Bebe kokoa filazana avy Erin avy tsia vaovao taratasy manoratra 10/12/07 sy vaovao filazana sahona telefaonina antso (More information from Erin no new [I couldn’t find the word for “older”] letter written 10/12/07 and new information from telephone call)
Hey, y’all! Hope everyone is well and enjoying life! Oh, before I begin, I must make a correction in my past blogs for Erin. I referred to Erin and those going through training with her as “PCV’s”. Well, until they are sworn in around Dec. 5, they are NOT PCV’s, they are PCT’s (Peace Corps Trainees)…I send Erin copies of the blogs I post for her and she made me aware of my mistake. OOPS! Let’s start with the information that Erin requested I post on her blog from the letter –
“1) Tell Pat that I LOVE the CD that he made me and that
EVERYONE else should send me CD’s they make, too!
Please!!!
2) I need Sydney’s address so I can write her back. (So Sydney, wherever you are in this whole wide world, please send me your address so I can get it to Erin –
levinb@fultonschools.org or brl259@aol.com
or better, yet, write Erin again enclosing your return address: Erin Levin, PCV
Bureau du Corps de la Paix
BP 12091
Poste Zoom Ankorodrano
Antananarivo 101
MADAGASCAR
Thank you!)
3) That I love it here! It is so beautiful, peaceful and simple.
There is so much purpose for us here on a daily basis. I
feel like I am really helping my family and village live more
healthy lives by washing hands, using a latrine, washing food
in clean water, etc. I also learn so much everyday from the
PC staff, PCV and my fellow trainees…especially from my
family and the villagers. They are so happy and having bare
minimum stuff – no toys, no power, no showers, no
chocolate, no beach, no money, TOO MUCH RICE but they
love each other fully and always have a sincere smile on their
faces. While at times it is vary, very hard to be here with
no comforts we are used to, they are so thankful to us for
being here. They manage to share so much with us even
when they don’t even have enough –it’s how the world should
be. Together, joyful, grateful for the little things like the
amazing sunsets and stars that go on for miles.
A note on Grandma’s card –
It is precious! She even sealed it with a smiley face sticker! I know that I am not one to talk because I have HORRIBLE handwriting, but I think I get it from Grandma! Please see if you can get her to manage to write more neatly! Thanks! I really want to see what she has to say because I love her so much!
I am going to write the other folks back and write you more this weekend. I love and miss you so much! Oh, and about my site, I am getting much more excited because one of the volunteers training us this week lives up near me and loves it. I will get to wear lambas (cloth made/scarf dresses) to work and every day. She says it’s much, much more “African” than here on the plateau and that it’s even more laid back – plus, Sakalava, our dialect – is the easiest!”
And now from yesterday’s phone call –
Erin and the other PCT’s are spending the weekend at this place that was once a French camp and is now owned by the Peace Corps. (Erin was so excited because she was on US property!) Every year, there is a huge festival/carnival held here. The PCT’s are here for the “cultural” experience. There are a lot of French people at the festival and they’re speaking French. The Malagasy people are very taken by the PCT’s because they look similar to the French people; however, they are speaking Malagasy – their language. The festival has rides and Erin was allowed on the Ferris wheel because she is small. There is no electricity, so energy producing the rides to move is by hand! There is lots of music and dancing. The BIGGEST, BEST band in all of Madagascar had a concert there. The band’s name is Specialiste and the leader is Benji-Gasy. Now this probably won’t come as a big surprise…Erin has gotten to be friends with Benji-Gasy and the band. She’s now hoping that she will have them up to her new village and they can do some fund-raising and some health awareness projects with her. Benji-Gasy in the only one in the country who makes a very special Malagasy instrument. I’m looking forward to his making one for Erin and her learning to play it…who knows!?!
Erin did ask that y’all please, please, please make her CD’s and send them to her. I don’t think each of you knows how VERY important your letters, CD’s, etc. are for Erin. In every conversation we have and in each letter I receive from her, it is clear that much of her strength comes from the support she is receiving from each and every one of you. Please know that I, too, greatly appreciate each of you! (And, if you let me know that you’re being so sweet and supportive – just send me your address and I’ll make you some brownies!)
After the festival ends for the PCT’s this weekend, Erin will spend Mon. and Tues. at this location with the “doctor” from her new site and then Wed. or Thurs. she’s off to her new village for a week. Y’all, Erin is really VERY NERVOUS about this and asks that you include her in your prayers…and if you don’t do a lot of praying, please start now!
I’m hoping to hear from her when she’s on her way back from her new site to her host family village. (She has to fly through the capital, so she should be able to call me – HOORAY!) Until then, y’all take care and please write to Erin!
Brenda
