2/23/08

I have been here for 2 nights and a day so far, and it is impossible to accurately relay my experiences. It has all been so surreal...

After our 15 1/2 hour flight (easily one of the worst experiences ever), we landed in Johanessburg (called "Joburg" by the InCrowd) Thursday evening local time. We awoke early the next morning and made our flight to Madagascar. The plane was delayed, so after a 3 1/2 hour flight and 1 1/2 hour delay, we arrived in Antananarivo ( "Tana" for the brevity savvy) at about 330 pm local time.

We were whisked away from the airport by the Peace Corps employees in vans and Land Rovers. The drivers sped along at 60 km/hr on tight roads zith heavy traffic, passing slower cars and carts like they were standing still (some were). We got to the medical office for shots and a short list of malagasy phrases. These phrases were meant to help us communicate to our host families, whom we were meeting that night. The sheet included such useful phrases as Hello (manahoana), rice (vary) and where is the toilet (aiza ny kabone). We got back in the vans for a 2 1/2 hour ride to our training site. The countryside was absolutely beautiful, and as the ride continued ze zere treated to an amazing sunset. This was followed by a nearly-absolute darkness. No electricity means no street lights.

When we finally arrived at our training village, we had to disembark our vans and get into the Land Rovers. If Land Rover needed a new commercial, this was it. In a few trips, they carried 30 of us up steep mud hills and across an otherwise impassable road.

At our village, the families met us with flashlights. They led each of us off in different directions, as we struggled thru dark and muddy terrrain. I ate with my host parents, in there 50s, and brother, 25. We had a TON of rice, and also beans, meat and veggies. When I told the, I was full; they brought out bananas and ranonapango. This is a sort of rice tea, very good.

Saturday I awoke early to roosters. I did some hygenic processes that we definitely take for granted at home, but are quite time consuming when you dont have running water. I will spare you the details (sorry Jon, no bathroom stories...yet).

The village is full of rice paddies and surrounded by rolling hills and little cottages/houses. our home has a pig, lots of chickens, and2 cows. We then went to Peace Corps building and had language and a series of interviews to place us at our permanent site for the 2 yars here (at the end of training). I just now finished unpacking, it is 730 and time for bed inside my mosquito net. More fun in store tomorrow!

P.S. In Joburg, leaving the airport, there was a sign pointing right for Johanessburg and left for Bokesburg. Seriously.

PPS Sunday AM edition: I dont know how; but i awoke to Marvin Gaye's Sexual Healing at 430 AM. I guess a love of Marvin transcends cultures.