Hey, just sending out a quick message to let you know that I am
beginning my site visit trip.  We arrived at the Peace Corps house
here in Sikasso last night and had a nice party with Mexican food,
beer and a singalong on the porch with lots of great folk tunes.  I
met Mandy, the PCV that I am replacing this morning; she seems nice
enough, but also very eager to start her life back in the USA and
hence kind of stressed right now.  I am staying at the Peace Corps
house in Sikasso tonight ...
     As for the city of Sikasso, it has been quite favorable so far.  It
has all the amenities that cities here have to offer, as far as
restaurants and bars and internet cafes and a huge market, but it is
also much more laid back and authentically Malian than the other
cities I have been to here.  None of the big tourist sites in Mali
are here, which apparently makes it easier to integrate into your
community, since Peace Corps volunteers are the first westerners that
most people have seen in the villages.  Sikasso is also much greener
and full of fresh fruits and veggies than the rest of Mali, but
partly because of this, it is the least developed region in Mali
since people here are used to living off what the land and trees
provide and not having to worry about creating a sustainable economy
based on anything other than farming.  Furthermore, because Sikasso
is the food source for much of the country, this areas natural
resources have been under particular strain lately due to demand for
huge crop yields and drought.  I will have to get to Sheouba and see
what things are really like there before I can offer any further
insight, but that is what I know so far.
     So, I would love to get a phone call tonight.  I just found out about
a web site called getafrica.com where you can get a card to call Mali
for 10 cents a minute, if you are interested.

     With love,
     Eric