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!