OK...y'all caught me! That's Happy New Year in Malagasy, not Sakalava...I left my Sakalava word list at school and I'm on winter break.
Wishing y’all a very happy, healthy new year and hoping that everyone had a joyous holiday…and wahoo – boohoo!!! (UVA lost to Texas Tech in a heartbreaker!)
Erin has been in her village, Sakaramy, for nearly a month now. Sakaramy is in northern Madagascar where it is quite warm! There’s no electricity or running water; however, Erin adapted to her host/training village without those “luxuries”, so she’s doing fine without them now, too. She does get to go to Diego (Antsiranana) every so often where she stays at the Peace Corps House. Diego is the 5th largest city in Madagascar and the city runs on a generator so they have electricity most of the time. Erin says that Diego is beautiful! There is much beauty around her village, too. Her village is near the base of the Amber Mountain National Park. When she takes hikes near her village, she sees remarkably beautiful flowers and various sights. The villagers proudly share the magnificence of their country. Erin’s enjoyed some special adventures already!
The Peace Corps sent someone from DC to visit. Erin was thrilled to enjoy the company of another American. They went to visit another volunteer at a site on the coast. Erin saw many gorgeous sights on their drive. (I think the other site was only about 20 kilometers away, but it took 2 hours to get there.) There’s only one paved road in northern Madagascar, so travel is difficult. Erin truly enjoyed visiting with another volunteer and seeing the achievements made by the hard work of the PCV’s. Erin found it interesting to see that some cows, zebos, were enclosed by beautiful flowering cacti plants rather than by fences. They also enjoyed a meal from the ocean which was a very pleasant change from rice and/or peanut butter. (Erin makes great peanut butter – she actually shells, cooks and crushes the peanuts herself!)
Over Christmas, Erin went to stay at the Peace Corps House in Diego. There, she met some other volunteers – two married couples and two girls. They all decided to take the taxi-busse to the beach. At the beach, they met a wealthy Malagasy man and his family. Erin and the other PCV’s got to go sailing with the family. On their way to an island, the boat’s captain drove overboard and speared a bunch of fish. When they got to the island, the crew prepared a delicious meal for everyone. Erin felt like a tourist instead of a poor PCV. She said the island was incredible…and so was the food!!! On the other day that she had in Diego during her 2-day Christmas Break, she and the other PCV’s when swimming at the hotel next to the Peace Corps House and enjoyed the Christmas brunch the hotel had. There, she met a doctor for the American Embassy and his family. They are from New Orleans and are leaving in Antananarivo for two years. He was at Erin’s swearing in ceremony.
After an exciting two days, it was time for Erin to return to her village…the taxi-busse ride brought her back to her reality…27 people piled into an old (1930’s) French station wagon meant for seven passengers…Erin was on the lap of an old man with a pregnant lady and child on Erin’s lap and a mal-nutrientioned girl on Erin’s other knee…you get the picture…and three baskets of chickens and two goats tied to the top of the vehicle!!!
When Erin called the next day, she sounded very settled and content. While she was out with some of the villagers, her site mate, Erin Cross, had made a solar oven out of cardboard and black paint. Erin C., an environmental volunteer, had actually cooked 4 loaves of peanut butter bread in two hours. This is really thrilling!!! If they can find a way to cook without destroying the rainforest, this would be fantastic! Cooking without burning all the wood would also help tremendously with health issues. All the smoke is unhealthy for the people as well as for the environment. Y’all, this could be great!!!
There are so many health issues! Erin is still amazed when she’s working with young women who are only 25 or 26 and have 7 or 8 children already…and are pregnant with another!!!
There’s so much to tell; however, I just noticed that I’m already on page three…and y’all know I must get in my little plea(se)...and thank you. Thank you to all of y’all who take the time out of your busy, busy days and evenings to write to Erin and to send surprises. The first thing she tells me when we talk is that she’s received letters and/or packages…y’all, hearing from each of you is what gives Erin the strength and courage to do what she’s doing. Y’all are a MOST IMPORTANT part of her journey! So, thank you! thank you! thank you! and please keep it up!
Remember, too, that I am here to help y’all in any way I can. Please know how appreciative I am of each of you!!! I hope this new year is filled with excellent health and much happiness for each of you!
