Motel Coco Beach Antananarivo

... getting used to living in a tent and bucket cold showers (brrr) and of course beans and rice. We also had our first taste of lemurs as we visited a reserve where we saw ring tailed, brown and sifika's lemurs. As it was a reserve they were used to humans and they came down out of the trees to be fed bananas and quite a few of the group got mobbed by the ring tails as they were the most confident and definitely the cheekiest.<br><br>On the Monday it was time to move to our ...

My faith has been restored in SAA - they loaded the correct software for the GPS system and we found our way to Madagascar!! All too sudden the captain announces our descent to Antananarivo Airport: "25 degrees Celsius, good weather, fasten your seat-belts!" The wheels touch down and we taxi in towards the airport building - the only aircraft in sight. On disembarkation it's a short walk to the building. Entering, signs are in French and 'abbreviated ...

... started. But.....some opportunities have presented themselves and I just can't pass them up. So, I will have to say goodbye to Anjozorobe (not an easy thing!) and move to the capital where I have 2 exciting jobs. The first is working with the Ministry of Education on developping a middle school English curriculum....following in my family's footsteps! I really do love teaching and "igniting" young minds. Who knew :) The second ...

Getting on and off the plane was painful with my knee. Luckily our Andry is waiting for us. Tomcat finds us a room with wireless internet, so I can catch up. The plan: for me to move at little as possible and hope nothing is severely ripped. Before 5 in the morning, we hear screaming outside. Someone screams for ages. Dr T goes and has a look. A woman, sitting in the gutter. With a package in her arms. A baby? I do not like this country ...

... we caught a flight back to Antananarivo which arrived just in time for us to go out for dinner.<br><br>We went to Chez Marriette, described as a formidable chef, she has catered for some of the world's dignitaries. We had a great meal that included carp, langoustien, duck, chicken, zebu, pink rice with 3 vitamins in it and much more.

... Thankfully it was a quick transit, and after more of a mad dash in South Africa, we made it to the airport just in time - luckily the flight only closes about 20 minutes before take off! Transit through Jo'burg was mostly uneventful - except that I had unnecessarily bought a business fare, having been told economy was sold out, when in fact it was half empty. Although of course it was nice to be in business, I would have ...

... to adobe to wattle twigs and thatched roofs. Saw the hospital with its solar panels and the church with its cross. Slept in a tent under a pergola for protection from the evening rains. On the 2nd day on the river we paddled for 7 hours with an hour break for lunch. Saw scenery change from hills and mountains with no trees to forested ...

... has since named the goose, I think she calls it "Dinner" or "Supper" depending on what time of day it is.) The goose was delivered to her by representatives of her teaching community and is quite large and also serves as an additional wake up call, along with the village roosters. "Cock-a-doodle HONK" in Amy's words. Amy also informed us that a beautiful peach tree in her yard delivered her some ...

... but didn't cross, turned around and waited for me and we rode across together. Isn't he awesome! My muscles were so stiff I could barely lift my leg to get off my bike, but I was glad to have participated. All in all, the ride was amazing, filled with incredible scenery. We passed through villages in which families &amp; children stood by their palm thatched homes giggling &amp; waving. We rode by zebu's grazing along the side of the road, people working in their fields, stands ...

... learn the vanilla business so I can start some sort of importing company when I return to the states. Not necessarily implementing the Peace Corps mission, but it was a little fun entertaining. I am going to the English club meeting at the high school this week. I'm excited to work with the older kids since they are all motivated to learn English and have fun with it. There's still a rat that scurries through the bathroom, I can't seem to kill it. It's so annoying.