How do people here still keep up? Remain strong under such circumstances. Without any sense of joy, without hope and not even the energy to think about their future. Simply not even the time due to their daily stress. The worry they have is feeding their children, providing the necessary vitamins. Not surprising that most Malians are no taller then 1.60cm and a shortage of brain cells that will amaze you. The care of diseases and whether the mandatory notebook and pen can be purchased at the beginning of the school. Without that they are denied in school. Luckily, paying the yearly school price isn’t that much, but everyone understands that as a teacher you can’t expect a good salary. Sometimes they are not even paid. Living between worlds where people in one country go to court because the hedge of the neighbors is placed 10cm in someone else’s garden, others do not even get the chance to ever see a hedge, because nobody in the district has money to buy one. Less chance that they will be angry if the hedge is on their land. They will believe that Allah is with them because they finally have a hedge. The difference are so extreme that it’s difficult to comprehend. We can’t really call the miserable tea drinking habits of young people here a great development and they don’t really learn to have norms and values from the elders anymore. Anyone who has some education leaves the country after graduation! Who will be left to build this country…

The most special thing about this country is that everyone (in the the north a bit less, but still) remains socially and always friendly. In terms of the north I certainly do not blame them because of the drought and the desert, but even there you will not soon be snared at because of all the grumpiness caused by there misery. The question of what is so much fun about this country I can’t really answer, because the answer is certainly not fun, but me only being here helps them.

To choose between two countries where one is buried in poverty and misery, but with a beautiful culture and Social life with the capital S, or a country rich with it’s misery that is all about success and property? Materialism is the last thing we really need for a sustainable world and often have our most blissful moments in our lives at a location in the countryside with a magnificent view. See yourself on the beach in Cancun or on a mountain top in the Himalayas! Much things we don’t need in those moments.

Walking the streets here with a smile sometime is an art, yes! and very necessary to! Learn them to dream even more. We think that we have to teach a country like Mali all the West’s greatness, but believe me, vice versa as well!

Mali is perhaps one of the worlds toughest countries to life in, but I’m awfully happy here!