It's been over a year now since I arrived in Madagascar back in July 2010. Just like college, time seems to be going by very fast now. The first two months, our Pre-Service Training, seemed to go by so slowly. We encountered new challenges and counted the days every week until we'd be done and sworn in as volunteers. The first two months at site were a lot like that too, counting down until we'd all see our friends again at In-Service Training. But, the last 9 months have gone by in a blink of an eye. Those of us still here are really well adjusted and are now just enjoying our time living abroad, working with our communities, and doing fun things. Honestly, those days when I just cook to music, read in my hammock on my porch, and chat around town are the days I will miss most when I leave Madagascar.
This past year of Peace Corps, I really feel like I've pushed myself to do things I didn't know I could. My Peace Corps experience has showed me that while I couldn't learn French from 6 years of instruction in middle school and high school, I can learn Malagasy in two months (all it takes is the NEED to become fluent in order to buy food and find a bank). I've also come to realize that the human body is capable of so many things. Forget the Atkins diet, your body can adjust to eating the most basic foods if you just listen to it. There have been days where I've gone all day biking and hiking on only a few handfuls of peanuts or a couple fried bananas. It's pretty crazy what we're capable of. This past year has also tested my motivation and independence. No one really cares if we build hundreds of latrines or if we just sit in our homes and read for two years. Yet, despite the lack of expectation to work, I've been active working in my town and the surrounding region, trying to give Americans a good name embracing the local culture and assisting with improving the public health of
This past year of Peace Corps, I really feel like I've pushed myself to do things I didn't know I could. My Peace Corps experience has showed me that while I couldn't learn French from 6 years of instruction in middle school and high school, I can learn Malagasy in two months (all it takes is the NEED to become fluent in order to buy food and find a bank). I've also come to realize that the human body is capable of so many things. Forget the Atkins diet, your body can adjust to eating the most basic foods if you just listen to it. There have been days where I've gone all day biking and hiking on only a few handfuls of peanuts or a couple fried bananas. It's pretty crazy what we're capable of. This past year has also tested my motivation and independence. No one really cares if we build hundreds of latrines or if we just sit in our homes and read for two years. Yet, despite the lack of expectation to work, I've been active working in my town and the surrounding region, trying to give Americans a good name embracing the local culture and assisting with improving the public health of
the country. If retirement is sitting and reading all day, I'm never going to stop working fully. Having projects to work on that I care about is a much better reason to wake up in the morning (though I'll probably take frequent vacations to explore new places and cultures as much as I can). I have also been lucky to be here in Madagascar this past year. While some days are tough dealing with living on a tight budget and lacking access to electricity, food, clean water, and people who speak English, I have also seen some of the most beautiful scenery in my life. We've gone to pristine beaches, biked through rainforests, hiked over tsingy (karst) formations, seen endangered species, climbed through caves, and swam under waterfalls. Honestly, I couldn't imagine a place I'd rather be at this point in my life. Doing Peace Corps gives you a lot of self-confidence in your ability to adapt, to survive by yourself, to travel off-the-grid, to interact with people of different backgrounds, and to just relax, let things go, trust others, and make good decisions in new and frightening situations. And, most of all, it makes you realize how good we have it in the United States.
I look forward to my last year as a volunteer and will be sure to get the most out of my time here. See everyone soon!
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