as i am.

"…but soil is a refuge for dispersed seeds."

Author Archives: chrissy

← Older posts Newer posts →

The Pictures

Posted on by chrissy

Here are some pictures from my first two months in Mali.  Thus far, it is a tedious process to upload pictures, so hopefully I can get this streamlined, and will have the time to upload many more.  But for now, enjoy … Continue reading


Final Thoughts Before Heading to Site

Posted on by chrissy

I am currently in San, at my stage house (or place to go for recuperation from village, also known as a transit house) waiting to be installed at my site tomorrow. I have been spoiled with an abundance of toubab … Continue reading


The Swear In, In Extravagance

Posted on by chrissy

Our swear in ceremony was lavish, to say the least. Our stage (or the group of volunteers who arrived with me in February) has been exceedingly lucky since the start of our service. In Washington D.C., Aaron Williams, the Director … Continue reading


The Interim

Posted on by chrissy

After leaving S New, we spent a week and a half at Tubani So. Initially we had some final sessions in health, safety and security, administrative issues, etc. I spent my birthday in class in the morning, then passed my … Continue reading


The Homestay Goodbyes

Posted on by chrissy

The last Thursday I was in S New, I was brushing my teeth, almost ready to go to school in the morning. My mom walked up and told me she had to go to her village. Her uncle had passed … Continue reading


The Training

Posted on by chrissy

One of our tasks during homestay was to give a moringa animation to the women’s group in town. Moringa is known as the miracle tree to some due to its nutritious value: it has more calcium than milk, more vitamin … Continue reading


The Process of Achieving Comfort

Posted on by chrissy

The compound was sun bleached and empty when I returned to S New for the third and final stint of homestay. The midday heat was intense, and those not working hard in the fields slunk out of the sun to … Continue reading


The Dance

Posted on by chrissy

My mom has yet to return from her shopping expedition to Bamako, and the compound is quiet in her absence. Aby dutifully keeps me company, and as the evening slips into night her eyes grow with excitement at the sound … Continue reading


Odds and Ends

Posted on by chrissy

After lunch on my first full day in village, I am left with only Aly and his friend Basil to babysit me. The people in my region are very poor farmers, and their Bambara reflects their isolation, as it seems … Continue reading


The Easement

Posted on by chrissy

I wake up at 6:45 to pounding on my gate. Ants have infested my house and are hiding under the things sprawled on the floor. They crawl up my ankles as I unlock the front door and let Aly and … Continue reading


← Older posts Newer posts →