October 15th 2023 to October 22nd 2023
Hello from Madagascar!! I had my first week in the country and while the unknown and being so far from home for so long is definitely scary, the people that I have met so far have been very welcoming.
I left for Madagascar on October 14th and after 20 hours of travel, I arrived in Madagascar late on the 15th. It was really hard to say goodbye to my parents and Sophie. I was able to hold it together for most of the plane trip, but there were still a few moments when I got pretty sad. Just looking at the map and seeing how far my plane had traveled and how far I was from home was pretty shocking. But in Paris, I was able to meet the other ETA, Katie, who will be based in the capital, Tana. It was nice to bond with her over the adventure that lay before us and know that someone else was sharing similar feelings. Upon arriving in Madagascar, Andry picked us up and was super welcoming. I found out that Andry will be helping with orientation and runs the American Corner in Mahajanga, so I will get to work with him once I am there.
I was very busy this week starting with the very first day where we went to the U.S. Embassy and got to meet the ambassador representing the U.S. in Madagascar. She was kind and has worked in Madagascar for many years. She also offered her place for me to stay any time I am visiting Tana, so I might have to take her up on that.
The rest of the week was filled with sessions related to Madagascar culture, Malagasy language lessons, school systems in Madagascar, and what my life will look like while I am here. Through all these sessions it got me thinking about the similarities and differences in the U.S. For example, in Tana, security is an issue in terms of being robbed or pickpocketed. Generally, this crime is non-violent, and people simply rob because they need the money to help support themselves or their families. I think what strikes me is that while there is more crime in the capital compared to other U.S. cities, the people here are overall more friendly and are willing to help.
While I have been here, I have also had the opportunity to meet some amazing people. Andry has been super helpful, and I met the two teachers that I will be working at in Mahajanga, Mrs. Lydia and Miss. Jessica. All three of them took a 15 hour bus ride each way to be in the capital during orientation and help me transition into the country. That kindness means so much to me and makes me feel welcomed and more comfortable in the country.
On Thursday, I got to meet more people and some Americans through a networking event put on by the Embassy. While many of them are based in Tana and far from me, it is nice to know that there are other Americans in the country and people I can go to if I do need help. It is nice to hear other Americans’ perspective, everyone that has been here as talked about how incredible the country is, from the beauty in nature to the friendliness of the people.
Overall, I am happy with my decision to work in Madagascar for 9 months. The biggest positive is the people and how they have done everything that they can to make me feel welcomed. While I do feel more comfortable here, that doesn’t mean that I don’t get hit by feelings of sadness and being scared. While many things are similar to the U.S., I have concerns here that I do not have in the U.S., such as the water I drink, the food I eat, and adjusting to a new culture. And it has only been a week, but I do miss my family, my friends, and my girlfriend, Sophie.