Here I am, finally posting in the blog I made about five months ago. I find things have a way of getting away from me while I’m here. I've written and thought of blog posts, just never got around to posting any. So here it is, the first one!
I wanted to keep a blog to share my experiences and stories of MY service as a Peace Corps volunteer. Mostly its for my grandparents, family, and friends to keep up with me because communication seems to dwindle the longer I am away from them. But for those that have stumbled upon my rantings or want to hear more about what it’s like to be a volunteer, maztoa!
Since this is my first post I wanted to share an overview of what life has been like in the nine months of living in Madagascar and the six months of living at my site.
I arrived on the Red Island September 5th 2018. The first three months were a whirlwind of new things and lots of emotions. Training consisted of learning Peace Corps policy, health procedures, language, education, and living with the most amazing and wonderful host family in a town called Montasoa. They taught me how to do everything really. Of course training had its ups and downs but I enjoyed it. All of which led to swearing in as a Peace Corps volunteer. That time between swearing in and installing into my site/home for two years went by in such a blur. I got moved in and hit the ground running with teaching. The students I am teaching are great and make this experience so enjoyable. Currently I am still like a stumbling 1 year old figuring out how to walk and survive in this new place I call home.
I’ve never lived on my own before, never lived in a one room home before, never lived in another country before. Moving from Mantasoa to Atsiominavoko, I’ve learned and experienced so much about myself.
My community is a smaller one, I compare it a lot to the small towns off the highways in Nebraska (if you didn’t already know, born and raised corn husker right here), because it’s off the highway and has just schools and churches. The landscape is beautiful. My home is in the highlands of Madagascar, so very hilly and mountainous. Not the snow capped type mountains, but large green rolling hills that remind me so much of the foothills in the states. Also lots of farming going on here. Rice, potatoes, corn, soy beans, and lots of cows.
I work at two school. One private and the other a public school. I teach two grade levels and the private and one grade at the public, all roughly middle school ages kids. Also I lead an English club once a week for students and teachers. Working 16 hours a week doesn’t seem like much but when you factor in living norms such as washing laundry by hand, fetching water, cleaning my house, making meals, etc… it’s plenty. With the free time I do have I enjoy binging t.v. shows and sitting out on my porch embroidering.
My house is one room that is attached to my neighbors house. Kind of like an apartment. I’ve never lived on my own before peace corps, always having roommates, and I really enjoy it. The family next door is incredible at helping answer questions or just having someone to talk with. The kids are fun and go to the private school I work at so they have warmed up to me quicker then the other neighbor kids.
So there it is. A brief look into my life here. Like I said, since this is my first post it’s not as detailed but as time goes on I hope to give a more inside look at my life here in Madagascar. If you would like to reach out with a suggested topic or want to know more feel free to contact me, other wise you can find me under the zavoka tree.
