before. My body was on fire. I was shivering because I felt so freezing cold. I went to lay down all wrapped up in sheets and shirts. (Yes, I am obviously not writing this on July 18th as I am in no condition to do so. I can't even walk, but on July 19th).

I was scared it would be malaria. Thankfully I had a similar fever in Indar, and it was just a fever. Let's hope for the same. The fever was so high that even talking was hurting. I just wanted to be home with my mom or with Angelina. But definitely as far from Mali as possible. Bummer...because I was here in Mali.

Astou called to check on me, as usual. This time she stayed on a bit given how sick I was. It was good to hear her voice. I wished I were at her house in Dakar. Would have been less painful for sure.

I just want the night to go by fast and the fever to go down...