Update on life in Bamako

So we have been having a blast here in Bamako. Highlights include:

• Cheeseburgers, a fried chicken breast sandwich, milkshake, ice cream, goat cheese, grocery stores and yummy restaurants. This is a great country to obsess about food in.
  
• Karaoke night - last night we went to this faux Tex-Mex restaurant. Apparently the food was gross, but it looked like a Chili's and the waiters were wearing cowboy hats and the bartenders were Ukranian hookers. Seriously. It was so fun - we just danced and drank and laughed and I'll try and post some of the best pictures later. I had the foresight to save 2 pieces of pizza from dinner and Camilo and I gladly devoured them at 1am. The bus ride back from the bar was hilarious as well - there were over 40 people on a bus that seats 25 comfortably.
• Animals on the compound - there is the giant turtle, a bull, a three-legged cat and other assorted lizards and animals here. I haven't seen the cat, but the turtle is fun to "play" with and the bull is safely tied up.
• Our Country Director came here to talk to us about the conditions that need to be met for us to go back. The short version is that we have 3 weeks here before a final decision needs to be made. Then we will either go back to Guinea or people can transfer to new countries or have "Interrupted Service" and go home. No matter what happens I'm not going home - either back to Guinea or to another country for me. I'm just getting used to being out of the workforce and aren't ready to head back!
• Our huts - they are adorable and cool and have ceiling fans. Something about a ceiling fan in a hut is just amazing.
• There are things to do here - the supermarket has 2 stories and you can send your cart up the side of the escalator, just like they have at the 59th street Bed, Bath and Beyond! I still want to see the museum and zoo - have heard the museum is really cool and the zoo is depressing, but they will practically let you pet the lions.
  
• Big beers. There is a bar about 2 miles away that's just a guy's yard, but $1.60 will get you a giant beer and a buzz. The walk back is a bit painful, but the exercise is useful!
• Seeing all my friends. Quite a few of us hadn't spent much time together and it's been a bonding experience to hang out in a new city.
  

The best part of all of this is that tomorrow we are leaving for a 3-day music festival, fully funded by Peace Corps! Apparently they contacted the festival organizers and got a discount for us, so it's about 50 euros instead of 100. They are sending us on a bus and providing tents. There are supposed to be dance troupes, crafts, tons of musical acts and lots of other entertainment. Next week we'll start training in anticipation of going back, but this weekend is just going to be fun and relaxing. Here's the web site for the festival... http://www.festivalsegou.org/

So that's a quick update on what's going on here. Hopefully I'll be able to get pictures posted today, but if not I'll do it when I get back from the festival. I'm headed to the grocery store and artisan market this afternoon and then will be getting my stuff ready. Will update again soon!