Site Assignments

Another room view at the Fortress

Friday, 3 March 2023 (19)

Big day - Site Assignments.

I won't spend any time on the classes this morning on "Bed Bug Eradication" - how fun is that?

First the not so good news - discussion between G57 (current PCV's) and G58 (us - still just trainees) has been prohibited. I don't necessarily disagree as I think some of the waters has been tainted from just one person. They did a lot of good for the month or two before we got here but lately some of the information is spooking our women. A sample of one is not as valid or useful as data collected over the past few years from a much larger sample size. Our country director is right in his decision to cease the flow of information as it could conflict with the training we are receiving. It's probably for the best. I imagine not everyone will see it like that.

Now for the news of the day. I believe everyone was excited in anticipation of getting their site selection today. Spirits were high even after yesterday's two discussion and no change to moving forward by administration. 

We had a short presentation explaining the many hours/days/months that each of these sites required to be researched, found, improved upon, and developed to provide a safe, effective and ongoing long term site for years to come. Then taped to the bottom of our seats was a folded paper with the name of a trainee that we were to give it to. Everyone seemed to be excited even if they didn't know much about the site. Most of us couldn't even pronounce the name of the town. 

I will be serving in xxxxxxxx, (they've asked us not to divulge our specific location publicly for security reasons in this post 911 world) five hours south of Antananarivo (164 km) in the highlands and 30-40 km from my banking town of xxxxxxxx (banking towns are a thing with these assignments as it usually means the next biggest town we can count on for larger stores, banks and resources). The approximate population at my site is 2,800 and the larger commune to be roughly 15,000. 

Other details from several other site survey sheets: The topography is flat with river and rice fields. The climate is highland climate and very cold during the winter (relative to Madagascar - I think in the 60's). The ethnic and dialect group is Merina which is standard Malagasy. The average cost to "Taxi Brousse" to my banking town is Ar3500 (.90) and to Tana Ar15,000 ($3.60). There's a market on Tuesday right outside my place. All basic consumables can be found at my site. Taboo/Fady - There are places that have taboo about bringing pork and people do not eat sheep.

Included were phone numbers of important safety contacts, two people with cars to sprint us away if emergency or security issues arises. And there are the names and numbers of the people who will be supervising me.

I'll have electricity but an outdoor shower and toilet (probably the squatty potty type). It looks like I am 10 meters from the local medical facility a CSB II xxxxxxxx. There are some hours I am being requested to be at the CSB weekly Tuesday and Fridays between 8am and 12pm. I'm interested what I'll be doing the rest of the time but I do see some projects related to health goals (related to vaccination rates, pregnant women delivering at the CSB, and youth programs in the community that I suppose I'll be working with and improving stats.

I'm not very far from three of the other cohort women and we all share the same banking town. 

We all got to stand on the basketball court where there is a painted map of Madagascar (with the cities we will serve in drawn in chalk) and our group picture was taken. 

I interviewed a few on camera and hope to edit that soon.

I walked the hour plus back to the Robertini's and the fortress, stopping at about every 5th store to talk with people and buy various things to bring back. Bought a few more vegetables for the Robertini's and mentioned that I did not like any of them so they would cook them up especially for me. I even got some mufu (bread) for Totos. I even found a place that had refrigerated ice cream and yogurt (go figure). I bought something frozen (not sure what it was) but accidentally left it at another store on the way home.

We have little this weekend left. My goal - to edit some video.