March 23: Tech Trip

For one week we traveled to the east coast of Madagascar for our tech trip! The purpose of the tech trip was to apply what we've been learning in classes, practice language, experience Mada outside of the Mantasoa bubble, and see other Peace Corps volunteer (PCV) sites. Each morning was super packed with presentations and activities; the afternoons were spent prepping materials for the next day; and then in the evenings we were free to do our dinner and hang out.

We left on Monday, March 17, and drove to Vatomandry, which is right on the Indian Ocean. The drive was absolutely breathtaking as we drove through the highlands, mountains, and through small rural towns with wooden huts. The road was very curvy and a bit nauseating.

Vatomandry is larger than Mantasoa and has a large market. It was fun to be able to order our own food from the various small restaurants or street food stands in Malagasy without the crutch of a nearby language instructor. The experience made me feel closer to actually living here rather than being at summer camp - though, I did mess up the language a few times. For example, I was talking to a shop owner and telling him about Peace Corps and why I am here. I thought he asked how many people were in my group and I told him 20. It turns out he asked how long I would be staying here and I told him 20. So now there is a man in Vatomandry who thinks I’ll be staying here for the next 20 years. Whoops!

I also had a free moment to swim in the Indian Ocean. The waves were huge, and it was so refreshing because the temperatures were crazy hot and humid. One of the evenings, my stage had a bonfire which was super fun and a great boding event. We attempted s ‘mores with crackers, chocolate, and bananas. This evening was a highlight of the trip.



 

MALARIA FESTIVAL

On Tuesday we went to a current volunteer's site for a malaria festival. I know it sounds strange to have a festival regarding malaria, but the event focused on prevention and care of mosquito nets. The event started about an hour late which is expected. While waiting, I started dancing with the local kids. We all held hands and made a giant circle. More and more kids and trainees joined the circle. Soon there were about 75 people all watching me and copying my dance moves! It was an awesome moment, and afterwards, many of the trainees told me how much they enjoyed that! 

Circle of kids I led in dancing


Next, the mayor gave an opening speech thanking all of us, as well as discussing the prevalence of malaria is the community (about 30 people per week are diagnosed with malaria during the height of the rainy season).


In tech class learning about mosquito nets

The community healthcare workers (CHW) danced for us, and a youth group sang while we sat on stage. Then the festival began and we headed to our stations. My station was how to turn a square net into a circle net. Many houses have only 1-3 rooms, and families may sleep in the same bed which may also be in the same room as the kitchen. The purpose of the circle net is so that it will be easier to hang in a small house, and easier to take down during the day. My station, which included four PCTs and three CHWs, performed three large demonstrations, and several small group discussions. It was very difficult to understand people's questions with the language barrier but I think we got the message across.
 

My group at the Malaria Festival

The next day we headed to another volunteer's site. We gave presentations on various topics. My group presented on malaria again. We originally planned to sing 'head, shoulders, knees and toes' but the audience was made up of mothers and their infants. We quickly had to learn a new activity were mothers could participate while sitting down. Events never go completely as planned! The presentation went well for the most part, and the interns of the health clinic were even taking notes on our poster!
 
On Thursday, we went to yet another volunteer's site and had one-on-one interviews with CHWs where we learned how to fill out intake forms. After lunch, the community threw their New Year's party...in March. They said there were too busy to celebrate in January. We danced for hours before getting on a bus to the next site.


In the next town we went on two hikes. I saw many awesome plants, chameleons, frogs, snakes, and...lemurs! I saw the two largest species, as well as two other small species. It's hard to describe them so I'll try to add pictures as soon as I can. After the hike, we planted a community garden with a school class and taught them about composting and companion planting. We also talked about the importance of hand washing.

Our last destination was Moramanga which is a city about two hours from Tana. We went dancing and fripping (second hand clothes shopping) before catching a taxi-brousse back to Mantasoa. We were all nervous for our first taxi experience without any PC staff helping us. However, everything went smoothly and I was even able to chat with a 13 year old girl for roughly 20-30 minute in Malagasy. Progress!

The tech trip was awesome, and I'm glad I got to see more of Madagascar before going to my site. It's crazy to think that I only have four weeks left of training (two weeks with the host family then two weeks at PCTC). Time is flying!

You know you're a PCT when:

• 'mianatra Malagasy aho' (I'm studying Malagasy) becomes a legit reason for any language mistake
• you lend personal items from dictionaries to deodorant or underwear without thinking twice
  
  

March 15 - I'm Alive: First Month in Country

I apologize for my lack of posting. I haven't had an internet connection or a computer to post from (the computer I brought died within the first two weeks). My mom has done a wonderful job keeping you guys updated from our weekly phone calls, and a big thank you goes to her. There will be a repeat of information here so bear with me. So much has happened in the first four weeks that I am going to categorize events for all of our sakes.
 

