This is Africa

We went to dinner tonight in Bamako, and I had a cheeseburger (impressive, huh) and ice cream.  The restaurant was called Broadway, and it was very good.  We had to take two vehicles, and Jason drove Andy, Rachel and me. Jason is a pediatrician at the Women's Hospital in Koutiala where we will be visiting.  He had a practice in Bentonville, Arkansas before deciding to move out here (I believe he is still part of the practice in Bentonville). 

The crime here is apparently low because punishment is immediate.  We drove by a man getting severely beaten.  I'm not sure what he did...  The police do not carry guns...probably since the people will handle the punishment themselves.

Driving is something I would never dare to do here.  People are on mopeds everywhere (donkeys are more common in Koutiala - Bamako is a little more advanced), swerving in and out of cars.  Plus, people walk out into the streets at random and don't seem at all concerned that a car might hit them.  There are people everywhere!!  Jason said that we often think it's an instinct to not walk into the middle of traffic, but he's found it is definitely a learned response, and the people in Mali have never learned it! He said he has hit one person (who was not severely injured). 

Jason said it is well known that the police make much of  their money by bribes.  Jason said he gets pulled over randomly, and often an officer just walks up to him and says "you owe 15000 Francs."  Jason said he has started asking for receipts, resulting in the police officers letting him go without paying.  He said if you hear a whistle by the police, it's best to just keep driving and see if the officer gets on his moped and comes after you.

This is definitely a different world from what we are used to!

Niger River and Bamako

Niger River

Dinner in Bamako

After dinner -- Larry, Erin, Jason, Adam and Rachel

Bill and Steve

Jon and Andy

Bamako