New Digs

First meal in new place - Frites!

Saturday, 20 May 2023 (96)

Left about 7:30 by taxibruss for hour and a half trip to Antsirabe. Forgot my Peace Corps card so I ended up only drawing out my US funds. Had a long list of things I realize I now need. That's what getting here and seeing what works, what doesn't and what you wish you had. I got most of the items but still can use more. Looks like this is going to take a while.  I treated myself to a nice fried chicken meal. Still not a fan of tradition Malagasy meals including the rice.

The taxibruss coming and going insists on taking in more people than there are seats. And just when one or two exit - there are more to fill the spots along the way. And stops are fairly frequent. We'll pick up a large battery here, perhaps an empty water container to be filled at some point. And furniture and large bags of straw, hay or something I'm not even sure I know what it is. 

Sunday, 21 May 2023 (97)

It has been a long day and I am not likely eating enough. I had an orange this morning and then some Pomme Frites this evening. Just haven't made a lot of food and have limited things on hand. I probably should be buying some fruit for snacking on. I'll stock up on Tuesday - it's market day when people come from all around to sell their wares.

I left about 7:30 on the Peace Corps bike (and helmet) that I hadn't yet tried out. It's fine, though maybe my bike riding skills and my bottom isn't used to it. Like all new experiences here, one learns what is needed or required after one experiences the thing the first time. In my case, remembering to pack more liquids for the hour ride each way, or some tie-down straps for the saddle bag frame.

An hour ride for about maybe 15km. It seems mostly uphill there, so of course it will be downhill coming back. It's just up the main road except to two places that you need to get off the road to get around a 2-3 foot deep pothole 25-30ft long filled with water. Easier for me to navigate than the cars, trucks and semi-trucks. All the bridges here are single lane. If any of them go out there is no way to get up to Antsirabe for a while. There's one bridge bad enough they are already building a new one.

The chapel is at the far north end of Manadona. I was the first to arrive as I learned Sacrament starts at ten and not at nine. Introduced myself to most who arrived until I got pulled into the branch President's office. I gave him my membership number and info so they could get my membership records. Everyone was very pleasant (no surprise there). I was able to communicate the basics but not much beyond that. One guy spoke with me in length who knows some English from his missionary days in South Africa. He says I have a good Malagasy accent - encouraging. I think I'll try and be more prepared next Sunday.

There is only two hours but I sat in on a meeting before church that I have no idea what it was. Leadership? New members? No idea. They said something at the beginning of sacrament meeting that I sensed was about me. People were turning in their chairs and looking at me. I'm the only foreigner and American in the branch. No missionaries. The songs had no musical accompaniment and the chorister would sing a bar first to give us an idea of how the tune goes. All the songs are very familiar but I can't seem to place them. The Malagasy songbooks don't help. But I could follow and sing along fine. And I seem to know how to pronounce many of the words.

I am not sure how to add to the ward just yet. I do have my Google Translate app and occasionally will compliment someone on their smile or friendliness and maybe that's all I will ever be able to do. IT reminds me so much of all the things I can and cannot do here. It's just a lot of small things.

I've made it a game to say "Salama" to everyone I can on the way to and back from church. I figure if I only say hello and acknowledge a million people these two years, I will have done something. A very small thing but something.

Back at the new place I added more paint to the table and started painting my one kitchen wall. It'll need another day and a couple more coats of paint. I am bothered that the "Mavo Mavo" yellow is looking a little hospital sickly and not vibrant bright yellow, but it'll do.  Maybe a third color like orange or green will be necessary to brighten up this place. I am tired of living out of boxes and bags but the shelves will come as I keep painting. 

Dobby is doing better and wanting to get out there and find and eat chicken bones - or at least I think they are chicken bones. I'm also finding my shoes moved around so I know he's starting that chewing phase. She loves the cheese wedges I bought for me but I think it is the closest thing to milk I have right now - though I did buy a cheap bottle and powdered milk we'll get around to trying. I got her in a bright yellow flea collar. I only need a quarter of its length. He's really not going to be a big dog by the looks of it.