in ceremony, so we are no longer trainees, but full-fledged volunteers
(aka Americans crazy enough to give up the comforts of home and think
it's an adventure).
---New photos up soon, most of the ones with my host family are
actually on my friend's camera though, sorry---
It is hard to believe that I have only been in the country for two
months. So many changes have happened in my life that it feels like
I've been here at least 6 months. Overall, training was great. After
returning from the site visit, we shifted our training focus to more
technical activities. Some volunteers came back to teach us how to
make cookstoves (to reduce smoke inhalation), start bio-intensive
gardens in our communities, and give us some insight into living in
Madagascar. We've also began giving health presentations in Malagasy.
And let me tell you, I will NEVER complain about giving a
presentation at school or work ever again, haha. Speaking in another
language, responding to questions, and making visuals to convey
messages (some people are illiterate) is tough. I mean, really tough.
I remember being in school, listening to an hour lecture and walking
out of Biology class thinking "What did my professor just try to teach
me?" And that was in my native language.
Considering that I am about to begin living on my own as a volunteer
for two years, I figured this would be a good time to make some goals
for my service. And, hopefully, you can all hold me to them. This
may be the only two years of my life I can get away and work on
personal goals for awhile, so I hope to seize the opportunity. In no
particular order...
1) Learn to enjoy being alone: As a social person, I have always been
around people and really enjoy surrounding myself with friends and
family. However, I think it is really important to be happy without
needing other people. I figure that if I can be content by myself,
then I can be a better friend, brother, boyfriend, son, etc.
2) Immerse myself in the Malagasy culture: As Americans, we live and
think very differently. It has been really cool and interesting to
understand how other people in world live and think thus far. I hope
to try as much new stuff as possible and soak it all in.
3) Improve my cooking skills: Let's face it, while I cooked in
college and in Los Angeles during my co-op, I had access to sauces,
seasonings, grocery stores, and refrigerators. I'm really hoping to
come out of Peace Corps with legitimate cooking skills, even if they
only apply while camping.
4) Determine whether or not I want to go to medical school: I've been
considering med school since senior year of high school; I think it's
about time I figure this one out. The plan right now is to apply June
2012. I'll keep you updated.
5) Take advantage of the natural beauty of Madagascar: I could have
been placed in a desert or a tiny island in the middle of nowhere.
Instead, I got a country which has beaches, rain forests, Baobabs,
Spiny forest, Tsingy deposits, and 90% of the species here are
endemic. I might take a couple excursions and be a tourist here...
6) Read, a lot: I get made fun of by close friends often because I'm
not a reader, I haven't even read a single Harry Potter book. Now's
my chance to read all those books that everyone's recommended and the
must-read classics. I'm excited to see what I've been missing out on
and to learn how to really enjoy a good book.
7) Learn my Biodesign textbook from cover to cover: No secret, I'm a
nerd. I brought a textbook with me to Madagascar. It is about the
business and process of medical device design, which has been my
passion throughout college. We'll see if I can eventually apply some
of what I learn to improving access to medical technology here in
Madagascar.
8) Make some close friends: These 2 years are going to be pretty
different. It'll be tough to come back to the United States and not
have anyone speak the same language I've been speaking for 2 years, so
I'm planning to call up my fellow RPCVs to reminisce and hang out.
9) Stay Close with Friends and Family: This is actually the most
important thing to me. I'm only able to have this experience with the
support of my friends and family, so staying in touch is my first
priority. Hopefully, I'll get back to the States and we won't miss a
beat.
10) Be able to bike to my market town, Ambanja, and back in the same
day: This is a 100Km bike ride on mediocre road. The longest I've
ever done is 40 miles (in Idaho), which was about 20 miles too far.
Still, I hope to work up to this goal.
11) Become ambidextrous: Just kidding, but if I did want to learn a
stupid human trick, this would be the time. Who knows what new skill
I might pick up.
12) Finally, make a small, but sustainable impact: Most of the health
problems in Madagascar result primarily from behavioral issues related
to health (poor hygiene, not drinking clean water, not eating a
balanced diet, etc.). Yet, these things are completely within the
control of the Malagasy people and don't actually require more money.
The difficulty lies in changing their habitual behavior.
This list will grow over time, but it's a start. If you have any
suggestions, let me know (especially if it's a stupid human trick,
#11).
I hope everybody is doing well back in the States and look forward to
hearing updates from you guys.
Mazotoa (enjoy)!
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