Back in Winter 2009, when I first came to Madagascar from Niger as a confused little Peace Corps Volunteer, I was fortunate enough to be greeted and taught by several veteran PCVs - volunteers who had come to Mad in 2008 but were evacuated in March 2009 due to the riots and violence associated with the coup in Antananarivo. These volunteers waited and worked in the states until November of 2009, when the program re-opened and they came back to finish their service. Most completed and left over the last year, but one crazy gal (shoutout to Brit!) stayed for another year and is heading home after three years living all over Mad. The last of the zoky group - that officially makes me one of the PCVs who have been here the longest. I put this random story in because I simply cannot believe that two years have passed since I came to this island. There were times in the first three months when I honestly believe that time stood still. I had days when I did not think that I could possibly live here for two years - my language would never improve, I would always be afraid of the CEG (middle school) kids, I would never become a true part of my community.
Two years later and I can't believe that soon I will be leaving this place - my town where I have finally mastered the art of sarcasm in malagasy, where the CEG kids come by my house and ask for english lessons, where I am intruduced by certain wonderful people as their daughter. Peace Corps has given me the opportunity to try and help people, to teach new farming techniques and assist in english programs, to share american culture, cook american food and cheer on the US soccer team as we watched the world cup together. More than anything, though, Peace Corps has shown me that no matter where you are in the world, and where you are from, you will find people who will give when they have next to nothing, who will overlook your many, many, many grammatical mistakes and still work through conversations with you, and who are more like you than they are different.. well, in certain ways, that is.
Again, not to sugarcoat Madagascar - it has its problems, just like anywhere, and I still have days when I want to throttle certain people.. just as I'm sure that there are heaps of times that people wonder what is going on with the crazy vazaha in their town. I have cranky days, and I am looking forward to leaving site and startng my six months working with the American Corner and the English Teaching Center in Mahajanga. I have been looking at old hiking and skiing photos and I am ready to go back to that life next summer. But I will be ever grateful to this small town for the two years that they took me in. Irkoy beri! (a throwback to my Zarma buddies back in Niger). Here's to the next six months, and then a return to my mountains.
"...but the compensations have been great - certainly more than I deserve. I have had the world lie beneath my clumsy boots and have seen the red sun slip over the horizon after the dark Antarctic winter. I have been give more than my share of excitement, beauty, laughter and friendship." -Sir Edmund Hillary
(I still haven't been atop Everest or on Antarctica.... but i have run up many a mountain with Lori, and have not-so patiently waited for the dark winter days in Alaska to end. If anyone has the itch to go to the Himalayas or the South Pole, though.. you know where to find me!)
xoxo, chan
Two years later and I can't believe that soon I will be leaving this place - my town where I have finally mastered the art of sarcasm in malagasy, where the CEG kids come by my house and ask for english lessons, where I am intruduced by certain wonderful people as their daughter. Peace Corps has given me the opportunity to try and help people, to teach new farming techniques and assist in english programs, to share american culture, cook american food and cheer on the US soccer team as we watched the world cup together. More than anything, though, Peace Corps has shown me that no matter where you are in the world, and where you are from, you will find people who will give when they have next to nothing, who will overlook your many, many, many grammatical mistakes and still work through conversations with you, and who are more like you than they are different.. well, in certain ways, that is.
Again, not to sugarcoat Madagascar - it has its problems, just like anywhere, and I still have days when I want to throttle certain people.. just as I'm sure that there are heaps of times that people wonder what is going on with the crazy vazaha in their town. I have cranky days, and I am looking forward to leaving site and startng my six months working with the American Corner and the English Teaching Center in Mahajanga. I have been looking at old hiking and skiing photos and I am ready to go back to that life next summer. But I will be ever grateful to this small town for the two years that they took me in. Irkoy beri! (a throwback to my Zarma buddies back in Niger). Here's to the next six months, and then a return to my mountains.
"...but the compensations have been great - certainly more than I deserve. I have had the world lie beneath my clumsy boots and have seen the red sun slip over the horizon after the dark Antarctic winter. I have been give more than my share of excitement, beauty, laughter and friendship." -Sir Edmund Hillary
(I still haven't been atop Everest or on Antarctica.... but i have run up many a mountain with Lori, and have not-so patiently waited for the dark winter days in Alaska to end. If anyone has the itch to go to the Himalayas or the South Pole, though.. you know where to find me!)
xoxo, chan
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