End of Training

Dobbie's ready to leave

Saturday, 29 April 2023 (75)

A class on cooking. Nothing new here. I've had a few years of cooking for myself. I won't be starving. Nothing to microwave here so I doubt that will be on my shopping list.
 
I did finally hear about my last LPI - I passed. I'll take it and move on. At least I met the requirement they would like me to have. 

Monday, 1 May 2023 (77)

Last day at PC Camp. Most are packing their bags. We all seem to have collected a few new items. We may have started with 100lbs and a carry-on or two but we now all seem to have at least a third bag. The Peace Corp gave us a few items as well like a large med kit, a few manuals and dictionary. And most have bought a few items along these 11 weeks. A few even have plants - which I think I would have waited until I got to site. Not sure I'd be thrilled about transporting dirt around. One of our soon-to-be-volunteers even just picked up a new kitten from their host family or neighbor. She's fortunate that the Peace Corps is letting her have it. We were told that we had to wait until swearing in before any animals were gotten but I don't suppose the week before is prohibited.

Fortunately, we are inheriting our foot lockers that were at our host families and of course our water filtration units. I was able to put most of my third bag items in it including the solar panels and the new desk lamp I purchased.

Suddenly, we all seem to realize PC Camp might be the fastest internet we'll see in a while and a few of us have downloaded a few steam games to play onsite and offline if we have time - which we all get the impression we will.

Relay bike race participants

Tuesday, 2 May 2023 (78)

We left camp behind at 8:30 this morning. I doubt anyone is sad to leave - a few host families perhaps, but it has been a long 11 weeks and we're all for this next step.

We arrived fairly quickly. I think I napped a bit. Arrived for a tour of Peace Corps Headquarters. It was interesting to see all the staff dressed up in business attire and in their offices. The place looks like a typical office in American with just a few difference. It's located in a very secure area in a very nice neighborhood. There are high walls, razor wire and many security personnel. A police depot is just down the street. They run a mirror under the vehicles to check for bombs as we are always going to be a possible target for terrorists and people who don't like us in foreign countries.

Amanda wanted to see me after we left her office. Fortunately, it was just to congratulate me on getting through training and bringing my language skill up. We then had lunch at Amanda's house just a few doors down. It was a very nice and very big house - again with the walls, wire and a servant. Afterwards, we went in groups to the HUB which is a few blocks away and where the medical people are. There's also two dorm rooms we might stay at if we get called in to Tana for health or other reasons.

My group of four or five was last and I had my weight taken (208lbs) more than I hoped for and my blood pressure taken (137/79) which I didn't think was bad but she retook it after a few minutes on my other arm. Our nurse practitioner thinks I get anxious around doctors and it raises my blood pressure. I'm thrilled they think that's the issue and not just I am having high blood pressure lately. It is down from the beginning of training and normally is close to 120/80 - but not of late. I haven't been hydrating enough and generally I just think I'm at a different place health wise at my age. They also want to wait six months for a blood draw to test me again on the pre-diabetic issue.

We had the usual discussion about eating balanced and nutritious meals. I didn't comment on that. I know the reality of my diet. It got me here and had better keep me here. More fruits and organic foods, less treats, processed foods and soda. All not too hard to work on but eating new vegetables - it isn't going to happen! Not unless they start tasting better. My body is not in prime condition, obviously - but I am here.

Eventually, we headed to the Panorama Hotel where we'll be staying until we leave on Saturday to our banking towns. The view is spectacular - overlooking the city below us. The internet is fast and it is one of the better hotels for Madagascar - but nothing to write home about.

Samson and I are rooming together. We're friends, compatible and we keep each other's secrets. He has one item on his shopping list that is a must have - weights. The problem is the cost $1,800,000ar (about $415US). He doesn't have it and he's asked me to loan it to him until he can tap into his Peace Corp money a couple weeks after swearing in. Natalie's not thrilled but I am doing it anyway. I pulled out more than 2 million from the ATM and handed it over. I'll try and spend less and get by if need be.

We headed out for dinner at a burger place before our free dinner at the hotel. It was great. Much better than the rice and meat for dinner. Of course I skipped the rice. Desert was a chocolate éclair.

Hotel balcony view

Wednesday, 3 May 2023 (79)

Shopping day. After a few surprises with the schedule that had the LCF's waiting two hours having not been told that we were in an impromptu meeting with a previous Madagascar volunteer from 1999. She now lives here and works for CRS - Catholic Relief Services. Some good advice but at the expense of our shopping time.

We finally get to the Jumbo shopping center and were told this would be our only stop. I had been here before and knew what to expect and perhaps that was fine because I knew exactly what I wanted and where to find it. But my installer wasn't here and I had no idea where to put things after I bought them. This is where much confusion began because they had no way of marking who's stuff was who's. And then there were things we were told we could get but only if they were to be found at this one shopping mall. Not exactly what we were promised.

