Now in Mali

I arrived in Mali a week ago, and I have been pretty busy since arriving.

My first big task has been to take the budget which was developed by my predecessor (hurray!) and update it with the newest info, then to transpose this budget into another format, breaking down the figures into 7 activities.  I just sent the results off this evening.  It is usually tough to try to understand someone else’s work, but the lady before me was crystal clear in her explanations.  It still took 1 week though; seeing how there were day-to-day activities to perform at the same time.

Next week, I must get the emergency program employees into the human resources database along with the correct salary scales, and also assign them to the correct activity within the program.

The staff here is great – both the expatriates and the national staff.  I have worked with a few of the expatriates before elsewhere.

I have been into the center of Bamako a couple of times for work, but have not yet had time to wander around our immediate area.  I live in the house which is just above the office.  Last Saturday, just after I arrived, we were invited to dinner at the house of the Belgian section of MSF, which is really close to our place.  I buy bread for the house every morning in a kiosk about 10 yards/meters from our front gate.  There is a great grocery store a 5 minute walk from the house.  And apparently there are some bars and restaurants in the same area. 

On Monday evening, I noticed that the place just across the street from us had a sign for Flag beer outside.  I asked if that bar was open, and one of the drivers told me yes, 24 hours a day.  This seemed kind of strange, but I decided to give it a try.  I went with a lady who had also just arrived.  We were on the terrace and the place was pretty dark – only light from the TV.  Then we noticed that there were a LOT of women standing around.  We finally figured out that it is a brothel.  What the hell.  The waiter was pretty funny, and we drank our 66cl beers without being hassled.  I went back a couple of evenings ago, without the lady, and one of the women DID ask me if I was going to reserve a room.  I told her I was there only to drink a beer and she left me alone, although she stayed at my table and pouted because I didn’t offer her anything.  I will probably go back, now that they have gotten used to me.

Bamako is a really nice city.  It is very green with a lot of trees lining the streets and in the house compounds.  I am looking forward to getting to know it better.  Next Sunday, I hope I will have time to walk around some, in safe areas, of course.