Happy holidays and happy trails.

Back in the capital again. Man has the last couple weeks been great. Me and Julie and Esther went up to visit Diego, north Madagascar. It was a long journey but well worth it. I didn't feel like I was in the same country. Became jealous of the volunteers that live around there but am happy we took vacation up there. We hung out with another volunteer that lives there and she was a great hostess....Dorothy what what!!! But we spent a little over a week up there. Went swimming in a fabulous pool with a marvelous lunch to go with it. Saw lemurs while on a walk. Met some guys from Tanzania on vacation that treated us to a few fancy meals and beverages. It was overall one of the best times I've had yet here in country. Oh saw my first Baobabs!!!! Didn't get a picture because my battery was dead but it'll be in my mind FOR-EVER!!!! We celebrated Christmas at the volunteer house in Diego by making homemad TACOS!!!! Yeah it was delicious. We had a really relaxing day and it was great and much deserved.

After a little over a week there we started the trek to Mahajanga. This is Northwest of the capital. It was HOT there. Oh my!!! I think I may have gotten heat exhaustion after a couple days. But nothing rest and relaxation couldn't cure. There was a huge baobab tree there and it was so beautiful and amazing. That's the word I've been using the most to describe my trip....amazing....it was nothing short of it! But yeah. We then made the trek down to Tana to prepare ourselves for our Mid-service conference. Whoohoooo. Yeah it's another week of training at Mantasoa. All us volunteers that were transferred from Niger will be together. It shall be a week of chaos and hopefully volleyball and chilliness. BRRRRRRRRRRRRRrrrr!!! I am never prepared for the coldness of Mantasoa. But I'll deal. It was great to be able to skype with the few of you that I was able to. So lovely to hear your voices and see some of you! But anyhoo. I hope all is well and Happy Holidays to you all! Hope they were full of luv and happiness and good food. LUV YOU ALL!!!!!