First post!

Hey! So I have now been in Africa for almost exactly 3 days. It is great here! It is currently the rainy season (read: there is rain), but the weather is really nice.

The other volunteers are really fantastic people. At this point, I know almost everyone in my 66 person stage, and I can honestly say that they are really amazing, fascinating, and hilarious people. I could not have asked for a better group!!

I am leaving on Wednesday for my homestay village to learn one of the local dialects. I was told my French would qualify for a minority language, but I told the woman in charge of health education (my sector) that I would rather learn Bambara (bam-ba-ra), so I should find out tomorrow. I am really nervous about living with Malians and not being able to speak their language very well. I currently only know a few greeting phrases - greetings are a really big deal here.

In oversharing, and probably excessive pride, I would like to mention that I have become pretty good at using the negen (squatty potty), and have yet to drop anything in accidentally or fall in.

I will eventually post pictures, and hopefully tomorrow will post a phone number here in mali (my cell) where you can reach me - it's free for me to get calls, so call whenever (before 7pm eastern time).

Also, my address for packages or letters is:
Sarah Gallagher
Corps de la Paix
BP 85
Bamako, Mali

I would really love to hear from people! You can also post comments on this blog and I will try to respond. Once I am at my site for good, I should have internet at least once a month, but possibly more.

♥Sarah