The last few weeks have been busy with preparations for upcoming project events like the HIV/AIDS festival in April, Healthy households beginning in May (my grant was finally funded!!), and GLOW (Girls Leading Our World) camp in June and July. In the midst of planning I've had several smaller events occur and certain hobbies become somewhat of a routine.
The first is regular excersise with my best friend, Vola. She does the p90x and insanity work outs with me. She bought excersise clothes and brings her own water bottle at least once per week. We watch my tiny iPhone screen and share the little space inside my house. We are typically cracking up throughout the videos because we feel ridiculous but this is a great way for me to share a hobby. ACs and the midwife have also come over during these work out sessions although I can't convince then to participate. Who knows, maybe I'll be begin a Zumba club down the road!
Cooking demonstrations have become a cooking club. We meet once per month and the same ladies come each time. They are interested in learning how to cook food I eat in the States. We've made dishes such as spaghetti (a hit), guacamole (not well received at all. They eat their avacados with sugar!), and American cornbread (Malagasy cornbread uses only corn and bananas wrapped in leaves). This is another fun way to share cultures and give a little taste of home.
I can't help it, I've starting dancing again. It started with a routine a friend and I made up to perform at a wedding. Since then, the AC have asked me to teach them a routine. I finally choreographed a dance to be performed at the upcoming AIDS festival on April 8. We practice at the end of each meeting and has now grown to include youth. Then, a few girls in CEG and Lycée (middle and high school) asked me to be in their routine to a song by Jennifer Lopez. We've had a few practices, decided on our costume, and will also debut at the festival. They asked me to wear my hair down and gave me a small solo so that I look 'just like the singer.' I'm not so sure about that.
In March I had the privilege of talking to my cousin's 6th grade class. We successfully connected over skype and the class asked me their prepared questions about Malagay culture and my role as a volunteer. I had so much fun sharing Malagasy culture with Americans since it is normally me sharing American culture with the Malagasy. The class asked great questions and helped me realize how much I've learned over the past year! Definetly a highlight.
Finally, I went on tech trip round two with the new peace corps trainees that arrived in February. We traveled to the east coast and did similar activities as the tech trip I went on as a trainee. The PCTs did their first presentations in Malagasy to several classrooms and a CSB, conducted house visits, and participated in a malaria festival. It was fun to see their progress, answer questions, give advice and stories (though they probably think i'm a little crazy) and also hear their thoughts about the beauty of this country on their first trip out of Mantasoa. Through their fresh eyes and perspectives they in turn motivated me to work harder and also to appreciate this experience. I hope I get the opportunity to train again!
You know you're a PCV when:
-you can take a bucket bath with less than half a bucket of cold water no problem.
-you reminisce about different food seasons, 'remember when we had mangos?'
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