Misadventure - back in Tana (Antananarivo)

A quick update on the morning I almost died. (Exaggeration intended)
Monday morning I forced myself out of bed to go for a run (okay, really its more like a brisk power walk, but that sounds lame).  As I walked out onto the main street I could see that part of the road was completely immersed in water.  Nearing the water some kids came up to me and were all excited and yelling and screaming at me in Malagasy...no clue what they were saying.  It was clear that some sort of water main had burst.

Me, being the clever girl that I am, decided not to walk down the middle of the street as surely the water would come up to my ankles (thus making walking in wet sneakers impossible).  I surveyed the road and I also knew that there was a little ledge on the side...so I crossed over and began to hug a wall and make my way across.  I knew that if I could somehow get my grip, I would be able to balance myself on a piece of wood and jump over to dry land (the gushing water was about a foot wide).
I tested the wood - it was sturdy. Now, I'm not quite sure how this happened, but as I put my full weight on the wood the water came right up to my knee - then all of a sudden the water came right up and I went straight down and the water completely covered my head and I continued to sink down. Instinct kicked in and I thought - SWIM UP! SWIM UP ANNE!!  So, I swam up to the surface and crawled up onto the road.  I stood up and spat all the dirty water from my mouth.  A lady came over to me asking, ''Ca va Madame? Ca va?''  Um, no actually I'm not ça va, I just nearly died in a huge sink hole!
So much for the walk, I went home sopping wet and dirty. And I'm pretty sure that my pride is lying out there somewhere!

Today I drove by and tried to see the hole..but of course it's all closed in now...thanks for the memories.

Lessons learned:
1. Listen to screaming kids, even if you don't understand them - just follow them or something
2. If you really don't feel like getting up in the morning for your workout maybe just sleep in!
3. Buy an iTouch - they get soaked and keep on working
4. Swimming lessons...someone should start an NGO


Here are some pictures from a recent visit to the rainforest Nosy Manga Be (sorry for the layout...still trying to figure this out!!)

Pirogues - local transport

see the bug?

see the frog?

World Cup Fever

After we beat Brazil...before we lost to Spain!

(Originally written in June)

 

I'm writing this from Kenya, though I have been in Madgascar now for two months. And yes, this is my feeble first attempt at blogging....not sure what it will look like, a journey at least.


Humanitarian work is always challenging and rewarding...so here below are some rewards! I completed my first field visit a couple of weeks ago and here are my thoughts, activities...malagasy musings...for you. 

Day in the life of Maroantsetra

Wake up at 6ish...in any case you will be awake by 4 am...thanks to the chickens. Get out of my mosquito net.Unlock the house and walk outside to the shower (depending on how strong I feel, I'll just go for the cold shower and not waste time heating up water in the kitchen)

Breakfast - strong local coffee with sweet bread from the bread seller and some home-made yoghurt

7.20 hop on my bicycle and travel 2 minutes to the office.  The streets are all sandy..actually sand is everywhere and it seems to find you just after you shower!

Meet with the team and see what is on the agenda for today....Recéption Definitif. 

First we travel by canoe for about an hour and then hike barefoot through rivers, streams, rice paddies, muddy fields past the zebu to get to the village.

Here the water pumps are handed over to the communities.

This has been one of the most humbling experiences of my life. I had tears in my eyes as we were greeted by the all the people in the villages...singing, dancing, clapping...ecstatic to see us. I was humbled by the thanks we were receiving, humbled by the simple fact of clean water, humbled that I was able to reap the benefits sown by former colleagues... I can't explain this feeling well...overwhelming, bursting.