(Note: this is a long entry... I think because I am now alone at night my thoughts will come out more as I have more time to write.) It's hot! Not quite as hot as South Africa, but a stickier heat for sure. I'm in Madagascar!!! I keep thinking about how crazy that is and how I don't think I know anyone who has been here. I feel lucky to have thi...

This is Tilly. She was the mate of my nephew Kris and nieces Annick and Elise. She had a long and very happy life, was just loved to bits, clear for anybody to see. When she got cancer and started suffering, my family helped her to sleep in, which is brave and I am sure Tilly is grateful. I have been a dog mummy and a cat mummy and had to give t...

Back to the capital after an epic journey to the Parc National de Tsingy de Bemahara. Note that the word "tsingy" is pronounced "chingy", which is also the name of one of the worst rap stars of recent years. Remember "Right Thurr?" It's best if you don't. Anyways, what are the tsingy and why the hell did we travel for 5 days across the country t...

Last Tuesday my roommate and I received a call from Peace Corps that a hurricane (cyclone) was near. They said it was supposed to hit Wednesday but wouldn't be that strong. They wanted us to pack a bag and stay somewhere else though. Our house is a huge wooden shack mansion on the beach, we call it The Estate. It's big, but even when there's a n...

In beautiful sunny Madagascar. The capital city of Antananarivo is located on 12 rolling hills. Staying in my nicest hotel so far, Hotel Tana Jacaranda. Successfully appropriated 600. US dollars worh of Madagascar Ariary which makes me a millionnaire. People are friendly and are a mixture of Malay and Polynesian stock along with a minority of bl...

Greetings from Madagascar! Well, time has been flying by, I can't believe it is already October. I guess the seasons are starting to change back home & a new school year has begun for some of you. One of the things that I thought I would really miss from home was the change of seasons, but Madagascar has it's own. We are moving out of the sh...

(Here's an email we received from Amy early on Monday:) Hi! I made it! We don't have much time to write, but I did already send a letter to you mom and pop and Jay and Mandy:) Madagascar is really crazy, amazing, hard, beautiful, poor, and NOT that cold! Compared to a Chicago winter, it's more like spring time weather. I am doing well....althoug...

It is Saturday April 8th and we took a trip to the Capital for lunch and internet and the grocery store! We are beginning week 8 of training and are almost finished! Three weeks from now we will be in our own home in Anosibe an'Ala!!! Time is flying by now! Last week we went on a technical field trip. It was wonderful. We went to another volunte...

Lately, I've been laying low in Tana. I've taken some more market pictures. My dad's gone to the annual World Bank meetings in DC so I am staying at home with mom, who's having a hard time with the house. It is, by all accounts, very ugly and very dark. Apparently, they've shut down DC for the meetings, again, and the local residents are ****** ...