I wish I could say I was as excited as my family is to visit me now. It's just at this point, even as I am in another African country, I miss Mali. I miss the kindness I have never seen in another culture as I have in Namposella. I miss the ease of conversation—that whenever things turned quiet, you could always make fun of a last name and revive the chat. As great as Ghana was, it was the first time it made me truly appreciate the language barrier that existed in Mali. Being able to converse with a Ghanian was rewarding, but being able to converse with a Malian in Bambara? There is no greater lingual reward. I will miss the conversation, I will miss the jokes, I will miss the people, I will miss Mali. In six short months, it has taught me a kindness and generosity that runs deep beyond the amount of money or food you have to share.
To Mali—may peace return quickly and to the next chapter—Vanuatu, please continue your political stability.