hi from Tambacounda! a little too drained right now to be forming complete sentences ... I won't write much right now, instead a memo:

Attn: reader

Subj: Tambacounda is really what I imagined it to be! Maybe with more trees. I think it's the heavy Malian influence. Ethnically and linguistically, it's dominantly pular and mandinka. it's cheap eats, sandy streets, empty, dusty, yellow by day and electrified by night. Tambacounda is faces carved into trees, scars carved into faces, blue tattoos on black skin, and beads, and papayas, and parades. And blue-turbaned fulani herdsmen chatting in groups in the shade keeping watch on their flocks. I came down here to prepare some reports before the declaration of abandonment we hosted this weekend. (really stressfully last minute, typical). It did however give me the chance to meet and interview some girls from an adolescent association, Kamben ("union" in mandinka), who formed a dance/theatre troupe and performed at the declaration. Got to spend a lot of time with them, and their songs and stories really stirred me. All of a sudden I saw the present and future of Tambacounda for what it is and will be, which despite progress, is not easy for girls. instead, pathetic and inescapable in many ways

As usual my ride back to Thiès was delayed two days - which actually gave me a chance to get out of the office and deep into this town. I'm trying to upload some videos from the declaration weekend .. wait and see