They announced our sites today and am incredibly excited to visit mine. I am going to live and work in Diema (pronounced like Jemma). It is a larger town of about 5,000 people, with both a CSCOM (smaller community clinic) and CSREF (larger regional hospital). It is in the Kayes region, which is among the hottest (temperature wise) places in the world. There is one other volunteer who is in a smaller village 25km away. Other than that, it's essentially a 4 or 5.5 hour trip to larger cities in the region or Bamako to see other volunteers. In my job description it said that I would be doing a lot of work with mother and child nutrition (the main focus of health work in Mali), but that I would also do sensitizations (presentations) on prevention of HIV and AIDS, which I am really excited to be doing. When I was talking to my site buddy she said that because it is a larger town I might have electricity in my house or at least readily available, although there is no internet to be found. I will also have very good cell service when I am there, so I won't be totally out of contact with the world. The other trainees in my region are really great (albeit very far), and I have friends who are in the other regions around Mali too.
Right now, my phone is dead and I can't find the charger, but I will let you know when it surfaces again. I am still feeling essentially the same health-wise, which is a bummer, but I'm dealing with it. It is really great to be back at the training site with the other trainees and current volunteers. Life is good.
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Hey Sarah, it's Brian! I'm using yet another account--for some reason my other blogger accounts keep disappearing.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear you're still having problems with the food in Mali. Maybe it's some kind of allergy?
Also, just curious--how hot does it get in Diema?
So I tried calling you a while ago (this was when you were still at the training site), but for some reason my calls couldn't get through. I just wanted you to know that I'm trying to keep in touch, and that I haven't forgotten you :b
Anyway, it's good hearing from you again. Hopefully the doctors find out why you and the food in Mali don't get along. Later!
P.S. Apparently some of my comments are disappearing from your blog. I am reading it though!
Glad you're staying positive, Sarah! If I were sick I would definitely be complaining all the time. It's great that you're enjoying yourself, though, and that you might be the benefits of electricity (shame about internet, though). Hopefully Diema will suit you well.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, hopefully everything's going well and you're happy and secure and everything. It's great getting to catch up on your adventures, so keep writing!