Post 5: Summary of Second week, I think that I’m getting used to this life!

So I just want to say that I am one of those people that worry constantly, about work, about other people’s approval, about my life, all those things that I have no real control over. Anyways, I was just a little worried about what I would do with myself for these next 3 months at post, when I’m supposed to be “assessing” my community, doing health sensibilizations, and getting ideas for health projects. So I’m not going to lie, but this assessment period includes a lot of hanging around, observing, meeting people, going on long bike rides, and studying Malagasy (as well as exchanging Malagasy for English). I’m trying to do sensibilizations everyday, as well as make arrangements to teach health classes at the local middle and local elementary school….but this past week, I was completely unsuccessful in all of my scheduling, falling victim to “Malagasy Time.” This past week included a break from school, required 3 days off of work for my fellow peace corps volunteer teaching English here, and also a tree-planting day. All of my extra meetings to tutor in English, teach about safe sex in the middle school, and doing nutrition and hygiene education sessions, were cancelled because of “fety’s” and tree-plantings…good times, but leaving me with not very much to do while here these days. But I have been biking, reading, watching interesting sitcoms at night, and taking care of a new kitty.
I’m still wondering about what I am doing here, but I’m pretty sure it will all come together soon. I am trying to do some work, and trying to make friends, and trying to go on more bike rides. I would say that I’m pretty happy these days 
Miss you all!

Part 4: Summary of Swear-in, Installation, and the first week in my new home!

Hi everyone, so as many have heard, I have been installed in my new town, and low and behold, there is some internet (I say “some” internet because the deal is that I exchange English with a telephone company operator for internet use once a week…). But it works out. It feels like weeks since I left for site, but it’s just been one week, one long, emotional week.
First, we spent 2 days in Antananarivo, where we had very little time to do any site-seeing as health volunteers..we were shuffled off to visit the offices of different health organizations there: The Ministry of Health-Initiative on SIDA (HIV/AIDS), the office of PSI (Population Services International, very interesting, though among those organizations that believe that if people don’t pay for products related to health (i.e. a mosquito net) then they won’t get it and actually use it….which in my community seems to NOT work when everyone seems to complain about how expensive the mosquito nets are (3,000 Ariary, about $1.5, but somewhere where people spend less than 50 cents a day…) and therefore do not get them. And then almost every day there are 20 or so people that come to my clinic to get tested for malaria and almost half of them are positive! Sorry for the rant…), and finally we saw the USAID group working in Madagascar.
Then on Tuesday the 26th, we were sworn is a volunteers…it was great! First of all, we had amazing speeches made by the Peace Corps Country Director, Dan Evans, the Ambassador, and my fellow site-mate Devyn, and there was also a special guest of a huge pet tortoise! Then a few of us (including yours truly ;) ) were interviewed by the local Malagasy TV stations, and then there was PIZZA and a POOL! Oh the perks of getting a 1 day trip to the Ambassador’s house ;)
Then we had a hurried chance to do some shopping for our sites…and then a few of us went dancing/karaoke singing with our language instructors, lots of fun!
Wednesday morning, bright and early, Devyn, Ester (living in a village 2 hours south of us), and I piled our stuff and ourselves in a car with the most amazing Peace Corps installers ever: The Peace Corps Madagascar Current Country Director Dan Evans (who was the CD of Guinea, which was recently closed), Hari, a Malagasy man and 10 year veteran of the Peace Corps Office, and Donnie, our driver and master handy-man (I don’t mention their last names because Malagasy last names are soooooooo long, like 20 letters at least, and easily forgettable (as I’ve already forgotten theirs!)). Here, the basis of name-calling is asking, “what is your name?”, response: “something really long and ridiculous”, “Awesome, what would you like to be called?”
We had an awesome three days getting to know Ester’s small, cute village, then getting to know our rumbling medium-sized town. I won’t lie, but I was kind of shocked when first arriving because there is just so much disorganization and trash here…which I guess is normal. I was worried about how I would like it, but so far, things have been fine. I live in a pretty big house next door to the doctor with whom I work at the CSBII (the centre de santé de base II), which is down the street from the market area. I have electricity, a fan, an amazing gas stove, a private outdoor squat toilet and bucket bath space, and I guess it couldn’t get much better than this! Funny though, I was so ready to move out of my host family’s house because I just can’t stand being observed that closely, but now I’m kinda lonely in this “big town” without a family caring for me…I also realize just how hard it is to cook for myself! I love to cook, but you really take for granted RUNNING WATER. Holy shit! I can’t believe it how good all of you have it at home! I go through about 20 L of water every 2 days or so and then have to go get more…it’s kinda annoying. And then you have to clean everything immediately after eating because of the bugs. If only my mother could see how clean I am now!
Now about the work: thus far, I’m going to the CSBII every morning to watch what’s happening and also to give a sensibilisation about some health topic. It’s been ok, but I really feel like such an alien here…people are just shocked that I can speak Malagasy…and most of the time they just greet me with “Bonjour,” because of course we couldn’t be American…
I am also trying to set up a schedule with the local high school and elementary school in order to teach sensibilisations there too. I kinda want to recreate some of the work I was doing in Guatemala that was so great, though it’s hard to start it off by myself without adequate knowledge of the language…I guess I’m still getting ahead of myself! Patience, Patience.
And I guess that’s it. First week as a Volunteer, and I guess I’m feeling a little more homesick than normal  but I know I’m strong enough to get through it (but the question is can I get through a week of diarrhea???). Being at my new post has its fair share of challenges!
Anyways, don’t hesitate to send an email/letter/text (011-261-34-189-0600)/or call my way! Miss you all sooooo much!