Most were upset but shopping for a couple hours seemed to temper that. Samson and I spent probably more than most. The Peace Corps is giving us 2,000,000ar for items to get our house up. Samson and I spent somewhere over 2,700,000ar and we still need some basics we'll have to get in our banking towns. I expect I'll be spending another million on paint, a new table, and lots of buckets and pots and pans, and kitchen items still.

Today, I bought my wish list items which were a very modern overhead light fixture, a table fan, and lots of tools (or at least the basic ones - hammer, saw, pliers, screwdrivers, sandpaper, paint brushes, gloves, tarps, nails) I know for a certainty I'll need. I also bought a two burner stove top that cost 100,000ar more than the metal top ones everyone else was buying. Mine has a glass top and will clean easier and look nicer over time. I also bought many items to keep with my blue and yellow theme I'll be painting in the new place.

Everyone has their priorities. I saw many with two pillows, some with expensive containers, others with good non-stick pans and a few with heavy quilts and blankets. I wouldn't want to hand wash those - they may never dry. I even saw a dart board someone bought, so people are thinking out of the box to keep entertained, warm and sane.

I had hoped to buy a nice "Ikea-like" desk but the store people said they would have to deliver it. That will have to wait for Antsirabe. I didn't get another pair of shoes and we weren't allowed to shop elsewhere. I was in a bad mood because the Peace Corps didn't deliver on what they promised and had bad organization throughout the day. No one had markers or tape to label the many similar item until I and others pushed back in the chat. They said they'd get it all figured out at the hub where our piles are waiting for the installers to load up with and take to our sites on Monday. But many items needed us to locate as they were not marked, or in my case, was marked but no one saw it written in pen - having no markers. I bought a marker and tape to solve the problem for a few of us. Cyrus also took charge as no staff members seemed to be communicating to us in "WhatsApp" or in person. No LCF seemed to know what the bosses had in mind - or at least no one passed those instructions down to us. This is often typical here. We either get overly instructed or under instructed. And a few trainees text comments in the chat like "Am I allowed to spend my own money on food?" Did they really need that answered and what if they didn't like the answer? Sometimes if I wonder if they will ever survive the wilds of their site.

Back to the hotel. Samson and I had eaten recently and thought to brave the hotel dinner. That was a mistake. They served the normal abundance of rice and meat, which was cow tongue. Some of it wasn't too bad but some green looking pieces no one wanted to eat. And desert this time was a bad fruit cup.

Then unfortunately, I sat too long at my table and committed social suicide with a statement I made. Just saying "Social Suicide" elicited comments from my very hip, young and woke comrades. Comments about how they felt over just the use of that phrase. To go into any more detail would only offend people reading this perhaps.

I tried to explain how I feel outnumbered with 20+ young people in this cohort and me alone at 63. They have their youthful experience in the world thus far and are following a path different from mine. We indeed have different perspectives, experiences and thoughts about the world - its problems, causes, issues and how to solve or deal with such. I asked them to think of themselves in a reverse group of 60 year olds and if they would feel their opinions and ideas were truly understood or appreciated. Perhaps, like me they would feel stifled, or become a little more quieter knowing they were outnumbered by the others - and their supposed truths about the world. Instead, one of my not too favorite trainees got up and said "He always does this" and abruptly left. No one addressed that outburst. Either because they support her view or know of her instability and bi-polar mentality.

I could see no understanding would improve. Only two of the seven were in a slight agreement with me. I tried to apologize if anyone took offence but was told not to apologize. It's like I can't even do that without being in the wrong. I'm obviously an old person who needs to see the world through 20 something eyes. Been there - done that. I obviously don't want to get strong in my defense - or bring up any hypocrisies I see in their immaturities, lack of respect, foul language, immorality, drinking to excess and being a bad example for the Peace Corps enough that future cohorts may have to be dry for the entire 12 weeks. They have all the answers and I have none - so it seems. My roommate doesn't know why I even try.

I don't suppose any of them will find, or try and find this blog - let alone read it. I've purposely left off names to conceal identities. But if they did - I would stand by my opinions and would love to argue the facts in a public and fair fight - not one where my opinions are bullied, or silenced by the group consensus that I am wrong and they are right. I'm saying - perhaps we are both right and both wrong on many issues. I just want to be able to have the right to a different opinion. 

And I'd like to see the future - when they are my age. Will they encounter similar treatment at the hands of their betters - the youth? Will their long lives and lifetime experience count for much, or just get discounted by the wiser and smarter 25 year olds of that day?