General Musings

Peace Corps volunteers have a reputation for being a little off-kilter. Newbies arrive, meet more seasoned volunteers and think “wow, they’re a little weird.” The seasoned volunteers shake their heads and say “don’t worry, you’ll grow in to it.” Exhibit A: A PCV dancing with a bunch of pousse-pousse drivers and street kids: Just another … Continue reading »

I’m Importing Books to Madagascar; It’s Driving Me Crazy

If you are a close friend/family member of mine, I probably bugged you almost a year and a half ago to donate to a huge project aimed at getting 22,000 books from America to 17 different schools and libraries in Madagascar. I really appreciate everyone who helped donate money to the project and I think … Continue reading »

Dear Mailman, Stop Creeping

Dear Impatient Mailman, While I greatly appreciate that you were concerned enough about me getting my postcard to come to my house and deliver it, you chose one of the worst moments to do so. I had literally just stripped down to take a shower when you knocked on my front door, meaning I wasn’t … Continue reading »

How Blogging in the Third World is Frustrating Business

Remember when, back in the day, you’d start up your dial-up internet, most likely with AOL, and your computer would make these obnoxious whrrring sounds, a long, high-pitched eeeeee-rrrrrr, and maybe at some point your family would yell at you to get off the internet because they needed to use the phone? Remember how tediously … Continue reading »

Why Travel?

A pensive post on love of travel as I explore La Reunion and Mauritius… The first time I stepped foot on an international flight, I was still in diapers – that annoying toddler that cries, poops themselves, and makes noise at inconvenient times. I promise you I’ve since improved my travel etiquette. The second time, … Continue reading »

La Reunion, See You in a Week!

So… readers… I don’t really know any better way to put this… buuut, in less than a week from now, I’ll be in La Reunion! I’m doing my happy dance right now as I type (I know, I’m talented, right?), so, clearly, I’m stoked. I hardly ever write blog posts about future travels, unless I’m … Continue reading »

Teaching and Translating with Operation Smile [photos]

My mantra of late seems to be “Oh my god, so many children… somanychildren somanychildren somanychildren.” As I mentioned in previous posts, they’re everywhere. Not only do I live on the middle school compound, but Madagascar just seems to have more of these little people than I’m used to. This past week has been different. … Continue reading »

Why the #$%*@ Did I Join the Peace Corps?

People say we’re brave, adventurous, and tough-skinned. They also call us crazy and rambunctious when we get together and (noisily) try to one-up each other with stories about public transportation, weird bathroom situations, and other only-in-Peace-Corps type stories. With all these experiences, it’s hard to remember why we’re doing this some days, and other days … Continue reading »

From Strangers to Friends: Making Peace with Madagascar’s Swarms of Small Children

From a city with more dogs than kids Before coming to the Peace Corps, I lived in Seattle. I will forever think it’s one of the best places on earth, but it is also one of the most childless. Of all the American cities, it has the highest percentage of single adults and one of … Continue reading »

Love, Romance, and Dating in Madagascar

Good evening blogosphere and Happy Valentines Day! Also, before I launch into today’s topic, I’d like to say happy anniversary to my parents – I hope they are both enjoying today even if Dad’s in Haiti and Mom’s in D.C. Over here in Madagascar, the nicer foreign-catered restaurants and shops have hung cardboard hearts in … Continue reading »

A Short Lesson in Malagasy with Two Bored PCVs

This past week, Cyclone Felleng passed over the Indian Ocean, bringing wind, rain, and a touch of gloom to the Madagascar highlands (I’m assuming that a wind, rain, and gloom in a larger amount was brought upon the East Coast). Along with the cyclone’s arrival in Madagascar, another Peace Corps volunteer who works in the … Continue reading »

Dealing with Sexual Harassment in Madagascar

Even though we had agreed neither of us felt like drinking beer that day when we left the house in the morning, by the time my friend and I – both of us girls – sat down for lunch we didn’t even have to ask the other to know that we wanted the waitress to … Continue reading »

Peace Corps: Year Two

I wrote this blog post back in October at the beginning of the school year, but somewhere along the way failed to post it. It may have lost some of its relevancy, but seeing as how tomorrow is the end of Christmas vacation and the beginning of our second trimester, I thought I would go … Continue reading »

Where Christmas Snow is Only Ever Made of Paper

{Teaching Malagasy students about American Christmas traditions} I taught my 7th grade (5eme) students how to make paper snowflakes and sing Christmas carols this week. When we started the activity, one student held up the test I had just passed back, jokingly suggesting that he would use that to make his paper snowflake. I shrugged … Continue reading »

I Am Expat, Hear Me Rant

Sometimes my inner monologue runs something like “AAARRRRRGGGGHHAAAA fdajfdijaldfda pffffftttttttt…..” Usually, this occurs when someone says something totally benign and innocent, but is unaware that they’re the tenth person to say the same phrase on that particular occasion that I have boldly left my house. It ranges from remarks about my language skills – how … Continue reading »