Dobby Arrives

Tuesday, 16 May 2023 (92)

Left about 7:30 this morning for the 4.5 hour drive to Antsirabe. We stopped in Ambatolampy which is known for their metalwork and I picked up half a dozen pots and pans for cooking with. I still could possibly use a good non-stick pan for frying eggs and such.

Once we got to town I had them drop me off at the Green Park Hotel where I resided last time I was here. I am staying in the same room again.

Spent the afternoon wandering the streets of Antsirabe again. Was here three separate days during site visit. Got a little more of my bearing here but am tired of window shopping. There doesn't appear to be anything of value for me to get now. Done a whole lot of shopping for installation. Probably spent way more than 5 million ariary. The Peace Corps only provides us with 2 million for installation.

Sam is wanting to pass his dog off to me. He is doing the vegetarian thing and doesn't want to buy and cook meat for the dog. I'm worried as he rescued it off the street if it is healthy. We'll try and bring it to the vet tomorrow if he can get it here.

Wednesday, 17 May 2023 (93)

Very busy. 

We hit more than a half dozen medical and police /gendarme agencies to give them my credentials and info on the off chance my health or security is in danger. Arsen did all the talking. I found it interesting that we are so official in presenting the volunteers to every part of the government to insure good relations as well as good safety. We also got me a tour of the main pharmacy here as well as the higher level medical provider should I come here for any treatment before being kicked up to Tana.

Sam came in from several hours south of my town Sahanivotry with the dog which is now officially named Dobby. He's looking a little sickly and undernourished. We did get it to the vet and it's first of four shots. Need to try and get it back in two or three weeks for the next one. The vet says it doesn't have Parvo and the shot it got should help with that and a few other issues. But it looks like it let it's mother a little too soon of you ask me.

I bought a lot of stuff today both with and without my installers. A small table and two chairs for about 160,000. I negotiated them down to 140,000 but paid them the 160,000 anyways. My new philosophy - Negotiate for a better cost but pay them more anyway - everyone wins. Got a second smart phone so I can have Telma and Orange phone services. Got most of my buckets and plastic containers including a PO for indoor bathroom use - 30,000. A new smart phone for 180,000. 61,000 for the first dog shot. Three more will be necessary every couple weeks or so. Blue, yellow and white paint for 201,000. We'll see how far it goes but I suspect we'll need more. 160,000 for meals for Sam, me, the installers. 820,000 spent today or about $189. I honestly don't know how the Peace Corps volunteers could manage on the 2,000,000 total they are given for installation.

Sam wanted to get out and see some nightlife. Unfortunately, it is a Wednesday night and much doesn't begin until 9pm around here. He was out while Dobby and I retired, though didn't sleep till he got back around midnight.

Thursday, 18 May 2023 (94)

It has been a couple busy two days. This morning Arsen and Jones (my installers) came by to pick up my two bags. Took a taxibusse with Dobby in her box in a big rice bag. I just said I was going to hold on to it for the trip. No one questioned what was in it. He only tried to stick his head out a couple time and didn't even whimper. He's still doing more sleep than I'd like. 

Met up with the installers in Sahanivotry where they were already at work adding hardware to the three windows and a new lock on the door. They set up my gas tank and stove though I know how to use that. I was also impressed with the brand new hospital bed that the CSB had for me. The very small foam mattress (maybe two inches thick) needs a another one under it for comfort. They had seven or eight though they have seen better days. It's also about the smallest single I've seen. But the head can be propped up. I'm happy with it though Dobby is not going to be jumping up anytime soon.

Had a meeting with the village leaders (my host family - the mayor and his wife), others who work at the CSB, neighbors, shop keepers and those in the village who were available. They did all the talking while I did a short introduction of maybe five or six sentences. Trying to get off on the right foot here. Arsen, my installer did much of the talking for the Peace Corps and translated what they were saying for me. They just need to know what the Peace Corps is, what I'll be doing here, and how I'll need a little help learning the language and the town. 

Living here for two years is starting to settle on me as I went around the town to buy a few food items I never got in Antsirabe. There are only a handful of places to buy much and I probably hit up most of them. It was funny because I asked to buy vary (rice) and he laughed when he told me they have no vary. He explained that everyone has their own vary as they all grow it. There's no market in town needing to sell it. Maybe on market day on Tuesday. I can wait until then though I wasn't going to buy much anyway. Mostly as a food for Dobby.

I felt good talking with the people. Even with my limited Malagasy, I was able to introduce myself again and attempt to tell them I am here for the next two years. My tutor gets here in about 10 days for two weeks but I'll be studying an hour or two everyday as well.

Back to my house (trano) which is really just a room about 11ft 2 inches by 22 ft and 8 inches. Bigger than I had on the mountain but a little more rustic. Cement walls, hopefully not a leaky roof and I do have power so that is great. I'm actually very pleased with the place. I always knew I'd be fixing it up. I am a little upset that the very large table is no longer here. I asked about it (or a table and Dr. Clertant helped me get a different but small table.) I'll take it but could use yet another one. 

Friday, 19 May 2023 (95)

Waking up with the rest of the town. How anyone thinks its ok to play their favorite music loud at 6:30 in the morning -and I'm talking about people in town, playing it several hundred meters away across a rice field and then some. Worse than any roosters or even the church recordings played yesterday for the ascension of Mary (a holiday) at some ungodly hour in the morning.

Spent the day getting all I've collected and bought for installation organized. Going through all the bags and boxes I brought here - going from 100lbs of stuff brought from America to probably over 500lbs of stuff and a bicycle. Took the small kitchen table out to sand and refinish the tabletop but it is too far gone for that. And it doesn't want to sand smooth. Either the sandpaper is not so great or the wood they have here is harder and different than elsewhere. I asked the installers to bring me a few items when they came back today. It seems they had nothing more to do, so they only came to bring me those items. I think they are milking this installation for an extra day or two. 

They picked up 6 - 12ft planks that had to be cut in half being too long for the top of their vehicle. Some shelf brackets - but now I realize I'm going to need a dozen or more. And the mosquite screning material. They also got me some potatoes which I haven't seen around town. I'll likely have to wait till next Tuesday (market day), and some oil (which I can find in town), and a six pack of water, which I can also find in town at a worse price. And I'm not likely to be drinking a lot of it.

I want to run back to Antsirabe early tomorrow and get back here in time to spend the afternoon painting the ceiling and possibly more. Then perhaps some painting on Sunday and be ready to hit the town with Dr. Clertant on Monday.

I did get the sink very cleaned. It was a real nightmare and I had originally thought I might just need to replace it but I managed to get it into a good looking condition. I was hoping my host family Mayor was coming today to change out my main ceiling light but was a no show. Dr. Clertant and I called him and asked him to come tomorrow afternoon when I'm back from Antsirabe.

Dobby is coming around as well. Today, he was out and exploring the yard - trying to make friends with my supervisors cat, chickens and ducks without success. Not sure he has a sense of the world yet but it was good to see him walking about and not constantly sleeping.