Peace Corps Madagascar Welcome Book - June 2013 'CCD' mgwb684

THE PEACE CORPS WELCOMES YOU TO
MADAGASCAR
A PEACE CORPS PUBLICATION FOR NEW VOLUNTEERS June 2013 CCD
A WELCOME LETTER
Dear Prospective Volunteers: Congratulations on making it this far in the long and winding road that leads to becoming a Peace Corps Volunteer in Madagascar. On behalf of the entire staff of Peace Corps/ Madagascar, let me say that I am very pleased that you are considering an invitation to join us here as a Volunteer. I arrived in Madagascar in January 2013 as the Country Director and came here from Paraguay where I was the Director of Programming and Training. In the time Ive been here, I can truly say that this is a fascinating country: It will surprise, delight, and challenge youall at the same time! During your pre-service training, we will ask you on several occasions about your commitment to serve here for two years. Dont be offended by this. We have found that the Peace Corps is not for everybody and that sometimes responsibilities in the United States make it difficult for people to commit to two years at this point in their lives. The pre-service training program is designed to give you a realistic picture of what its like to live and work in Madagascar. Armed with this information, we hope that you will make the decision that is best for you. The Peace Corps staff and Volunteers eagerly await your arrival and are ready to help you as much as we can, but in the long run, the success of your Peace Corps experience is in your hands. Be prepared to face frustrations and challenges along with the surprises and delights that this island holds. This is a wonderful opportunity to serve the people of Madagascar and to have an experience that is likely to change the way you view the world and yourself. I look forward to meeting you! Dee Hertzberg Country Director RPCV Burkina Faso
CONTENTS
A WELCOME LETTER .......................................................................................................................... 6 CONTENTS ............................................................................................................................................. 9 CORE EXPECTATIONS FOR PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEERS ......................................................... 1 PEACE CORPS/MADAGASCAR HISTORY AND PROGRAMS ....................................................... 1 COUNTRY OVERVIEW: MADAGASCAR AT A GLANCE .............................................................. 2 History .................................................................................................................................................. 2 Government .......................................................................................................................................... 3 Economy ............................................................................................................................................... 3 People and Culture ................................................................................................................................ 4 Environment ......................................................................................................................................... 4 RESOURCES FOR FURTHER INFORMATION .................................................................................. 5 General Information About Madagascar .............................................................................................. 5 Connect With Returned Volunteers and Other Invitees ....................................................................... 5 Online Articles/Current News Sites About Madagascar ...................................................................... 6 International Development Sites About Madagascar ........................................................................... 6 Recommended Books ........................................................................................................................... 6 LIVING CONDITIONS AND VOLUNTEER LIFESTYLE.................................................................. 8 Communications ................................................................................................................................... 8 Housing and Site Location.................................................................................................................... 9 Living Allowance and Money Management ........................................................................................ 9 Food and Diet ....................................................................................................................................... 9 Transportation ..................................................................................................................................... 10 Geography and Climate ...................................................................................................................... 10 Social Activities .................................................................................................................................. 10 Professionalism, Dress, and Behavior ................................................................................................ 10 Personal Safety ................................................................................................................................... 11 Rewards and Frustrations ................................................................................................................... 12 PEACE CORPS TRAINING .................................................................................................................. 12 Pre-Service Training ........................................................................................................................... 12 Technical Training .............................................................................................................................. 13 Language Training .............................................................................................................................. 13 Cross-Cultural Training ...................................................................................................................... 14 Health Training ................................................................................................................................... 14 Safety Training ................................................................................................................................... 14 Additional Trainings During Volunteer Service................................................................................. 14 YOUR HEALTH CARE AND SAFETY IN MADAGASCAR ............................................................ 15 Health Issues in Madagascar .............................................................................................................. 15 Helping You Stay Healthy .................................................................................................................. 15 Maintaining Your Health .................................................................................................................... 15 Womens Health Information ............................................................................................................. 16 Your Peace Corps Medical Kit ........................................................................................................... 17 Before You Leave: A Medical Checklist............................................................................................ 17 Safety and SecurityOur Partnership................................................................................................ 18 Staying Safe: Dont Be a Target for Crime ........................................................................................ 20 Support from Staff .............................................................................................................................. 20 Crime Data for Madagascar ................................................................................................................ 21
Volunteer Safety Support in Madagascar ........................................................................................... 21 DIVERSITY AND CROSS-CULTURAL ISSUES .............................................................................. 22 Overview of Diversity in Madagascar ................................................................................................ 22 What Might a Volunteer Face? ........................................................................................................... 23 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS................................................................................................. 25 WELCOME LETTERS FROM MADAGASCAR VOLUNTEERS ..................................................... 27 PACKING LIST ..................................................................................................................................... 33 General Clothing ................................................................................................................................. 33 Shoes ................................................................................................................................................... 34 Personal Hygiene and Toiletry Items ................................................................................................. 34 Miscellaneous ..................................................................................................................................... 34 PRE-DEPARTURE CHECKLIST ......................................................................................................... 36 Family ................................................................................................................................................. 36 Passport/Travel ................................................................................................................................... 36 Medical/Health ................................................................................................................................... 36 Insurance ............................................................................................................................................. 36 Personal Papers ................................................................................................................................... 36 Voting ................................................................................................................................................. 37 Personal Effects .................................................................................................................................. 37 Financial Management........................................................................................................................ 37 CONTACTING PEACE CORPS HEADQUARTERS .......................................................................... 38
CORE EXPECTATIONS FOR PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEERS

In working toward fulfilling the Peace Corps Mission of promoting world peace and friendship, as a trainee and Volunteer, you are expected to: 1. Prepare your personal and professional life to make a commitment to serve abroad for a full term of 27 months 2. Commit to improving the quality of life of the people with whom you live and work; and, in doing so, share your skills, adapt them, and learn new skills as needed 3. Serve where the Peace Corps asks you to go, under conditions of hardship, if necessary, and with the flexibility needed for effective service 4. Recognize that your successful and sustainable development work is based on the local trust and confidence you build by living in, and respectfully integrating yourself into, your host community and culture 5. Recognize that you are responsible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for your personal conduct and professional performance 6. Engage with host country partners in a spirit of cooperation, mutual learning, and respect 7. Work within the rules and regulations of the Peace Corps and the local and national laws of the country where you serve 8. