ITS HOT!
Okay, let me explain…I visited my site last week and will be moving into my house in Antsohihy on December 12. Summer is just beginning here in Madagascar which means I experienced just a taste of how hot it will become in my town. The town is on the larger end (160.000) but it is not a tourist town like many of the other large towns around the country. So in a way it is just a very congested small town (with a couple wealthy Malagasy). There are only 4 vazaha in town (including myself); the other three are South African missionaries who are incredibly kind and have the most fantastic food and wine! I live on the other side of the town in a small cement room beneath the hospital. It is simple but I have some electricity and a ‘shower’ that is shared with my neighbors (and some people at the hospital). The electricity means that I have a lightbulb, and can charge some of my electronics! YAY! However, the bill is paid by the hospital so i need to minimize the amount of current I use. I will be working mostly at the CSB (clinic) which is on the other side of town, and when I feel more comfortable with language I will work on the HIV/AIDs and STI campaign at the hospital where I live. With that I will be going out to the smaller surrounding villages to do testing and education. I have alot of other ideas, but I will wait until I get them approved and moving before sharing 
I am replacing another volunteer, so the town is shocked that my Malagasy is so terrible. They dont remember what her language was like 2 years ago! The adults are the most impatient with my language, so I think my new best friend will be a 9 year old girl who lives next door. Im going to bring her a little present and try to pathetically buy her affection…and encourage her patience.
While at site, with a combonation of Malagasy and high school theatre (thanks Mr. D), I managed to rent a P.O. box (and give a good laugh to about 9 people in the post office). I have given into the fact that my life has become a comedy. I will write you a few fun stories at another time-someone needs the computer!
here is my new address:
Meghan Ryan PCV Peace Corps
B.P. 117
Antsohihy 407
Madagascar
Africa
(you should put africa on it…because people at the post office often dont know where madagascar is…a couple people got mail months later that had to be redirected from asia and other places)
