Transition

i can't believe everything that's happened in one week.  last week this
time i was biking back to my village thinking i was going to work in
the community garden and teach english classes once again.

i've never had my life change so dramatically in one week.

packing for an emergency evacuation must be what it's like when your
house is on fire.  grab only the important things like photos,
paperwork, ID cards, etc.  turn off the gas on the stove.  don't take
anything that's too awkward to carry for long distances while walking
or riding your bike...good lord.

after an administrative version of hell on earth, a giant fire at our
training center which required us to become instant volunteer fire
fighters, a bus breaking down in the middle of bamako, and an insane
chartered plane ride with an Ethiopian airliner, we are in Ghana, only
to find ourselves back in an administrative version of hell on earth.

we are here for a transition conference.  all the volunteers from
Mali, all 200 of us.  some have been in country for 25 months, some
for 14, and then some, like me and my group, only 5 months.  we are
here to close our service in Mali.  it's hard to believe that after a
short 5 months, i am completing my close of service paperwork.

i have some options, the next 4 days will determine where i will go
next.  some people who have been in the peace corps for a longer
period of time are just calling it and going home.  most of the people
in my group are looking to transfer to other countries seeing as we
were just getting started with our service.

i am currently on a list hoping to be placed in either burkina faso,
cameroon, or senegal.  it's strange because it's quite possible that a
week from today i will be in another country going through peace corps
training AGAIN.  deja vu.  we've gone 'round in a circle sweetie
dahling.

i have an interview later today that will determine if i qualify for a
transfer position.

if i could write a letter to the coup leader in mali, this is what it would say.

"dear captain amadou sanogo,

thank you for getting your shit together and relinquishing power the
exact day that we evacuated your country. thanks alot asshole.

sincerely, goundo suko"

although i'm not quite sure how i would say that in malinke.

we'll know more information by friday.  we're all fine here, just
missing mali and feeling a little heartbroken.  it was really hard
saying bye to all the friends we've made in our communities.  eh,
allah.  insert big sigh.

i'll send another message as soon as i get news.  thanks so much for
checking in with me.  it was so great to hear from you when we got to
the hotel.  the internet service here is great, so i'll be in touch.

big love,
bevin