Finally a Volunteer!

Jan 26, 2010
So we swore in today! I'm finally a volunteer. We head out to site tomorrow morning. I won't be actually in my site until Feb 4 because we have to drop off 3 other volunteers before we head to my site. We have to do banking, open some accounts, and shopping for our houses. I have been told that the closest place for internet to my site is about 6 hours away. So I prolly won't be using the internet much. I'm gonna try to upload some pics on here. We'll see how that goes. I love and miss you all dearly. Keep writing!

mel

Jan 24, 2010
Akory aby sa! This is hello in my dialect language of Antesaka. We have finally made it. I gave my final presentation in Malagasy to all our health host families. Part of the requirements of it was to have them ask questions at the end of the presentation and being able to answer it pretty much on the fly. Mine turned out to be ok. It wasn’t that bad. Then we had our language test on Friday. I was really nervous. For me, I have been learning a dialect but my host family didn’t speak the dialect so to be able to practice it, hasn’t really happened but it was a mixture of my dialect and Standard Malagasy, which isn’t too different but there are some differences. But the ultimate test will be once I get to site. Which speaking of that, we will be swearing in on Tuesday. We’re staying in the capital Monday and Tuesday and then heading out on Wednesday. My closest neighbor is Alison, she is anywhere from 1km-15km. Which is pretty close but I think it will be great. Speaking of swearing in, I did pass my language test and will be able to, finally, officially start my two-year service. While in the host family village, I put together a small demonstration for all the kids in my neighborhood on hand-washing. It was a great success. There is a song to sing with it as you’re washing your hands and all the kids would sing it whenever they saw me. Aaron brought his kids over and we did it for them too. I was very surprised with myself because I didn’t have to look at notes or anything. I was able to give it in Malagasy. After that, we, Health trainees, made a cook stove for the village, demonstrating how to make it and built it at the SEECALINE office where a lady does nutrition demonstrations for mothers and their children. That, too was a great success. Another strange, small world is that while I was in Guinea, right before I was medically separated we had gotten a new Country Director. His name was Dan. He was literally my CD for not even a week when I found out I was leaving but he was great and helped me as much as he possibly could. To get to the point of my story, with Guinea being evacuated last October and Madagascar not having a CD, they recruited Dan, yep the same Dan, to come and be acting CD for 6 weeks here. It was great to see him. It’s just been so weird how many times I’ve ran into something to do with Guinea either in Niger or here in Madagascar. It will take me a handful of days to get installed (moved into my village, introduced to the authorities, getting my banking set up, all that good jazz). It’s been pretty quiet on the state-side. Yep that’s all of you. But whatev, I know what it’s like. It’s really good to hear from you about everything and anything. After three months and two countries, we have finally made it. It’s amazing how close we’ve all become. We have been strong since the beginning. I do believe we are one of the first if not the first stage here in Madagascar that has made it through the whole training without having someone ET (early terminate). Alena, a part of our stage in Niger who couldn’t come to Madagascar, is starting training in South Africa at the end of January. I’m really glad that she got in so quickly. But yeah that’s about it for now. Love you all.

Jan. 6, 2010
Hey there yay! I’m gonna make this short because I don’t have much time. I have moved in with my host family and they are great. I wish I could upload some pics but the internet is being used by 35 other computers right now so it’ll be amazing if I even get this posted. I live with a mom, dad and 5 kids between the ages of 10-20. I’m giving my first presentation tomorrow in Malagasy. I’m a little nervous but it will be great experience. The weather has been rainy at night. But otherwise it’s been pleasant. My address will be changing once I get to post which will be early February. I’m not sure how it’ll work but there will be a place to mail me in my village or nearby. I’m located on the southeast, 5 miles from the Indian ocean. I’m excited and can’t wait to see it and everyone. Sorry so short but I’ve got to go. Hopefully I’ll be able to load pictures before I go to post. I love you all and miss you bunches.


Dec. 24, 2009
Hello everyone! I am reporting to you from Madagascar. It is just about as opposite as one could get from Niger. It’s rainy, cold, humid, green, and beautiful rather than hot, dry, and sandy. We are at the end of week two. We are all staying at a resort type facility for another week and then we move in with host families. Let me describe the training site a little. Our dining hall is right on a lake where we have witnessed many beautiful sunsets. There are a couple canoes that we have access to. We have bikes so we can go biking and see the beautiful scenery along with some amazing hiking. It is just breathtaking here. We are staying in a dorm type room with one to two roommates. I am housing with Devyn and Ryan but staying with Jackson and Aaron. A typical day consists of me getting up at 6am, taking a nice power walk for about 45 minutes, rinse off, have breakfast at 7am, class 8-10 language or technical, snack/coffee break 10-10:30, class 10:30-12, lunch, class 1:30-3, break, class 3:5-4:15, free time until 6 when we eat dinner and then study, read, write, play games, really anything until bedtime which is generally around 9pm for me. I feel like we have been spoiled. We have wonderful food. Rice is still served at every meal. Breakfast we’ve had anything from French toast, pancakes, hashbrowns, eggs, bread, and some sort of meat just about everyday; lunch is a lot of cooked veggies and meat; and supper is usually mac n cheese or some dish with veggies and salad along with mangoes or plums for dessert. It all has been amazing. The language is coming along. We just got site announcements this week. I will be along the southeast coast. Yep, I should be biking distance from the Indian ocean! My closest and really only neighbor volunteer is Alison. We started our dialect on Tuesday and it is very similar to the standard Malagasy language that they speak all over the country. Apparently, it’s louder, rougher and lazier than the standard Malagasy. I think it will coming along just fine. I don’t know a whole lot about my site because it was recently redeveloped but should have more information on it soon. I do know that there are many secondary projects working with the environment, which is exactly what I wanted and I never told them that. They really are great at what they do, especially placements. There is an American NGO that works with Botanical Gardens which I am super excited about. We had class Christmas morning but the afternoon off where we had a feast! Ice cream included!!!! Some other volunteers that will be somewhat in my area are Stephanie, Tatum, Mike, and Matt. Being as far south as I am will give me the opportunity to visit more volunteers, I feel, when I’m planning a trip into the capital, Tana. We are not allowed to travel at night because of safety so it’s an excuse to stop on by someone’s site. We are all getting anxious to be getting out to site but know the training is crucial. I got a new cell phone, which hopefully I remember to change on here, but will more than likely be getting a new one once I’m at post. I will also be getting a new address. I do believe I’ll still be able to get letters and things that are sent to Tana (Antanarivo) but it may take a little longer once I’m at site. This way I could possibly have it delivered to my town. I’ll get it up on here as soon as I find it out. Anyhoo, I hope all is well. Thank you for those that have written or called. I can’t stress enough how much it means. I miss you all like crazy and hope some of you are thinking of visiting because I’m already thinking of places I want to go and things I want to do with many of you. Don’t be afraid to call or write! Pictures from home, newspaper/magazine articles, really anything is great. Hope the holidays are treating you all great. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Love always, Mel.

011261341890628 Here's my number but it will prolly be changing in a week or so.