From Minneapolis to Mantasoa

After a quick and teary goodbye, I boarded the flight to Philadelphia. Staging was long and I desperately needed a snack but it was so good to meet the other people in my stage. There were 20 health volunteers and 18 agriculture volunteers making 38 total (though one person did decide to go home after a few days in country so now we have 37). I liked meeting people who had similar goals for the Peace Corps, and for the first time, I didn't have to explain why I made this life altering choice. We arrived in Mantasoa on Wednesday night after a long couple of days with very little sleep. We smelled pretty bad by then, and the flight attendant sprayed air freshener during our last flight. We spent the first three days at the Peace Corps Training Center (PCTC) that is located on Lake Mantasoa. Everything is very green and the lake reminds me of home. We listened to a few orientations and several crash course language sessions before we packed up and moved to our home stays.

Homestay

My host family is wonderful! I have a neny (mom), dada, sister who is 16, and brother who is 20. My dada is a carpenter and my neny is a homemaker and great cook. They have a beautiful house with two floors, electricity, and indoor bathroom with a toilet and bathtub but no sink or running water. I was very surprised with the bathroom as every other Peace Corps Trainee's (PCT) family has a kabone (outhouse) and ladosy (outdoor shower). I felt like a child at first because my family had to teach me how to use the toilet, take a shower, and wash dishes and clothes without using running water. My language was very limited which terrified me to move in with a Malagasy family after three days in country. However, neny, my sister, and my brother do speak some English. My dada speaks French so that was our common language in the beginning. Still, I made sure to carry my dictionary everywhere I went. My host family is so patient with me which I very much appreciate!

Language

We have about four hours of language every day. Language classes consist of 2-4 people with one language instructor. I was very frustrated with language during that first week because I thought I would pick it up quicker. Since then I've learned to be patient with myself and the language with come with time and effort. I slowly understand more and more with my host family, and I'm able to hold longer conversations with the locals each week. I try to celebrate the small successes, and reflect on past conversations correcting why I said wrong. I have made many funny mistakes. For example, I was trying to say that my brother is married. I meant to say 'Manam-bady izy' which translates to 'he has a spouse.' Instead I said, 'Manam-body izy' which translates to 'he has a butt.' I have to carefully watch my pronunciation.

Food

The Malagasy are the highest consumers of rice per person in the world. They have rice with almost every meal and it is the largest portion in their plate. An example meal for my host family consists of white rice, sausage, and cucumber and onion salad, with pineapple for dessert. For breakfast we usually have fried bread and coffee. The structure of the meal took some getting used to. Everything gets mixed together on my plate (cucumbers with sausage on them for instance). Also, my host family eats a lot of peanut butter. We make it ourselves and it is the best peanut butter I have ever had. I eat it with my rice at every meal. Eating fruit for dessert was also an adjustment, and more than once I've eaten sweet potato with honey for dessert. Interesting combination.

My Site

I found out my site in the first week. I wrote an essay listing the top ten picks and why I would be the best volunteer for my number one choice, and I also listed my bottom three sites. I got my top choice! I'm not going to say the exact name of my town but I will live in the Lake Aloatra region. Lake Aloatra is the largest lake in Madagascar located a few hours north of the capital. The area is known as the 'rice basket' because the area produces roughly 50% (don't quote me on that percent) of Madagascar's rice. I've heard the area is very beautiful and hot. I'm excited to move there, and I will be living at that site longer than I've lived anywhere else in the past six years!

So I am constantly making observations about myself and other PCTs. I know I will change dramatically throughout my service and grow more than I can imagine at this point. In the meantime, I will note some early observable behavior changes that I or other PCTs have done at the end of each blog post. Enjoy!

You know you’re a PCT when:

• You carry toilet paper with you everywhere you go-in multiple pockets, pants, and bra
• You are jealous of or show off your sink or toilet despite no running water ("You have a kitchen sink!? Lucky!")
• You desperately look forward to 10:00am snack every day.

March 16 Update (posted by Katie's Mom)

Last Tuesday Katie had her first oral language test…. And she did fine.  There will be one more oral exam, and this test must be passed before moving to your permanent village posting.

It is rainy season in Mantasoa.  There is rain every day and morning temperatures are quite cold before becoming really hot in the afternoon.  I suspect quite cold in Madagascar is very different than quite cold here in Minnesota.  Katie has had a cold and fleas!  Actually, the fleas are gone, but I can’t imagine that was much fun.  It reminded me of our head lice experience in first grade.  Ick and double ick! Fortunately, her host Mom helped with washing all the bedding, etc.  It’s a Mom thing, no matter where in the world you are I think.

