Thanksgiving

I was able to celebrate thanksgiving with the volunteers in my region despite being 10,000 miles from home. We all went to one person's site and each were in charge of one or two dishes. We cooked goose, mashed potatoes and gravy, sweet potatoes, stuffing, pumpkin soup, green bean casserole, salad, and three types of pie. It was difficult to find many of the ingredients and we were a little skeptical as to how some of the dishes would taste. Everything turned out delicious and it was fun to not only celebrate an American holiday so far from home but also to tell my Malagasy friends about the holiday. They asked if we would dance after the meal but I explained we would be too stuffed to do anything. Actually a few of us did bike the 2 hours home. It was a good way to burn off a few of those extra calories while singing out loud.

This year has given me quite a few things to be thankful for. I'm thankful for my parents who call me as often as I need which was on a weekly basis in the beginning of service. I'm thankful for the rest of my family and friends who write me emails, send packages, skype me, and just keep me in their thoughts. I'm thankful for the Peace Corps because they gave me the opportunity to work abroad and open my eyes to a world much larger than I imagined. I'm thankful for the other PCVs and especially the ones in my region who listen to my victories, frustrations, and bodily issues and then dance it out with me. I'm thankful for my community and everyone in it who welcomed me despite a few differences and allow me to learn from them and work with them. I'm thankful for the opportunities to travel around this beautiful and unique country. I'm thankful for mofo bota, Atoaka Akory, my concrete house, the flop, clean drinking water, my iPhone and kindle, my luminaid, Tupperware, my bike, flat roads, cell phones, awkward cultural exchanges, the noises outside my house, the lamba covering my dresser, my region full of vegetables, Ambato, frip, coffee, the nearby epicerie, eggs, and so much more.

You know you're a PCV when
- You accidently sound out an English word with Malagasy pronunciation
- You have thought about the relationship between chickens and dinosaurs numerous times

Learning the Fomba

I'm constantly trying to fit in and learn the fomba (culture) of Madagascar and my community in particular. Its also a challenge getting used to life without certain amenities. Here's a few situations that may or may not be fomba related i've experienced recently.

-My neighbors couldnt sleep because I was singing too loud. They live two doors down.
-Not only do I get called fat, I'm told exactly where I'm fat.
-I've been asked to help produce music
-I've been asked if I make movies.
-I've been asked if I was in the tv show we were watching.
-When watching 'how to train your dragon,' during the part where the dragons were breathing fire and stealing sheep, I was asked how many dragons live in the States.
-Ive pulled worms out of my rice, fruit, and hair.
-My water is so cloudy that showering might actually be making me less clean
-Ive caught children watching me through my window or from over the fence
-Ive been laughed out for sleeping past 5am

-French fries in rice is a perfectly acceptable meal

The Emotional Life Cycle of a Volunteer

During training Peace Corps gave me a handout with the emotional life cycle of a volunteer throughout service. Many volunteers go through a bit of a tough time after six months at site. Of course everyone is different and I actually had just come out of my slump at the six month mark.

The emotions of a volunteer are constantly changing and it can be difficult to find a balance between work, integration, solitary time, time spent at or away from site, etc. I felt guilty every time I left site whether it was for banking, business, or relaxation. The life of a volunteer can be very stimulating with the new language, culture, social situations, harassment, work ethic, taboos, missing home, accomplishments, failures, new relationships, food-I really could go on and on.

I often hear, “don't compare yourself to other volunteers,” but it takes a conscious effort not to. During IST I listened to other PCVs about life at site and was doubting whether I was integrating enough. I was so overwhelmed with new information and project ideas, and I didn't know where to start. After a few difficult weeks in September, I finally realized that I really can't compare myself to others because every person and every site is different. I need to live in the way that makes me happiest. Ive leanrned how much alone time is too much and how much time working is enough for me to be the most productive. Ive learned how much time out and about in the community makes me feel integrated and learned that sometimes i'ts ok to just read all afternoon. Finally, I learned how to organize project ideas into concrete steps and a timeline, and what is feasible to do in two years.

Peace Corps says that you'll experience the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. Ive found that to ring true on many occasions. The highs definitly outweigh the lows otherwise I wouldn't still be here. I'm still finding my groove in this way of life but its getting easier all the time.

You know you're a PCV when:

• Finding phone credit is better than finding money
• If there's a word in Malagasy you don't know, you say it in English with a French accent and 80 percent of the time they understand