Visiting friends in Arles

After our delay in Paris we made it to our destination of Arles to visit friends from Charleston. Shannon and Philippe were our neighbors and we have kept in touch over the years. They left Charleston after us to move to France so we haven't seen them since we left in 2006. 

But after about two seconds of being together it was clear that time had changed nothing. It was as though we chatted everyday. We bonded as newlyweds and new parents (Juliette, seen below, is only 3 weeks younger than Dawson) and over our transitions to move out of the US. We each had two more kids, both within months of each other. I wish we could have spent many more days together. Each second was lovely.

We made our way over to the Mediterranean Sea to get some beach time, even if it was a bit cold. 

                                             The gang enjoying a picnic dinner on the beach.

I was actually trying to get a picture of all six kids together. This made me laugh because it was the best I could get. :) If they only understood that one day they will want to see pictures of themselves. :)

                                         Father's Day 2013 as we visited the Coliseum in Arles.

                                               View of Arles from the top of the coliseum.

 We visited one of the many Roman churches throughout the city. It was interesting to see but we seemed to have more fun with the windows. :) All the boys lined up in the them.

                      Kenan and Juliette posing as the statue outside the church. The lion eating the man.

                                      

Continuing on the monster theme that Brett has enjoyed the last few days, we were monsters in the windows.

So thankful for the great visit with the Shannon and Phillipe. They were wonderful hosts. We can't let it be 7 years between visits again!

Paris

We have been enjoying our vacation thoroughly. We arrived in Paris and due to train strikes, we were unable to get to our next destination. If you have to be stranded somewhere, Paris is not a bad place to be. We walked around for a good while trying to find some food and then our hotel. It was raining and just having left the hot season of Mali, it was quite cold. My favorite memory of that day was looking at Kenan and seeing him crying out of what looked like pure pain from the cold. Not that I want to see my kids suffer but he somehow he looked so precious in his tears. 

We got to the hotel and enjoyed some bread and the sun that finally came out.

Dinner from the local bakery

As we walked the streets the next morning the boys walked over this air vent and loved the warm air blowing up. A great treat for them on the cool morning.

                                Brett and I needed coffee and the boys needed hot chocolate. :)

I don't know if you can fully see but this is their reflection in the window. They looked so sweet drinking their hot chocolate.

Me and my coffee. Honestly, though, I was more pleased to be captured with a scarf on and my hair down as opposed to what I normally look like in Mali.

Brett enjoyed feeling larger than life with his big hands and little cup. I think it is a guy thing. :)

                                                   Kenan showing us the way on the metro.

This boy has gotten to see some great things in his lifetime. Eight years old and this is his second time at the Eiffel Tower. Not bad, not bad at all.

                  I just like the randomness of this. Kids will be kids no matter where you take them.

Love and hate

There are times that that I love Mali and a few times when I hate it. I think anyone in any culture, even their own, can have these moments but sometimes with the change of cultures you become more aware of the differences.  The other day was one of those days.

I went to the government hospital with our new pharmacist to show him around. We were walking around various places trying to get medicines that we needed. We waited and waited for this one doctor to be available. When we finally saw the doctor there were several people in the room. We entered anyway to have our paper signed for the medicines. I commented to the lady sitting beside where I was standing that I liked her bracelets. They were woven bracelets which were very common when we first arrived but aren’t as popular anymore. I have been in search of them which was probably why I noticed hers in the first place. I only meant to compliment her but she took the bracelets off and gave them to me. I was shocked. A woman I never met just gave me her bracelets. Granted they were old and three of the five have already broken, but still I was so touched. Without hesitation she gave them. This is historically a normal practice. If one comments on something and says they like it, you give it. While I don’t see this happen often, I do see a culture built on sharing and caring for those around them. Nothing is theirs alone. They will always share. I love that.

Later I worked with a lady who had been hospitalized at our hospital from complications that were found to be from HIV. I told her of her diagnosis and gave her the option to tell her husband but made it clear it was not obligatory. I have several women that we now support monthly because they told their husbands and they were abandoned.  There are no government services to care for these women once they are abandoned so it falls on us. Therefore we no longer mandate that women tell their husbands but let them decide. This particular lady was quick to say it was ok to talk to her husband. I went and got him and shared what we had found. He refused to accept the diagnosis. He told me she had sickle cell disease and not HIV. I told him again that regardless of the sickle cell, she definitely had HIV. He refused to believe. He made his wife leave and told me to tell her it was only sickle cell and not HIV. He wanted me to lie to her about HER health. Feeling quite pushed into a corner, I called a pastor who often helps me in counseling ladies. We spoke to the man alone, then again as a couple. The husband refused to accept while the women interjected from time to time, “Please give me medicine. I want to take the medicine”. I couldn’t give her the meds, though, because she lives 60 + kilometers away and would only be able to come to our hospital with her husband’s knowledge and permission. But he wouldn’t give it. He would rather let his wife die than accept the shame of HIV. There is a proverb in Bambara “Death is better than shame”. We see that played out again and again. This man chose the death of his wife rather than shame to his family. It was so sad to see her leave knowing she would never, aside from miraculously change of heart from her husband, be able to come and receive treatment. And that I hate. 

Tennis

Can you believe that this picture was taken at the hospital? Thanks to a very generous, tennis loving friend of Brett's we now have a tennis court in Koutiala! This was the first time we played on it (though Brett had the inaugural game with Shawn that morning).   

The boys were thrilled to play.  I think they have MacLean blood more than me and actually may be good at it. :)

At the end of our time, with our "ball boy" in the background. He did fairly well getting the balls but not understanding the game he often ran on the court in front of us and got in the way of shots.

I honestly don't know who is happier about the court.

toothless Kenan

Within a few short days Kenan lost both of his front teeth. The new ones were already pushing through so he didn't have much of a choice. He's quite cute without his front teeth, I must say.

The tooth fairy gave him 100 francs (equivalent to 20 cents). He came out in the morning singing about how the tooth fairy gave him a dollar. Seems to be a win- win. It doesn't break the bank and he's happy thinking his coin is worth more than it is. :) Here's to keeping the confusion going for a few more teeth! :)

Sweet Burkina

We find little Burkina everywhere taking her naps. And like watching a baby sleep, it is precious and picture worthy, for some reason. :) We are thankful for this cat as we lost our others and though I am kind of done with an indoor cat, I don't think my boys will ever let me put her outside.

                     Burkina longs to go outside so she is always at the windows watching what goes on.