CYCLONE

Last Monday we were informed that a cyclone was heading toward the north east coast of Madagascar- I learned that a cyclone is a hurricane in this part of the world. Madagascar is the eastern most African country and is hit hardest and most frequent by cyclone. They were predicting at the time that it might be as powerful as Katrina.

The island is a 1000 miles long and I am in the middle, nestled in the highlands, so I felt safe and far from any danger. The rain and wind started  Monday evening, the rain pounded on the tin roof above me making great “white noise”.   Tuesday I had to jump many puddles and smallish “rivers” to get to my class. Wednesday, classes were cancelled. My host father, who is the sweetest man I have ever met, braved the wind and rain and went out on his bike to buy “mofo” for our breakfast. He came back soaking wet and empty handed.   All the little stores (just people selling this and that out of their homes), were closed.

Wednesday the cyclone decided to turn course and slowly made its way south and more central. The rain and wind picked up significantly in my area. In the afternoon out host parents were notified by phones, that Peace Corps gave them, that they would be picking us up and taking us back to the training center for safe keeping.

The rain plummeted, trees came down, rice fields were flooded and a crop of tall corn was blown flat on the ground. It lasted for 3 days and nights before  the sun came out and greeted us.

The final report was that a small village, on the north east coast, hit the hardest had lost 95% of the homes, fortunately there were no deaths. The condition of the crops is a concern, but I am told rice can take on a lot of water so everyone is hopeful.

During the 3 days under water I was reminded that many things are beyond our control.  Our American philosophy is “Where there’s  a will there’s a way!” “Just do it!”  “The Early bird catches the worm!”  These all have a place in giving our life direction and focus.  But as I grow older and wiser ( that word may be a stretch) I have had to admit that I am powerless over so much that does happen in life. And I have come to believe that there are powers bigger, stronger and greater than I am.  Finally, I have had to let go of so much that I wish I could control.  We have no control over a loved one’s life decisions,  we may hope to influence them, but the final decision is theirs alone.

I once read that it was a shame that people think the ubiquitous 12- step programs are only for those addicted to alcohol, because we are all addicted.    Addicted to control! Control our spouse, our children, our co- workers. We want to be able to control our life.

The cyclone came, it was a powerful force no one could stop or control, we did our best to run for cover and protect ourselves, some did not even have time to do that. And there was no time to make the  homes stronger against this force.  We had no choice but to accept it, now we will deal with helping to rebuild homes.

  The worst that happened in my town with the rains and the flooding is that the latrines began to rise!!! One of the volunteers was notified that his latrine flooded.  It created a strong smell,  but they also receded quickly as the rain subsided.  In addition to the smell, there is always the high likely hood of contaminated water.  After rainy season, you see an increase in diarrhea and infant deaths due to contaminated water sources.  The addition of puddles gave the mosquitos new places to breed and I am full of bites.   A few unwelcome, uninvited guests also arrived in my room to escape the rain and wind. (I hope to get a photo in but wifi is weak today)

A few Peace Corps event were cancelled or postponed. The staff was not able to drive in from Tana for presentations and many roads were flooded and damaged. An activity to visit our sites was postponed for now. 

None of this bothered me. Life will go on and everything will fall in place all in good time. But it might bother the person sitting next to me in church tomorrow as I was not able to wash clothes. I do my laundry by hand in a wash tub, another 2 hour task. With all the rain I would not be able to dry my clothes. My “uniform” is a skirt and three tops that I alternate and wear all week with the one skirt. I can usually get by with this as I am in classes all day and don’t perspire much.  But this week I desperately need to “Manasa Akanjo”.   

We had our first language test this week and I am near the bottom of the scale. My brain feels so old and this Malagsy language is so hard. I learned yet another new word “mitsangasagana” -try saying that 3 times fast!   I am still talking in 3-4 word sentences but have learned to expand them by using AND or BUT. I eat rice AND meat AND carrots.  Thank you BUT I am full ( when asked if I want more rice).

I have a few phrases memorized.  “Reraka Betseka, Miala Sasatra”!  It is my favorite saying – and I say it after lunch and dinner, every single day, it means “ I am so tired, I need to rest!”  then I take a nap. Every now and then I throw in the word “loho” which means head – my head is tired.  I want to say my brain is tired but I don’t know the word for that. There must be a saint for helping me with new languages! Sometimes I pray Dear St. Anthony – please look around, my Malagasy words are lost and can’t be found,”

Everyday, including Saturdays, is crammed with language lessons, Peace Corps policy, safety, our technical training so we can work in our sites.  In three short months I need to be able to have basic communication skills to ask for directions, take local buses, buy food, set up a household and work in the health clinic with the local patients.

Peace Corps does an amazing job of preparing us.  My first job overseas, at age 27, in Tegucigalpa, Honduras did not include this intense training. I was thrown into the situation and it was sink or swim.  I think I sank more than swam, but it was there that I was bitten by the travel bug and continued a life of travel/work abroad.

 

I believe there is a mysterious and graceful and miraculous coherence stitched through this wonderful world.

I have found if you love life, life will love you back.      Arthur Rubinstein

Sorry this is another rush job and I did not get a photo of the HUGE spider in my room – next time

My humble room

Me helping dry rice and a small little baby porcupine – but different finding a dry place to hide