Here is some information from today's phone conversation posted by Maribeth's Mom.
Hello again! Well, it has been 5 weeks since I arrived in Madagascar and I absolutely love it! It is definitely challenging, but wonderful, too. I have had lots of training and they are even going to give us cooking training soon! Oh...and I've had 11 shots so far. Ouch! They do take good care of us.
I have made some great friends! Even though we will soon be living in different towns throughout Madagascar, we will be able to get together every 3 months or so for Peace Corps gatherings.
I passed the first Malagasy language test a few weeks ago. I am now at the "intermediate low level". They want us to all be at the "intermediate high level" by the time we finish our training at the end of August.
Right now I have been teaching everyday for 2-3 hours. It is a lot of work but rewarding. I have been teaching different classes for young children up to adults. This will help me to be prepared for my 2 year assignment which will begin in September.
Thanks to all of those who have written letters! I just love reading what is going on in the states. I actually have received one of the packages that Mom sent--it was a pair of dress pants and a fleece shirt, so now I am warmer. :)
My assigned town will become my home at the beginning of September. I've been told that there are already some things in the house so I won't have to buy everything. :) I will be going there in a few weeks to see it. At the beginning of August, a representative from Ifanadiana will come to get me and take me back to the town. I think that I will be staying there for 4-5 days. It will be good to be able to see it before I actually move there at the end of August. I also think that I will be able to get a cell phone at the beginning of August. Won't that be great!!? Then perhaps some of you can call me. I would REALLY like that!
Well... take care. Bye for now!
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Notes from my phone call home on 7/7/07
Here are some notes from our phone call with Maribeth on 7/7/07
(posted by Maribeth's Mom)
Student teaching starts on 7/9/07. Students can choose to come the "English camp". They are on vacation right now. I will be teaching 2-3 hours per day and will end up "trying out" every grade.
The food is OK, but I seem to get quite a few stomach aches. Nothing that I can't handle, though.
My family has been very patient with me. They have been instructed not to speak to me in French or English, so that I can hopefully learn Malagay more quickly. I get along will with my Malagasy brothers, ages 11 & 13.
Once in a while I will be able to check my email. So...if you wish to leave me an email message, please use maribeth.black@gmail.com. Thanks!
I have just received my Peace Corps assignment and will be living in Infanadiana beginning after August 28, 2007. Ifanadiana has a population of about 8500. It is located near the largest national park in Madagascar and has lots of lemurs. Ifanadiana is located about 1/2 hour from the ocean and is near the rainforest. I will be living in a 2-room house with a latrine. There is no running water, or even a well, so I will have to carry water from the town to my house. I will, however, have electricity, and a telephone. There have been 3 female Peace Corps volunteers teaching there before me. I will be teaching either middle school or high school.
I have made lots of friends here including a girl from Wisconsin and a guy from Arizona.
I would still LOVE to receive mail from everyone so...please write!! Thanks!
(posted by Maribeth's Mom)
Student teaching starts on 7/9/07. Students can choose to come the "English camp". They are on vacation right now. I will be teaching 2-3 hours per day and will end up "trying out" every grade.
The food is OK, but I seem to get quite a few stomach aches. Nothing that I can't handle, though.
My family has been very patient with me. They have been instructed not to speak to me in French or English, so that I can hopefully learn Malagay more quickly. I get along will with my Malagasy brothers, ages 11 & 13.
Once in a while I will be able to check my email. So...if you wish to leave me an email message, please use maribeth.black@gmail.com. Thanks!
I have just received my Peace Corps assignment and will be living in Infanadiana beginning after August 28, 2007. Ifanadiana has a population of about 8500. It is located near the largest national park in Madagascar and has lots of lemurs. Ifanadiana is located about 1/2 hour from the ocean and is near the rainforest. I will be living in a 2-room house with a latrine. There is no running water, or even a well, so I will have to carry water from the town to my house. I will, however, have electricity, and a telephone. There have been 3 female Peace Corps volunteers teaching there before me. I will be teaching either middle school or high school.
I have made lots of friends here including a girl from Wisconsin and a guy from Arizona.
I would still LOVE to receive mail from everyone so...please write!! Thanks!
exerpts from my 6/22 & 6/26/07 letter
Here are some exerpts from Maribeth's letter dated 6/22 & 6/26/o7
(posted by Maribeth's Mom) The letter arrived in West Virginia in 12 days.
6/22/07 Greetings from the Red Isle! Well, I have officially survived my first week of Peace Corps boot camp (literally!) Life has definitely been a rollercoaster of emotions. Madagascar is unlike any country that I have seen before. There's so much to take in. It's been an exhausting yet life-changing week. We have training from 8 am until 5 pm daily. It's quite intense. I usually get up at 5:45 am to start preparing for the day. There's so much to do. We must make our beds and clean (sweep) our floors. Then, we get water from the well and heat it for my bucket bath in what we call the "ladoucy." After a quick buck bath, which is surprisingly refreshing (and the warmest I feel all day), I get dressed, eat a quick breakfast which usually consists of rice, bread, and Malagasy coffee, then head to school on a road filled with mud craters.
