Rebellion

Wednesday, 1 March 2023 (17)

Today was our first day back at PCT (or Peace Corps Camp, as I call it). Every Wednesday we'll go back for a bit of get together and respite from our host families. I didn't bring much including my laptop as I have clothing and stuff back in our dorm rooms there. But I have been taking notes throughout the day as interesting things have been happening and there is no day without interesting things here.

I walked the 15, maybe 20 minute walk to the Post Office in town. Totos followed me most of the way until another dog barred her way. She's followed Robertini and I a couple of times and knows her way around but I still worry for her. 

I've  started calling a lot of our trainers and even some street people who have been friendly with me "namana" which is friend. First thing I did was speak with our medical nurse and took my weight. I'm down a total of eight pounds now. The nurse set out a chair for me viewing the lake and said this will probably be the most scenic spot you've ever had your blood pressure taken at. I agree but it didn't help. It was still high at about 147/128. I explained how I wasn't doing more than 5-6 hours of sleep at night and she believes that is it. I'd like to help her out here but honestly, I've been going to bed when tired, usually between 9 and 11 but still only get 5-6 hours. I'm up once in the night as usual to urinate and the next time I awake it is 4 or 5 and don't really feel like trying to go back to sleep.

We brought back our sheets, pillowcases and towels and they'll have them ready for us to bring back tomorrow. Not quite maid service but we are not complaining. Some classes then a Typhoid shot. The man with the Wednesday cash came by and we all received our weekly 70,000 Airy (15 US Dollars). I got an additional 170,000 which my calculations show that I'm getting 4250 Airy for 1 US dollar. And we all got an additional 5000 airy for next Monday when we are going shopping in a larger town. Doesn't look like that money is going to go far. I think they are going to have us buy a pencil and maybe candy.

More classes on Security and unwanted attention. And medical classes on Malaria (got to take our med kit with us everywhere and we learned that we'll be taking multiple meds after our service for a while because we could develop a variety of illnesses we pick up here. And like Mormon missionaries we are not allowed to swim or bath in any fresh water bodies because of the Shisto. And then there the plague which is endemic in Madagascar. We were told to wash all cans of food we buy because the mice and rats urinate everywhere there is storage. For dinner's desert we had Madagascar chocolate ice-cream over fresh organic mixed fruit.

This evening was a free for all. There was a campfire built (eventually), there was singing and goofiness as expected at any camp. We sang happy birthday and surprised Josh my roommate along with a card. I guess this was also his golden birthday - or yesterday the 28th was. I left early and was very tired. In bed by 9pm.

View out my window

Thursday, 2 March 2023 (18)

Up at 5am but still 8 hours.

The big event today was the revolt we had by the girls. I won't say too much as I am afraid to be seen as unsupportive. Most of the girls seem to be worried that the real stats revolving around sexual harassment and assault were not earlier stated or given, and that the numbers being higher than the Peace Corps average and even higher than many African countries is alarming. Most are upset that they are only being told how to mitigate or prevent such from happening and that the Peace Corps here are not doing enough to prevent the higher numbers.

The group came together between classes and it was presented that we as a group would insist that each site had a site mate and they wanted to take a stand of that. As can be expected, all the guys said little to nothing other than support and we were attempting to stand together on this issue.

A few minutes later, our Country Director was involved in our gathering as he had come down from Tana for a class he was presenting this afternoon. He heard our concerns and demands and then had about 20 minutes or his rational about how that was not likely to happen. It takes many months and resources and research to make these sites happen. And although the Peace Corps and Madagascar Peace Corps is also concerned about these high numbers this site co-partnering is unlikely to be the silver bullet that the group is asking for. Incidents don't happen at your home site or at your work site. They happen between, on the way, at the market and wherever.

Proposals to DC had been made to have private cars to drive us, even body guards but that isn't the Peace Corps way. The bottom line was that he would try and get back to us after he had spoken with other staff and did a little more research and thought.

I feel like my service is in jeopardy of being hijacked because some hadn't done their homework or weren't prepared for the realities or dangers of service. I want to support them but I am not sure I would quit along with the group as a gesture of solidarity against all sexual harassment/assault that we have no control over or cannot minimize to 0%. I know what I signed up for. I am not a woman and I cannot speak for them. 

Is the Peace Corps doing everything that can be done? Probably not, but there are stats to say that the majority do serve without problems or incidents. Personally, I feel there are some here who the Peace Corps is not right for. I've heard a lot of complaining and concerns over the food, the host families, their living environments and experiences. I think this could be the straw that adds to the other thus far experienced inconveniences and sends a few home packing. Some have embraced the notion that this a "when not if" issue when the numbers do not support that. Are there issues, yes, and rapes, and murders. But that has always been a condition of our service. One may have missed that in the brochure or in the lack of their own research but the US government is not going to change overnight to improve a situation that is continually being monitored and evolving.

I can support them but only to the point of standing on firm ground that I accept what I signed on for. And again, as a man, my perspective is different than theirs. As a woman I would see it differently.

Before heading back to our host families we all opened our bank accounts. All those many documents we had to sign were in French and we had to sign a "Power of Attorney" should we leave the country in a hurry and the funds be left behind.

This afternoon back at the training site at the Fortress, our country director gave his normal presentations on Peace Corps rules, child abuse and misappropriation of government funds or behavior - he did give the group more answers on their demands. He basically showed more numbers showing this is definitely not a "when but if" situation. Some didn't like the numbers approach and yet they were listening heavily to one Peace Corps girl in and earlier group and not seeing the numbers he showed form hundreds of past volunteers.

The bottom line being, tomorrow we'd still be getting our site selection with no additional changes. Maybe the next Ag group coming in at the end of the year could be spread out to our sites in some instances. He suggested we give it some time and wait until we make our site visits and decide then. This is a job fraught with dangers and uncertainties and if it wasn't for you, that was fine.

I would not be surprised if one, two, or a few decided in the course of the next few days or weeks to return home. 

After classes I hit the center of town to pick up a few items including three eggs and a small loaf of bread as gifts for the Robertini's. They have been very kind and have made foods mostly for my tastes.