QWERTY

Same day but on a normal keyboard. I'm now in the Peace Corps Mali office and can use a keyboard that doesn't make me feel like I'm learning to type all over again. I don't know how hunt and peckers can do it.

Cheri and I went from Ouagadougou through Bobo Dialasso to Banfora. From Banfora we went to Tengrila in order to visit what guide books and Peace Corps Burkina Faso volunteers said would be a nice lake.

We arrived in the late morning and were greeted by a largy man with small tight dreadlocks who introduced himself as Souleyman. He set us up in our round mud hut and then showed us around his place, playing xylophone and drums like it was his job (it turns out that it is his job). He showed us his crocodile pond which held five crocodiles ranging from four to six feet in length. The housing compound had a monstrous Mango tree in the center and had plenty of tables, chairs and hammocks for relaxing. After getting settled, Cheri and I wandered to the nearby lake. We were scheduled for a 6am pirogue tour the following morning but thought that it would be nice to get a lay of the land. On the way, a nice young Burkinabe peddled his bike beside us and chatted in broken enlish. We chatted back in broken but improving French while working towards the lake. The three of us spent most of that afternoon sitting lakeside and chatting, each of us learning much desired foreign language skills.

I had to leave the qwerty keyboard and Im back on azerty so again slow.

The last morning in Tengrila Cheri and I were scheduled to take a pirogue ride at 6am. Cell phone malfunctions allowed us to sleep until half past six and we hurriedly left the hut to find out guide. He was nowhere to be seen so we continued toward the lake. Our Burkinabe buddy met us along the way and ended up guiding us on a pirogue to within twenty feet of a family of hippos. I was initially nervous but saw a man standing waist deep fishing only 20 meters away. What a great way to start the day.

I am impatient with this keyboard so will sign off. Our travel plans have been thwarted a bit due to an Al Qaeda presence in Northern Mali and the dissolution of parliament in Niger. Further updates when we know more.

I Mali now, back through Ouagadougou due to travel restrictions tomorrow.

Love to all:

Ira