I picked up my package at the post office today. What a strange experience. I had to pay 25 dalasi for a stamp for something that had already been sent. They opened the package (in front of me, thankfully) to "verify the contents." Thank goodness it didn't have anything embarassing in it.

Bill gave me a ride to the post office, as he was heading in that direction, and we talked about my project on the way. I think I'm going to ask him to come with me to the garden tomorrow to either talk to Mr. Jatta or just introduce me to the women directly and explain to them what's going on. My Mandinka is too limited for me to introduce my purpose to them. Bill and I had a brief conversation about the possible motivations behind Mr. Jatta's actions, and it stuck with me. Bill suggested that, by trapping me in his office and teaching me rather than sending me out into the garden, he is showing how powerful and smart he is. When really, I don't care how powerful or smart he is. I just want to go work in a garden with some women. And it's crazy, because he's talking about women's empowerment while robbing me of my initiative. AAAHH.

Speaking of Mr. Jatta, I walked to the garden at 3:00 to find him not there. The note I wrote him this morning was exactly where I left it. I sat on a bench in the shade and contemplated empowerment for a while, and then I got up and walked back.

Luckily, I wasn't programmed to stay angry. Anger is one of the few emotions that just doesn't stick with me. And so, when I discovered that Anita and Liam had purchased a single DVD with the entire Harry Potter movie series on it, I was thrilled by the thought of an HP marathon. We have gotten to the Quidditch match in the first movie, but we are taking a break because a man who makes gorgeous batiks is here. I am tempted to buy one, but they're pricey.

In other news, there is only one heterosexual male in our group. There are nine females who would potentially be interested in a heterosexual male. He is a gangly econ major (whoa) who calls himself a realist. While I do have a weakness for gangle, I am not particularly attracted to him in any serious way. I am worried that, at some point, I will be bored and vaguely attracted and he will be receptive, and then I will regret something. Really, I just keep thinking of another gangly econ major who I would rather have.