We are spending our first two nights in the Hotel Wassalou in Bamako. Some highlights: air conditioning, a small fish tank in the lobby, and the bathroom that doubles as a shower. The shower head's position right next to the toilet makes keeping the toilet paper dry a little tricky, but the water pressure and temperature really aren't too bad.We made our way to the SIT center and spent the first part of the day discussing cultural issues including avoiding insulting someone by always handing people things with your right hand. If your right hand is busy you must pass the power to your left hand by crossing your right arm over your left before you pass. You can scratch your nose with your left hand, though, because that's dirty. The left-handed girl in our group is screwed. This is a view from the roof of our school.
Then, we had our first Bambara lesson followed by a lunch of couscous, plantains, and whole fish. We got to test our Bambara out in the streets later when we were sent out in pairs to find places in the city and buy something for less than 500CFA (about €1). My partner Colin and I visited a pastry shop called Amandine and bartered a man who spoke no Bambara or French down from 3000CFA by grunting and drawing in the mud.
Finally, we took a taxi back to the hotel and had some dinner. It was an exciting, but tiring first day, and most of the group has gone to bed except for a small contingent gathered in the lobby that is huddled around a tiny TV watching dubbed Law and Order. I'm excited to see what is in store for tomorrow. For now, though, I just want sleep.
