First Post, Last Month in Michigan

One month from today I’ll be in the middle of staging before leaving for Madagascar. That’s hard to believe. So I decided it was time to start a blog, while I have reliable internet, electricity, running water and lots and lots and lots of free time.

Since graduating from Denison, I’ve been at home doing absolutely nothing. And I mean nothing…aside from making a dent in the long list of books I’ve wanted to read, taking my dog on long walks, and trying to figure out how to pack for two years, in two bags weighing less than 80 pounds, while still bringing all the essentials from the 7 page (single spaced) packing list we’ve been given. Yay. I guess I’ve also been trying to teach myself French and pick up some essential Malagasy vocab before July 11^th.  But aside from that, I’ve been doing nothing.

But here is what I know so far…about my job, about the country, and other random tidbits…

I’ll be working as a community health educator working with either a health clinic or NGO to identify and train village health educators in the community. My focus will be on preventive health targeting teens, children and mothers.

I leave July 11^th for staging in the US (city sill unknown). Then on July 13^th we head to Madagascar and supposedly spend the night in South Africa on the way. Then 10 weeks of training begin where I will live with a host family, learn Malagasy, and undergo intense cultural and technical training. Then off to my site for two years of service.

While I know some details about my next two years, as Brad says “Its like walking into the next stage of your life blindfolded…” I have no idea what to expect. I guess that makes it exciting. …or terrifying.

Since I still have lots of free time on my hands…here are some interesting things I’ve found out about Madagascar…

·      Fourth largest island in the world (1000 miles long!)

·      This comes from the Brandt Madagascar 10^th edition book, there is a “taboo against twins among the Antaisaka people. Historically twins were killed or abandoned in the forest after birth. Today this is against the law but still persists and twins may not be buried in a tomb…” I guess I won’t mention that little detail about myself…

·      Since the island evolved in isolation for 65 million years it has extremely unique plant and animal life…1000 species of orchids only found on the island, 350 kinds of frogs, no poisonous snakes (couldn’t swim over), 200 different mammals, 365 kinds of reptiles ONLY found on Madagascar, 105 kinds of lemurs…

And some of my favorite quotes about getting sick in Madagascar (from PCVs serving there now….)

“It’s like the Oregon Trail here…”

“It is the Oregon trail. Think back to all the illnesses you could get on that and I guarantee someone’s had it here. Except rattlesnake bites”

“Giardia. Buckle up.”

“I really wanted to get the plague, but it never happened for me. Maybe next time…I tried having piles of garbage around to attract rats, yet my efforts were without result.”

“I still need plague and malaria to complete my list of Oregon trail diseases. Other things like dysentery and giardia? Check”

And on that note, I think I’ll go drink some tap water, while I still can!