an experiment
As I sit here alone in the fluorescent-colored Peace Corps bureau in Bamako, my pulse races. I don’t really know why I am so nervous about this, but starting a blog is actually quite stressful. The strange techno music that just came in on my ipod isn’t helping much. I am hesitant about posting my thoughts so publicly because:
a) I am worried that this exposure might change the tone or personality of my writing
b) I know I will have to heavily censor myself so as not to offend Peace Corps or Mali. Maybe my mass e-mails will become darker as they will become my sole outlet for stress and frustration (I can’t handle journal-writing).
I do see the benefits of a blog though. First of all, you don’t need to understand computers well to start one. I didn’t realize this until recently. I used to think that having a blog meant I had to understand dreamweaver. The main reason I have decided to start a blog, however, is so I can discipline myself to write more regularly. Maybe the fact that I am posting to the public will give me more of a sense of accountability, and I will therefore feel a healthy pressure to keep on top of my posts.
Keeping a blog will also be a means of not forgetting. Since I don’t actively keep a journal in the village, I find myself repeating conversations or incedents in my head in order to brand them into my memory so I don’t lose them. This strategy probably won’t work too well in the long run though. I will therefore try to combat memory loss by keeping a blog, where I will mention conversations, poignant moments, activities, etc., so Mali can stay relatively fresh in my head for a long time to come.
It is 11:27 pm, which means that the bureau will be closing soon. I am also sleepy, as I woke up at 5 a.m. this morning to catch the early bus (which didn’t actually arrive in Kola until 9) to Bamako. I will therefore officially start my Mali-postings tomorrow.
But first, the necessary disclaimer, which I am going to copy directly from a friend’s mass e-mail list: This blog in no way reflects the views or opinions of the Peace Corps. All ideas reflect the solely the author’s point of view.
