La Varangue Antananarivo

... campsite in St Luce, only the lemur venture people were going here so the group was split and in total there were 8 of us from the USA, UK and Canada. This was our first experience of riding on a cameon, a huge vehicle with a rusty canopy, we pilled on all our supplies and luggage and then sat on the wooden benches for a 3 hour drive. It was the first day when it didn't really rain, we were so pleased as the roof had many holes and we would have gotten very wet, as it was ...

... Immediately to the right is a booth for Entry Visas - a requirement for all visitors to the island of Madagascar. We hand over our passports and 65 Euros each, [not 58 as is on the current website and not 60 as advised by our travel agent!] but 65 Euros for a Visa to enter Madagascar - on a hastily handwritten sign - giving the impression of a recent leap in inflation as is prone in the African sisterhood of countries... Handing over the passport is ...

... with a Malagasy tv station on a tv show promoting English to teenages. It's called "Teen Talk" and I already appeared with some of my girls from my Girls Club. We were guest speakers talking about "how cool is your school!". So, I will try to get a copy for you all to see. Well, I gotta jet, but ;ark your calendars- I'll be home in July! I'll send more details when I get them, but plan on some good get-togethers :) Much love, A :)

... children, hungry and homeless people. Desperation. What can one do? Can you do anything as an individual? After this, Dr T becomes a frequent bathroom visitor again. Feels sick and tired, fine pair. We meet our girls in South-Africa tomorrow. One broke her ankle less than a month ago. It will be the mobile ambulance instead of the 4 wheel drive. Andry picks us up at 7 tomorrow. It might be a while before we have internet again. So: ciao!

... trees were covered in red dust. He said that they had a cyclone earlier this years and the dust indicated where the water level had risen to. It was probably 5 or 6' high. After lunch and a shower we headed back to Anatananrivo and our flight home. I have had a fantastic adventure and would recommend Madagascar to anyone interested in wildlife, a different culture or event just a tropical holiday.

... miles away felt the blasts. By the end, the death toll was about 130, although accounts of armed forces death were not confirmed, and there were also many severe injuries. Debris was spread far and wide, and it was unknown whether some of it was still live munitions, so the airport was closed for a time until the runway could be cleared. We were due to fly out of Maputo about 07.00 to Jo'burg for the 09.50 connection to ...

... I still don't want those words to be the ones they repeat. I started a girls club, the girls are so quiet when we have English club. Since my goal is to Americanize as many people as possible here, I'm encouraging the girls to be loud, be proud. I don't know that it will work but we are making fun arts and crafts and having good talks in the meantime. The community is also interested in starting an English center and we're getting that under ...

... to meet the next day at 09:30 when we would go to meet with oth**s of their pastors for furth** discussions. We will attempt to asc**tain if we are compatible doctrinally and administratively and find out what they would like from us if anything. In any event it is exciting to find people with v**y similar beliefs in a culture and country quite diff**ent from even oth** francophone countries. I look forward to our follow-up visit tomorrow.

... fruit, plants & handmade baskets, and at times the turquoise Indian Ocean crashing on the beach. Tamatave is an amazing town & our time there was awesome- warm, sunny weather, bungalows on the beach, good seafood, and a great time with friends! Back at site we have a large project underway with our counterpart organization. We are working in a town about 5 km away with 2 model farmers (Maxim & Yves) to turn an overgrown piece of land into a tree nursery in which ...

... was able to write it. The girl had been making fun of my language skills and me in general. I cannot wait to learn this language better and be able to stop the comments. It's especially difficult in Antalaha to practice Malagasy. As much as people encourage me to become fluent, the same people insist that I only speak English with them so they can practice. I'm here to teach English so I want to help, but I want to improve my own language skills. I think the trick ...