some of my reasons for being here.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
some of my life.
marosca!
i went up and asked them to explain to me about Peace Corps.This was our booth at the fety.
the middle schoolers put on a dance.their skirts made the madagascar flag.
one of the dancers.
a male gecko...the males have blue tails.
i asked these kids if they would be my family.
enjoying the fety.
all dressed up for the fety.
Friends of Madagascar donated these jerseys for soccer teams in my village.
a really nice snack shop in Fianar.
The Middle School all decorated for our festival.
"What's up homeslice!"
some of my kids.
blacky walking me home.
get up stand up.
Dec 16
So it's been awhile. I'll try to mention some of the high points of the last couple months. I have been trying to get this garden project started at my local clinic with the health volunteers in my community. This has been a very difficult task. I set up meetings with them, and no one shows up. I've even had them tell me what day and time work best for you all, and still i've had some no shows. However, we did have a few successful meetings where we re-voted for who would be President, Vice President, Secretary, Accountant, etc. We also had one successful planting day where we got half the garden prepared and planted beans and corn. The next meeting I had scheduled to finish planting, no one showed up and unfortunately it was a few days before I was leaving my village. So at least we got half of it done.
We had a great Thanksgiving spent in my banking town. There were 6 of us total. We bought a live turkey and the boys took care of killing and all that jazz when it came time for it. Our menu consisted of: Turkey, mashed sweet potatoes, turkey gravy, stuffing, a green bean casserole, biscuits and banana pudding for dessert. We had plenty to eat and plenty left over to eat for dinner. It was a feast spent in great company. Also at this time, my foot got infected and swelled up and made it very difficult to walk. I was put on antibiotics and was feeling 100% in no time.
One of my good friends from my group that went to Niger came down to visit. Every year on the 9th of Dec, my village has a big party celebrating the coming of the NGO, Missouri Botanical Garden. MBG buys a couple cows and provides a lunch and cocktail for all in attendance. There were speeches and songs and dancing all day. So my friend came down and we prepared for it all week, we had a booth set up to explain about Peace Corps and what it is that we're doing here. We ended up doing a handful of condom demonstrations for groups of men and talked about nutrition and hygiene with many of the kids and women. I even gave a speech. I was really nervous. Still not that confident in my Malagasy (the language here). It was interesting. Music and dancing went well into the early hours of the night. Fun was had by all.
We headed up toward the capital. Ventured around Fianar which is a beautiful city. From Fianar to Tana it usually takes about 8-9 hrs by taxi. We arrived in Tana about 9hrs after leaving and were 4km from the taxi station where we get out and get all our bags that are on top when we hit traffic. I mean the worse traffic I have ever seen. We finally arrived at the taxi station 4 hrs later! It took 4 hrs to go 4 km!!! A friend of mine decided to go home, and was leaving at 10pm to go to the airport. Because of the traffic, I missed him by 30mins. I did get to talk to him before he left so that makes me feel a little better but I always like hugs.
But so here I am in the capital for the weekend. I'll be heading on vacation hopefully on Monday for the holidays. I should have internet access for most of the trip, not all but a good chunk. I set up a skype account. It was so weird but amazing to be able to video chat with friends from home. I'm still a little weirded out by it but welcome all you my friends and family to add me so we can chat. I highly doubt I'll be able to use skype while I'm at site so this may be my only opportunity to use it, the next month or so. Just search my real name as the full name and you should be able to find me.
We had our mid-service conference the beginning of January. We are half way done! It's been 14 months since I left the states. It seems so long ago but just like yesterday. I hope all is well back home. I luv and miss you all a lot. Keep those letters coming. I can't express how much it means to me. Take care. over and out.
So it's been awhile. I'll try to mention some of the high points of the last couple months. I have been trying to get this garden project started at my local clinic with the health volunteers in my community. This has been a very difficult task. I set up meetings with them, and no one shows up. I've even had them tell me what day and time work best for you all, and still i've had some no shows. However, we did have a few successful meetings where we re-voted for who would be President, Vice President, Secretary, Accountant, etc. We also had one successful planting day where we got half the garden prepared and planted beans and corn. The next meeting I had scheduled to finish planting, no one showed up and unfortunately it was a few days before I was leaving my village. So at least we got half of it done.
We had a great Thanksgiving spent in my banking town. There were 6 of us total. We bought a live turkey and the boys took care of killing and all that jazz when it came time for it. Our menu consisted of: Turkey, mashed sweet potatoes, turkey gravy, stuffing, a green bean casserole, biscuits and banana pudding for dessert. We had plenty to eat and plenty left over to eat for dinner. It was a feast spent in great company. Also at this time, my foot got infected and swelled up and made it very difficult to walk. I was put on antibiotics and was feeling 100% in no time.
One of my good friends from my group that went to Niger came down to visit. Every year on the 9th of Dec, my village has a big party celebrating the coming of the NGO, Missouri Botanical Garden. MBG buys a couple cows and provides a lunch and cocktail for all in attendance. There were speeches and songs and dancing all day. So my friend came down and we prepared for it all week, we had a booth set up to explain about Peace Corps and what it is that we're doing here. We ended up doing a handful of condom demonstrations for groups of men and talked about nutrition and hygiene with many of the kids and women. I even gave a speech. I was really nervous. Still not that confident in my Malagasy (the language here). It was interesting. Music and dancing went well into the early hours of the night. Fun was had by all.
We headed up toward the capital. Ventured around Fianar which is a beautiful city. From Fianar to Tana it usually takes about 8-9 hrs by taxi. We arrived in Tana about 9hrs after leaving and were 4km from the taxi station where we get out and get all our bags that are on top when we hit traffic. I mean the worse traffic I have ever seen. We finally arrived at the taxi station 4 hrs later! It took 4 hrs to go 4 km!!! A friend of mine decided to go home, and was leaving at 10pm to go to the airport. Because of the traffic, I missed him by 30mins. I did get to talk to him before he left so that makes me feel a little better but I always like hugs.
But so here I am in the capital for the weekend. I'll be heading on vacation hopefully on Monday for the holidays. I should have internet access for most of the trip, not all but a good chunk. I set up a skype account. It was so weird but amazing to be able to video chat with friends from home. I'm still a little weirded out by it but welcome all you my friends and family to add me so we can chat. I highly doubt I'll be able to use skype while I'm at site so this may be my only opportunity to use it, the next month or so. Just search my real name as the full name and you should be able to find me.
We had our mid-service conference the beginning of January. We are half way done! It's been 14 months since I left the states. It seems so long ago but just like yesterday. I hope all is well back home. I luv and miss you all a lot. Keep those letters coming. I can't express how much it means to me. Take care. over and out.
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