CLIMATE CHANGE!

There has been a lot of climate change here in Madagascar the last few months. The political climate is heating up. The president, Hery Rajaonarimampianina, I cannot figure out if that is actually a name or a story, will not set a date for elections. Furthermore, he is trying to pass legislation so he can stay in power for a long time. Consequently, the opposing parties are organizing protesting throughout the country which restricts some of our travel.

 
People are getting hot under the collar with the recent increase in taxi brousse fares. The price went up from 1,500 to 2,000. 500 AriAri more. This is considerable when you know that you can buy a cup of rice for 400 AriAri! I feel sorry for the “bus master” at the station. Everyone complains and argues with him. He is helpless and does not set the price, he is just the middle man, taking the money and squeezing us in the bus like sardines. I swear their previous jobs were packers.

 

The climate in my village in the highlands is cooling off. We are entering winter and the nights are dipping into the 50’s. The second rice harvest is almost over so the fields are a bit bare. With cooler nights and no rice to eat in the fields the mice have been marching into my house, small suitcases in hand.  My house becomes their Florida for the winter. But the good news is I have discovered a way to deal with them. I now feed them. Every night before going to bed, I put out food in the far corner in the kitchen, then put in ear plugs so I don’t hear them scurrying about and eating. It seems to work so far. I have been able to sleep peacefully through the night. In the morning the food is gone and the only sign they have been there is their small droppings.

 
The only thing keeping me awake lately is an ongoing, increasing stomach problems. I won’t go into detail, but I may have to purchase a second chamber pot and the only thing the girl in the exorcist has on me with projectile vomiting is that she can turn her head 360 degrees while it is happening! If that happens I will be on my way to Rome.

 
The good news is they have run a lot of test and blood work and everything looks pretty normal, at least normal for me. The bad news is everything looks pretty normal but it continues. I suspect it might be the ongoing anti malaria medication I take. When I mention this to a group of young volunteers they say “Tamara are you still taking that stuff” I respond “ Duhhh, of course, this country is rampant with the deadly type of malaria, you know, the kind that KILLS people!! Not to mention the fact that it is mandatory”.  I have to explain the word mandatory to a few of the young volunteers. They point out that I live in the highlands which has few mosquitos, but I shoot back, yes but it only takes one bite!   The only way to tell for sure if it is the malaria medication is to stop the medication for an extended period of time. Big decision ahead for me!

 
Life sends you messages and if you don’t get the message you’ll get a lesson. If you don’t learn the lesson you’re sure to get a problem and if you don’t handle the problem you’ll get a full blown crisis!

 

A selfie with a wonderful young friend, Anna

NenyBe’s granddaughters wedding

Nenybe making Mofo Sakay to sell on market day

Things to buy on market day!

Chicken heads

Used, but clean, urinary catheters and used syringes- I always needed those!

Shoes, finding the mate is impossible

Baskets, rice and even babies