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So right now I am at Tubaniso for a 2 week in-service training, this means that I have been able to hang out with people I haven't seen for 3 months and I get to go into Bamako whenever I want, it also means that I am going to be bored out of my mind for the next 2 weeks since we have back to back technical sessions. On top of the extreme boredom, I have been sick for the past 2 days. I'm not sure what I'm sick with, but I haven't been able to keep food down. This morning was the first time I was able to eat in 2 days. I don't know what it is about Tubaniso, but everyone seems to always get sick here, for example I was never once sick during Homestay and I was never sick for the 3 months in village, but as soon as I get to Tubaniso I get so sick I feel like dying. Anyway I feel slightly better now, and hopefully I reach full health capacity by tonight because we are planning on going out in Bamako!

So I just want to announce that my 3 month lock-down is OVER!!! I no longer have Peace Corps restrictions on me (in case you forgot, new volunteers are required to stay in village for the first 3 months and are only permitted to leave twice to visit their banking towns), which means I can basically do whatever I want, well within reason. So because I can leave my village, I plan on doing it up big for Christmas and New Years. I'm also very excited to just be able to travel and see the rest of Mali; Sikasso is pretty great, but I wanna see the rest of the country too. I also have plans to travel to Senegal in February which may also include side trips to The Gambia and possibly even Cape Verde.

So you have all probably noticed that I have been slacking in timely blog updates, so in order to catch up I'm gonna fill you guys in on what has gone on since my last post. The biggest thing was definately Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving was so great!! A bunch of volunteers from all over the country came down to Sikasso to celebrate with us. On Thanksgiving day we ate turkey, mashed potatoes, salad, green beans, apple pie, and pumpkin pie. The food was soooo good!! The day after Thanksgiving was Mexican day where we had Mexican food poolside. Unfortunately the pool was kind of green which turned me off so I didn't go in, but we had tacos with cheese (well, velveeta) and guacamole!! Both of those nights we also went out clubbing in Sikasso. It's so much fun to go out with Peace Corps people because we basically take over the club, also everytime we go out I always make it a mission to get the DJ to only play American Music.
Village life has also gotten a lot more fun recently because I have gotten closer to the teachers at the 2nd cycle school (middle school). I have gone and played cards with them a couple times and even watched them play soccer. They asked me if I wanted to play but I was wearing a Tafe (long wrap skirt) so I wouldn't have been able to run, I told them that I would play with them next time (we'll see if that actually happens).