Under Pressure

mllebamako started a blog post Under Pressure
January 10, 2013, 12:42 PM
Under Pressure

So as most of you know, things in Mali haven't been so great for about a year. First, there were major protests in Feb. 2012, then the coup d'etat, then the counter coup d'etat and Islamist rebels taking over have the country. Recently things have been heating up a bit in the North of the country and there have been lots of protests/demonstrations here in the capital.

While I do feel safe, I know that things could get much worse and I know that it is possible that Bamako becomes an unsafe place over time.

My SO and I aren't really pressed to go back to the USA right away though. I really love my job here, we live comfortably, and my SO has his friends here. Our kind of rough plan is to apply for a CR-1 visa in late summer/early fall 2013 so that we could potentially be going to the US in the summer of 2014 (that's kind of counting on a 5-9 month visa process time with a 6 month period to use the visa). I am really comfortable with the plan but I know that if shit were to hit the fan here, then I would be repatriated and would immediately start the visa for my SO and daughter to follow.

Well, my parents have been really wishing that we would leave sooner and my mom sent me this huge email today that just made me feel really guilty. They are so worried about my safety and they want me to consider starting the visa process now so that we could go back to the US maybe this summer or fall 2013.
Ugh. I feel so guilty putting my family into a worrying position. I really hate it. But at the same time, I am happy here right now. And I am not sure I am ready to face the complications of a visa (my SO had a juvenile criminal record in the States) and face life in America yet.

Advice? Kind words? Chocolate cake?
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5 comments
- #3
  
  ioanna commented
  
  January 10, 2013, 02:28 PM
  
  Editing a comment
  
  No chocolate cake here but homemade choux a la creme?
  
  I can relate to your worries, and your parents too. I've lived all my life in an "unstable" setting so I'm all too familiar with this all.
  If you are happy and would like to stay until 2014 in bamako, go for it! But always have a safe hypothetical way out. now that you guys are married, is it easier for your SO to get a tourist visa? Maybe it's a good idea to have a tourist visa in standby in case of evacuation so the whole family would stick together. I truly hope it doesn't get to that though!
  
  It's true that parents will always worry, but also news as seen from the outside is always so different from the truth, over dramatic and amplified. They must be aware of that. You should always be your family's best source of info, especially when Mali is on the news..
  
  Sending you lots of warm fuzzy thoughts!
  
  Ps: I also love stalking your photos
- #4
  
  mllebamako commented
  
  January 11, 2013, 12:40 AM
  
  Editing a comment
  
  Thanks friends! I really needed to be reassured. I'm talking to her today and will just reiterate everything I've said. I know they won't stop worrying but they need to trust that I WOULD leave if things got bad. I was the first person at my school to leave last year a couple of weeks after the coup d'etat when they were closing down the borders. They have to trust that I'll leave again if I need to.
- #5
  
  Tanja commented
  
  January 11, 2013, 06:49 AM
  
  Editing a comment
  
  It does sound very stressful. I haven't got much to add to what everyone has said already. Parents will worry no matter what you say or do. I think the key thing is the trust like you said. They must know you're not irresponsible and will leave if things get too intense. Let's hope they don't though!
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Under Pressure