All the volunteers are going on a week-long technical training trip.  They will travel to 3 different towns near the east coast and conduct Malaria information festivals.  During the trip, they will stay in hotels.  Katie is looking forward to possible improved shower conditions - even more than the possibility of internet. Once she returns, she will have one week with her host family before moving back to the training center for the final weeks of training.  In addition to continued language training, the training is also focused on nutrition and other health issues specific to the area.

Katie is intrigued by the local animals and found a really cute little rodent one day. She gathered her host family around only to find out it was the equivalent of a squirrel…LOL.  There are always farm animals and cats and dogs wandering around the village.

Still no internet connection robust enough for Katie to post or email, but hopefully that will happen eventually.  She sounds very happy, so we are happy too.

Early March Update (posted by Katie's Mom)

Since last post, we have talked to Katie several times.  She says the weeks are going by very quickly and her Malagasy language skills are greatly improved!  On a walk from the Peace Corp training center back to her host family home, she was able to have a conversation with one her mom’s friends all in Malagasy.

The second week of training included a trip to the market to learn how to haggle for the best price with the local vendors.  They were each given a list of items to purchase.  Katie list mainly fruit and vegetables.  Another volunteer’s list included a chicken and then the chicken had to sit on the volunteer’s lap during the bus ride back to the village.

Katie will be in the Lake Alaotra region for her permanent village posting.  Lake Alaotra is a large lake about 80km north of Tana (Antananarivo).  Her new village speaks Malagasy and she is happy not to have the added challenge of learning another dialect.  There will be other Peace Corps health volunteers posted to villages in this region and there are also several PC education volunteers in the area.  She will live in a 2 room hut in the health clinic compound.  It is 2 rooms, but they are not actually connected to each other.  It also has a private fenced bathroom/shower area.  The village has no electricity or running water, bus she will have cell phone service.  She will work with the health clinic to provide education and training to local community health workers in the area of nutrition and other health concerns. These local community health works will then take that information back to their villages.  Katie will also travel to the smaller villages surrounding her main community.


Katie is experiencing local life and she went to a celebration for International Women’s Day on March 8.  There was music and dancing (hip hop) and basketball.  She spent time playing with the local kids, dancing and watching the festivities.  She said the local kids were very amused by her dancing!

Phone Call with Katie (by Katie's Mom)

On Saturday, February 22, we talked with Katie…8:00pm in Madagascar and 11:00am in Minneapolis.  Here are a few of the highlights.

 

After the long trip over with little sleep the group arrived at the Training Center on Wednesday evening, February 12.  After the flight landed, they had a 2-12 hour drive with the last half of the drive over a dirt road, so rather slow going.  The volunteers spent Thursday and Friday in orientation and language training, which she described as a bit like a college dorm with a common room for meals.  Katie says the language is a challenge, especially sentence structure.  She feels like she’s struggling with it, but also is encouraged by how much she’s learned in the first week.

 

On Saturday, Feb 15 all the volunteers moved in with host families – one volunteer per host family.  The 18 health volunteers are all in the same village, Mantasoa.  The training center is a 10-15 minute walk from the village.  All the agriculture volunteers are staying with families in another village which is 45 minutes away on foot.  Katie’s host family includes Mom (Neny), Dad (Dada), a son and daughter.  The son is mostly away at school, and the daughter is 16.  Katie taught the daughter to make a friendship bracelet and that was a bit hit.

 

Katie spends morning in language training and afternoons at the training center learning other skills.

 

The village has electricity, but no running water.  She has washed clothes for the first time, and experienced cold bucket showers. She doesn’t know how to heat the water yet for the bucket baths, but I think that would be a good goal for the coming week.

Her days go from 5:30am until about 8:30pm.  She says they have rice at every meal among other items and also that dessert is fruit, except one day it was a sweet potato.  She was planning to get up early Sunday morning to help prepare breakfast.  She watched Neny kill a chicken one day for lunch the following day.  Her family has hosted other volunteers and they speak a bit of English, so can help when she’s trying to find the correct word in Malagasy.

She says there are strong rain storms that blow up and are over in just a few minutes, and that the dirt is red.

On Sunday all the health volunteers were planning to walk to the other village for a get together with the agriculture volunteers to celebrate a volunteer’s birthday.  Sunday would be the first unstructured time they have all had.

She will find out her permanent village placement on March 5, but will remain with her host family and at the training center for another 7 weeks.

Katie remains enthusiastic and is managing thru all the new and challenging experiences with grace and humor.  We are planning to talk to Katie on Saturdays and will post updates until Katie is able to connect.