Future Plans, Present Projects

Hey there internets!

Extension

After months of weighing my options, applications, and interviews, it's finally official - I'm going to be extending my service here in Madagascar for a third year!I've been selected to work as the Peace Corps Volunteer Leader (PCVL) in Diego Suarez (or Antsiranana in Malagasy). I should start my work there in August or September, and I'll remain there until the following September.

So what exactly will I be doing up there? Diego is home to a Peace Corps regional office as well as a meva, our name for small transit houses that Peace Corps operates throughout the country. My job will be to assist with the operations of the meva and the regional office, as well as to help out the other volunteers working in the north of the country. When I'm not doing Peace Corps work, I'll also be doing projects in the community. Diego is a wonderful city, and the north is one of my favorite regions of the country. I'm very lucky that I will be spending my third year up there.

For all my friends/family stateside, this doesn't mean that I'm going to go another year without seeing any of you! Volunteers who extend for a third year get one month of leave stateside. While my plans are still not concrete, I'm hoping to take my leave this November!

School Rehabilitation

Future plans aside, I've still got a lot of work to do here in Ambondro. I've just heard from the parent's association that the community has already raised the funds for their contribution to the project. In a country where getting things done on time is often a very difficult proposition, it's great to be working with such an enthusiastic and motivated community. As soon as the Peace Corps grant is fully funded, we'll be able to get to work!

We've already received a lot of funding for our contribution to the project. I'm especially thankful for the Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Madison, who provided a generous donation to the project. That said, we still need about $2,500 to fully fund the project, so if you can help us out, please check out: https://beta.peacecorps.gov/donate/project/rural-classroom-rehabilitation/

School n'Such

We've almost finished the second trimester of school. It's amazing how time just flies by - come April, I'll only have one more trimester of English classes left here in Ambondro! While teaching comes with both rewards and frustrations, lately I've been seeing real improvement in my students, especially their willingness to use English outside the classroom. 

Before, many of my students wouldn't speak English to me outside of class unless I really pressed them to. Getting them to respond to "how are you?" was like pulling teeth. It wasn't that they didn't understand - they were just too shy and too afraid of making a mistake to say anything. How things have changed. When I walk around town now, I hear "hello!", "how are you?", or "what's up?" more often than "Salama", "Akore kahy" or "Ino vaovao". I'm happy to see my students feeling confident and ready to use the knowledge that they've gained in the classroom.

Until next time!