Amadu and the Tam-Tam

DISCLAIMER: This blog states only the opinions of a Peace Corps volunteer and in no way states the opinions of the Peace Corps Organization or the US gov.

Well, it has been a wild month at site. Now I’m back in Kayes and on my way home!

The other day I had a day that, to me, summed up Mali in a nutshell. It was a typical up and down day for me.

It started well enough for me. I had four hours in 8th grade including art. I sat up in the front of the room and told them to draw me. I got some pretty funny representations including one of a cowboy (complete with boots, hat, and cigarette).

On the way home though, I talked to Diolomory Sacko, the student body president. The new math teacher, who has quite an ego on him, had kicked all the 9th grade girls and the 9th grade class president out of class. Their crime was that they had not cleaned the teacher’s desk, which was according to him their job (not true obviously). He had also taken nine pieces of chalk. Not because he needed them, but because the principal had instructed the teachers to take only two pieces.

Things like this happen all the time, and they make me wonder if Malians can ever get on the same page and move forward to help their own country advance. Instead at times, they seem more interested in money and power than looking towards the greater good.

So, I was feeling down on Mali into the afternoon. I went to play my afternoon soccer. The game was a blow-out and so I got bored of playing goalie. I started playing midfield. I had a moment that me showed how far I’ve come along in my relationships in village.

Earlier, when I had just started playing, no matter how wide open I was, they wouldn’t pass me the ball. But now, these kids I play with have become my friends. I got the ball a ton. It was amazing. They were looking to pass to me. I scored two goals in a 7-1 blowout. It felt great.

That night, Demba Sissoko, my best friend in village, and I, went out on the town. He took me to just an open space with a fire and some drums. People about my age started playing the tam-tam. Little kids were unable to contain their excitement as they flailed their arms and stomped their feet to the rhythm. Later some older kids joined in.

I couldn’t stop smiling for the next hour or two. This, to me, was absolute pure joy.

At that moment, I wished that I had my camera on me. Then, though, I thought better of it. A photo would have spoiled the moment. It also would’ve failed to capture the emotions of the kids.

If that teacher, earlier in the day, represented the worst of Mali, then this moment of pure joy represented the best of Mali. Just some drums was all they needed.

Just sitting there taking it all in I couldn’t help but think that right then it felt like I was on a vacation. I almost don’t want to leave this place…

Almost.