Post 3: Summary of last 3 weeks….and excitement about the beginning of service!

Post 3: Summary of last 3 weeks….and excitement about the beginning of service! Swear-in is Tuesday January 26th!
Ok, so it’s been quite a time these last three weeks! We moved in with host families close to the training center in Mantasoa. The health volunteers lived about 10km (and down a pretty scary road) from the training center in a town called Lohomby. It was amazing! I lived with the Mayor of Lohomby, in a two story house overlooking an amazing view of rice paddies and rolling hills. It was so lovely to get to know a family, and learn how to cook, clean, wash cloths, argue in the markets…and all those necessary skills to survive in are new homes in Madagascar.
It was a pretty intense homestay, since every day we took Malagasy classes then took tech classes on health topics and how to present on different health issues in diverse locations. My favorite tech session was on building a cook stove out of red clay, ash, and the shells of rice. It was amazing! I plan on making dozens of them in my new home for the first few months because it doesn’t require very much Malagasy (and I’m still a beginner…but “Intermediate High” Hell yeah!) and it’s a great way to get people involved and learning about ARIs and cooking hygiene and safety.
Otherwise, it’s all about language learning and government bureaucracy…We also had a security talk about the political situation in Madagascar, which seems pretty dire with a huge increase in crime over the last two months as international funding is being cut and trade agreements are aborted. It stinks! But I’m not too worried, though there has been a few attacks on embassy workers here (mostly robberies), but it does make me worry about my security, especially as the elections for the new president are coming up in March…
Anyways, other happenings…I gave 3 speeches in Malagasy on different health topics, one in front of the training staff about safe pregnancy, one in a high school classroom on STIs and Condom Demonstration, and then a final presentation on ARIs and how to build cookstoves to my homestay community. It was stressful, but amazing. I can’t wait to get started in my new home and in my new clinic. I also had time to finish another amazing book that I will tell you about: “The Cups Of Tea” (www.threecupsoftea.com) which depicts the work ofGreg Mortenson, who was a nurse and a mountaineer who decided to give back to the small village of Korphe in the mountains (K2 specifically, second highest mountain in the world) of northern Pakistan by building a school, and then moving on the create an non-profit that builds schools along the borders of Pakistan/India/Afghanistan. It was a really interesting book about the area, about the culture there, as well as its political/cultural relationship with the United States during the early “war on terrorism” years. One part that was most astounding was that the US had promised rebuilding money that never reached Afghanistan or Pakistan, and therefore instead of improving conditions in the Middle East after bombing it to death, the USA was angering people creating more enemies. Greg Mortenson built schools, specifically for girls, and the big point of the book was that he was “fighting terrorism” by providing an education to poor people in the Middle East (Interesting, though you know me…I hate to define “terrorism” without including some of the atrocities that the USA has committed…). It was also a great read because of the mountain climbing trips he describes…which makes me want to try, though that’s how I feel about almost anything that excites me! Anyways, I would put him up there as the Paul Farmer of Pakistan, and his work and commitment was really impressive, a definite read!
Now back to the homestay….
At the end of the homestay, we had a large cocktail party at the training center and ended up doing traditional Malagasy dancing with the homestay families. It was amazing! The music here is amazing, and the people are amazing dancers and singers…I’m excited to exchange English or Spanish for dancing and singing classes!
Now we are on the last leg of our training journey…3 months later… and we are spending a few days in the capital city of Antananarivo in order to swear-in at the US Ambassador’s house (videotaped, and broadcast nationally, I will try to find an internet link) and shopping for roosting in our new homes. I’m so excited! The Country Director of Peace Corps Madagascar is going to be taking me and my friend to our site in the city of Maevatanana. I’m so excited to get out into the community to do ACTUAL work…I’m getting angsty after a long time in training….
More news to come about how hopefully AMAZING my site is and how much work I’m doing and fun that I’m having! Hope everyone is well!