Angry Humping Donkeys

So where to begin, possibly with the title of this blog?? We will soon see. 

I am currently at the training center after 12 days of being at my homestay site.  To be honest, I am very relieved to have electricity, internet and a shower, but I find myself missing my homestay family.  They are really awesome, I am learning a lot of cultural information which is great and I do not feel very awkward at home which is a relief.  When I arrived, I was actually very nervous because I met my brother who seemed very intimating to me. I soon find out he speaks fluent english and is super awesome! The only negative to the English speaking at home is that I am not getting the necessary practice in Bambara.  I honestly am getting upset with the language itself, I keep on rushing myself to know this language that I have been speaking for 2 weeks now, what more can I ask for. I do feel that others expect me to have a conversation, and others try to make me feel bad that I speak English at home.  I do practice with my host bro MaMari, he teaches me a lot. 

Now for the random stories such as the title above.   So I leave in this little town outside of Bamako, it is a little dirty (meaning a lot of garbage everywhere).  We have language class outside in which we had 2 angry donkeys trying to mate came running through our class.  We have had herd of Cattle, chickens, sheep and goats walk through our class too!  It is very distracting, so we changed classrooms to the LCF's compound where we were interrupted by an angry women who was screaming at these people, she was topless and her child was trying to breast feed at the same time.  She was very angry and was yelling for over an hour!!

My family now, they make fun of me all the time now, they know that I don't know their names and call me out all the time.   They have patience with me and are trying to help me learn the language.  Also my host bro, MaMari, thinks I am fat so I have to go for a run and when I return there, he will be making me play soccer to lose more weight.  I have lost 13 pounds so far!! 

All in all I am enjoying Africa, nothing too shocking yet that makes me want to leave, so 27 months here I come!!