La Nostalgie

Since I’ve spent the past week or so feeling really nostalgic, I’ve thought a lot about what I’m going to miss about this country. Of course there is the obvious: I will miss my family, the girls on the program, and all of the other friends I’ve made here. But there are definitely other, more discreet aspects of life here that I am going miss. The pace of life here, though it did take some getting used to, is so much more laid back than life in the US. There’s a lot of sitting around and waiting… which still bothers me at times, but it’s a more relaxed lifestyle than anything back home. Then of course there is all of the importance of greetings, and how no one simply walks by each other in the street. Also, although it will be nice to eat the food back home, I’m going to miss the dablennin (hibiscus drink), degue (yoghurt-millet porridge), tigadegena (peanut sauce), pain au chocolat from pastry shops, zere (watermelon), and all of the other delicious fruit. I’m going to miss spending the last 4 months Lady Gaga-free. I’m going to miss the bright colors that everyone wears. I’m going to miss never having to worry about layering, and being able to just throw on a tank top and go outside. I’m going to miss seeing Malian men riding their motos with their boubous blown up by the wind, making them look like marshmallows. I’m going to miss the French television my family watches, notably the international new on France 24.  I’m going to miss stepping out of my house and watching soccer games on the field right outside. I’m going to miss waking up to the quiet sound of sweeping outside of my window. I’m also going to miss not having constant internet access; it’s been a nice break. And I’m really going to miss hearing my name, Raki.

That isn’t to say that there aren’t some things I won’t miss. Having privacy is currently the number one thing I’m looking forward to, especially now that my sister has taken to locking me out of my room basically every day. It’ll be nice to finally sleep through the night without being woken up with lights, my sister’s phone calls, and loud music. My family has also been fighting a lot lately, and it’s uncomfortable for me to sit through. I’m really looking forward to controlling what I eat and when I eat it. I won’t miss inhaling diesel fuels every day when I cross the paved road near my house. And it’ll be nice to be able to walk down the road without hearing “toubabou!” nine hundred times.

As my days remaining in this country are down to the single digits, the negative things about my time here are harder to think of, since the positive aspects are so much more important and are the things I want to remember. I’m sure that when I get back home, the bad things will be a distant memory, and I’ll just want to come back.