Hey y’all! It’s Mama blogger once again. I know some of y’all heard from Erin when she was on the field trip mentioned in the previous blog and some of y’all heard from her a few days ago when she was in Antananarivo (Tana) getting a yellow fever shot. She was so excited to talk with those of you who were available! (I didn’t write about our conversation from the Tana trip since I had been informed that I could call her today.) So, here’s what’s new…
Erin has a very busy schedule for the next few weeks. On Friday, Nov. 2, 2007, the PCT (Peace Corps Trainees) will be taking a trip about 1 ½ hours away from the villages to go to a place that the Peace Corps owns where the Malagasy people have a big “carnival/folk festival” according to what Erin has learned. The PCT’s will spend the weekend enjoying this cultural experience and become more familiar with Malagasy dance and songs. On Mon. and Tues., Erin will stay at this PC place and the “doctor” from her village in northern Madagascar will spend some time with Erin. Then they go to Antananarivo (Tana) and fly to Diego on Wed. or Thurs. so Erin can visit her site – the place she’ll be for the next 2 years. According to what Erin’s been told, the village has built a “house” for her right behind the Community Health Center.
Erin has learned to build a clay stove, so she’ll cook for herself is she has to do so. (Oftentimes, the PCV will find a family in the village that does the cooking and the PCV shares meals with them – paying them for the food and the help.) Erin has learned to make rice and peanut butter.) Her new village is closer to the equator so there should be some good fruit. (I’ve found over a dozen different protein bars – with 10-20 grams of protein – so I’m send those to her with a rating sheet. She can let me know which ones she likes and I’ll send more.)
Erin met an environmental PCV whose name is also Erin. She’s in a village about 5 hours from our Erin…and that’s considered close by in Malagasy terms. The roads are not very good. For example, Erin is about 25 miles away from Diego; however, getting to Diego takes about 4 hours. Our Erin will get to go to Diego every month or so which will be nice since she will stay in the PC House where they have bunk beds with mosquito nets and something similar to a toilet and (cold) shower. (That’s close to 5-star for Erin!) Diego doesn’t have electricity, but they do have generators, so Erin may have power there some of the time on some of her trips there. She may be able to make a couple of phone calls and/or may be able to get on the internet. We’ll just have to wait and see.
Erin said that this experience has been very challenging and very rewarding! She got toothbrushes from the PC to give her village and she has taught them to brush their teeth. Among the other things Erin has taught her village, she has taught them to make clay ovens so they can cook without having to destroy so many trees and without having to create so much smoke – bad for their respiratory system and for the environment.
Most every day is like an emotional rollercoaster. About 1/3 of the time, Erin is so very, very happy. Another 1/3 of the time she misses everyone so much that staying is difficult. I’m guessing that the other 1/3 of the time, she’s so busy learning so much that she doesn’t have time to consider how she’s feeling. Bottom-line, she knows that there is a reason for her being there that is so compelling that she is happy to be there. The people are so incredible! Erin is learning to be calm and patient…and she’s instructing me to be calmer and more patient…pretty funny! She realizes her presence can make a tremendous difference and that’s extraordinarily rewarding!
She sends her love to everyone and misses y’all so much! Many thanks to those who have written…and please continue to do so! When Erin moves to her placement, she’s going to be quite lonely being the only westerner there, so your letters will be a tremendous source of strength and encouragement. Some of y’all have sent me things to mail to her – books, CD’s, etc. Please feel free to do so…mailing things can get very expensive…I send little packages every week so adding something from a friend is no big deal. (695 Saint Regis Lane, Alpharetta GA 30022). If you’ve forgotten, Erin’s address is:
Erin Levin, PCV
Bureau du Corps de la Paix
BP 12091
Poste Zoom Ankorondrano
Antananarivo 101
MADAGASCAR
Please date your letters – no telling when/if she’ll get them. Please, please include your return address on the inside of the letter, too, because the outside may not be readable by the time she receives your letters. Be sure to write "Par Avion" on the outside of the front of the envelope. Thank you!!!
Y’all take care! I hope to be writing again soon.
