"Welcome to Mali!"

... the words of the public affairs officer for the U.S. Embassy in Mali who met with us this afternoon. She shared background information about the media in Mali and the United States role in assistance here.

Food at lunch in the hotel was tasty, different, but tasty. We're going to what is reported to be a "good restaurant" for the evening meal. Should be interesting.

The most eventful part of the day was traveling by van (12 of us in a van designed to haul eight or nine; you thought the OSU vans were crowded on ACT trips!). No air conditioning except opened windows. We ventured with our Malian coordinator to a supermarket. To me it smelled like the Homeland store in Stillwater before the converted it to the Hastings store -- Rob called it the "old grocery store smell." It wasn't much different than our stores; bottled water and pop were fairly inexpensive while non-food items seems a little more expensive than at home. What was EXTREMELY different was the trip and the conditions we saw. Oh, my goodness. I have seen pictures of poverty, but nothing prepared me for this, which probably is not the worst of it. Everyone wants to sell you something. It seemed every inch of sidewalk and building fronts was taken by someone's "store." You name it, I think we saw it. Even the goats -- well, Lora said they were hair sheep -- live in this capital city. There is dirt everywhere, and the sun is hidden in the haze. The brightness is in the clothes of the people, every color imaginable.

What seems always to catch my eye are the children. Many are homeless, living on the streets; some are orphans, while others are just from poor families. How can they enjoy childhood in this situation? They are forced to grow up too quickly, from what I can observe. In spite of this, they are so cute. Maybe as this young democracy can make advancements in the plight of its future leaders. Improved education, required classes beyond sixth grade, would do much to help this country, but where will the money come from?