Let's Try This Again

For those of you who haven't totally given up on me, I have decided to give this blog thing another shot.

As most of you know, I arrived safely in Madagascar in June of 2008. I completed my training and was sworn in as a Peace Corps volunteer August 22. I was placed in a small village near Ambositra, on the Plateau, where I taught English to middle and high school Malagasy students.

Although I did bring my computer along, I had no electricity. And even when I occasionally made it to the nearest larger town (Ambositra), there was no internet access. Apparently, at one time, Ambositra DID have internet access, but when I inquired about it, I was told it was "broken." Fianaratsoa did have relatively decent internet access but it was still quite slow and the longer I lived without it the less patience I had for it. Consequently, my blog sort of died.

There were many challenges to life in Madagascar. But there were just as many rewards. I grew to love my village and my neighbors and my job.

Sadly, I had to leave it all behind when a military supported Coup led by 35-year-old DJ turned mayor of Antananarivo, Andry Raojolina, resulted in the ousting President Marc Ravalomanana in March of 2009.

Peace Corps worked hard to keep us safe and secure while allowing us to remain in country in the weeks leading up to the coup, with the hope that things would blow over. But in the end, the Peace Corps program in Madagscar was suspended and all volunteers evacuated from the Island.

After spending a few weeks seeing South Africa, I arrived back home and spent the summer working and spending time with family.

We recently received word that Peace Corps is planning to reopen the program in Madagascar. I have been invited back and have enthusiastically accepted the invitation. Although Raojolina continues to claim the presidency, leaders are working toward a compromise that involves democratic elections scheduled for December of 2010. We'll see how that goes. They've got a lot of work to do. Anyway, things have calmed down and I will be returning without fear for my safety.

As for my blog; I will be placed somewhere new this time around, somewhere that will likely have electricity. For this reason I am confident