So...you know the whole stereotype about Africa being warm? HAH! What a joke! I've never been so cold and wet in my entire life! The Peace Corps downplayed the cold. Now, it wouldn't be so bad' however, there are 2 problems:
1- There is no heating anywhere!
2- It rains a lot and hard--almost everyday! Thus, my one sweatshirt becomes so damp that it fails to keep me warm.
So...I walk over 5 miles a day, which is great! However, between all the walking, the classes, the new language, culture, etc. I am exhausted by 8-9 pm. Most Malagasy people go to bed early for 2 reasons:
1- The electricity may not be working.
2 - They are too cold to do anything because there is no heat!
My classes are interesting. We have multiple hours of Malagasy a week, coupled with health classes, safety classes, courses on how to teach, cross-cultural classes, and the list goes on. We've learned about more diseases than I ever cared to discuss. I already received 6 or 14 shots!! including those for rabies, hepatitis A booster, yellow fever, and meningitis.
I've already made some great friends--Guy, who lives in Georgetown and just graduated from University of Michigan and Erin, who is from Illinois and went to college in Chicago. Erin and I walk home together because she lieves across the street from me.
6/26/07 Today is Independence Day for Madagascar. That means that last night there wer all sorts of parties. There was a parade, small fireworks, etc. I attended a small dinner party with Malagasy and American friends and then took to the streets. Today there was a parade and ceremony. It was pouring rain and the ceremony was outside. As the "American guests" we were asked to stand on the stage for the entire 3 hours! I needed windshield wipers for my glasses. :)
This weekend we are going to Tana, the capitol, for the night. It'll be nice to stay in a hotel and take a HOT bath/shower. In fact, I may take multiple baths!
Well...I hope that all is well in the states. Please write soon and please write often. I loved receiving mail!
Until next time! Bye!
(posted by Maribeth's Mom) The letter arrived in West Virginia in 12 days.
6/22/07 Greetings from the Red Isle! Well, I have officially survived my first week of Peace Corps boot camp (literally!) Life has definitely been a rollercoaster of emotions. Madagascar is unlike any country that I have seen before. There's so much to take in. It's been an exhausting yet life-changing week. We have training from 8 am until 5 pm daily. It's quite intense. I usually get up at 5:45 am to start preparing for the day. There's so much to do. We must make our beds and clean (sweep) our floors. Then, we get water from the well and heat it for my bucket bath in what we call the "ladoucy." After a quick buck bath, which is surprisingly refreshing (and the warmest I feel all day), I get dressed, eat a quick breakfast which usually consists of rice, bread, and Malagasy coffee, then head to school on a road filled with mud craters.
So...you know the whole stereotype about Africa being warm? HAH! What a joke! I've never been so cold and wet in my entire life! The Peace Corps downplayed the cold. Now, it wouldn't be so bad' however, there are 2 problems:
1- There is no heating anywhere!
2- It rains a lot and hard--almost everyday! Thus, my one sweatshirt becomes so damp that it fails to keep me warm.
So...I walk over 5 miles a day, which is great! However, between all the walking, the classes, the new language, culture, etc. I am exhausted by 8-9 pm. Most Malagasy people go to bed early for 2 reasons:
1- The electricity may not be working.
2 - They are too cold to do anything because there is no heat!
My classes are interesting. We have multiple hours of Malagasy a week, coupled with health classes, safety classes, courses on how to teach, cross-cultural classes, and the list goes on. We've learned about more diseases than I ever cared to discuss. I already received 6 or 14 shots!! including those for rabies, hepatitis A booster, yellow fever, and meningitis.
I've already made some great friends--Guy, who lives in Georgetown and just graduated from University of Michigan and Erin, who is from Illinois and went to college in Chicago. Erin and I walk home together because she lieves across the street from me.
6/26/07 Today is Independence Day for Madagascar. That means that last night there wer all sorts of parties. There was a parade, small fireworks, etc. I attended a small dinner party with Malagasy and American friends and then took to the streets. Today there was a parade and ceremony. It was pouring rain and the ceremony was outside. As the "American guests" we were asked to stand on the stage for the entire 3 hours! I needed windshield wipers for my glasses. :)
This weekend we are going to Tana, the capitol, for the night. It'll be nice to stay in a hotel and take a HOT bath/shower. In fact, I may take multiple baths!
Well...I hope that all is well in the states. Please write soon and please write often. I loved receiving mail!
Until next time! Bye!
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