Boo’s own reality

I was skyping with a friend today, and we realized that it was the same temperature in the US was here. Only his was Fahrenheit and mine was Celsius. Yeah hot season is coming on strong. It’s 45 degrees. That’s about 112 or so for all you Fahrenheit folk.

Somehow though, it’s not bothering me as much this year. I think there are a couple reasons for this. First, I’m used to it a little more than last time around. Second, I’m much happier.

I have this theory, so bear with me as go Dr Phil on you guys.

I think that contrary to what most people think, I really don’t think that the weather determines your mood.

Let me explain. I do think that the weather can affect your mood. For example if you’re in a bad mood, bad weather can make it worse. Likewise, a good mood can be made even better by a good mood. I just don’t think weather is enough to reverse your mood by itself. I think if you’re truly unhappy, that’s really the sign of something else deeper that’s probably wrong in your life. Weather is just an easy scapegoat for a greater issue.

So, I really think, the fact that I am truly happy with my life, completely comfortable in Mali and in my surrounding means that the weather isn’t enough to put a damper on all of that…if that makes any sense.

While, I was back in the states in December, another friend of made a statement that has stuck with me and now come to take on a different meaning. He said to me that he thinks about me sometimes while he’s sitting in his office and thinks about how different my reality is from his reality on a daily basis.

But as I’ve returned to Mali, and as my service begins to wind down, I keep thinking about what my daily reality really means.

The other day I was completely out of water, and needed to go to the pump to get some. I took my two 10L jugs the short walk to the pump. I began to pump, and a couple of students insisted on doing it for me. Probably because they know I really have no idea what I’m doing. Generally I never get to pump my own water without several kids stopping me to do it for me. Most of the time they then stick my jug on the back of their bike too. Otherwise I struggle to lug the water back to my house, and struggle to make it not actually look like a struggle.

But as I watched these young kids pump the water, my buddy’s words came back to me. The truth is that I am actually in some small third category. Somewhere in between the office job and the Malian child is where I actually belong. Their reality is still so much different from mine, as much as I would like to pretend it’s not. They’ve been pumping water their whole lives. They’ve never known anything differently.

The truth is, I’ve always known that at the end of my two years, I will go back to that first reality. There is no question that I will never be the same person again. But still, I will go back to that crazy place where water just comes out of a faucet, and clothes get clean from a magic machine.

It is still hard for me to imagine, exactly what it would be like if this is your only reality. If Mali is all you’ve ever known.

I’ve also been aided even further by the knowledge that if I really couldn’t handle this small piece of their reality, that I could quit and go home at anytime. Although I’ve had some times when I’ve felt down, I’ve never all that seriously considered leaving. Still, the fact that I could leave at any point is somehow comforting.

Malians don’t exactly have anything to go back to. They have to make the best of what they have.

As a result they jump up and down as they pump. In the end, it looks almost like some sort of game or dance. They appear to somehow be enjoying themselves as the water seems to come pouring almost effortlessly out of the pump.

I simply watch them and smile, as they do what they’ve always done. They really just make the best out of what they have. Malians really have this incredible love of life (joie de vivre).

I’m going to miss this place so much. For now, I’m enjoying myself even as I sweat even as I sit and do nothing.

Soon enough, my reality will include AC and heat whenever I need it!