T-Minus 7 Days...

One week from today, I will leave Greencastle, Indiana, and the US all behind and depart for my stay in Mali.  I have been trying not to call this experience a “trip” to Mali because, really, it is more than that.  In many ways, it really is a “move” to Mali, even though it will be temporary.  As the day approaches, my moods have been oscillating between extreme excitement, complete nervousness, overwhelming nostalgia (both for people and things here and in Mali), and just plain impatience about getting there and getting things rolling!  I guess at this point, things are a little bittersweet as the big day approaches. 

Since I last posted, I have done a lot of traveling…. I visited friends from Kenyon in Louisville and flew to see my brother in Denver.  I got to see friends that I met in Mali during a short trip to Chicago and a quick visit to North Carolina.  I think these two trips have made me the most nostalgic for Mali—both excited to return and nervous at the same time.  When I was in Bamako for four months in 2009, I thoroughly enjoyed myself.  I made lasting and meaningful connections with my host family (my “brother” just called me yesterday!) and eventually with a great group of American friends (several of whom I’ve been lucky to see this summer!).  I am happy to return to a place that I love where I felt engaged and happy, but I’m nervous because I know that things will be different this time around and I won’t have those special friends there to experience things with me.

I have been reading my journal and starting to write again.  I found the process SO helpful when I was in Mali before, and even now as I prepare, it’s helping me organize my thoughts.  I recently re-read the passages I wrote over a year ago, and they too filled me with excitement and memory.  Generally, fall is a time that makes me feel more reminiscent and nostalgic than I do during other seasons.  It has always been a bit of an “end of an era” for me, I guess- the end of summer and the start of school signal that particularly vividly.  So, as the first day of fall approaches tomorrow, I also find myself appreciating the summer I’ve had and kind of willing it not to end….. 

Enough introspective rambling…. I have also been trying to get all of the very important trip preparation things checked off my “to-do” list.  My visa arrived long ago, and I am officially ready to go to Mali, as far as the government is concerned.  I sent off three very full, fairly heavy boxes of books a couple of weeks ago (Thanks to those who shared with me!) and hopefully they will be waiting for me when I arrive.  I recently got a wonderful trunk on wheels (Thank you, J!) and have started to think about packing it.  The next few days will be filled trying to remember all the little things- I’m so nervous I will forget something important.  Last time I went to Mali, I did a pretty good job being prepared… but I did forget to bring pajamas! 

In the meantime, I have been noticing little hints of Mali all over the place lately, and each time it feels like a little sign.  There were Malian artists featured at the Lotus music festival in Bloomington, an old friend from high school has a roommate who just left for the Peace Corps in Mali, and at Penrod art festival in Indianapolis, I ran into a family of Tuareg artists who spoke with me in Bambara!  I got so excited to struggle through greetings in Bambara that I was reminded, despite my jitters, that I really am ready to take this step and dive in.