While I was in the air, the situation in Madagascar began to worsen. When I arrived at the Peace Corps office, the Malagasy staff had been sent home for the day for their own safety and the few people in the office had only bad news. Less than 24 hours after arriving in Tana, the Country Director announced our evacuation.
That night, all of the Americans in the capitol got together at an NGO workers home for an evacuation ‘party’. A few men formed a band for the night and sang our sorrows into the night, far past the city’s curfew we mourned the loss of our lives in Gascar. The next day, the volunteers near Tana (myself included) were evacuated to South Africa. Slowly all 115 volunteers arrived and completed the close of service tasks. Within a week, I had become a ‘returned peace corps volunteer’. I tried to get transferred to another program, but my stars did not align. Only 13 volunteers were able to transfer. My service with the United States Peace Corps is officially over. I miss it. I miss Madagascar.
However, I did not feel that my time in Africa was ready to be over. I booked a flight to Uganda where I am staying with my good friend Kristen. I am looking for work, and I think I have found a place in a village to stay surrounded by locals (the way I like it J). However, my path is even more uncertain.
How does it feel
To be on your own
With no direction home
Like a complete unknown
Like a Rolling Stone?
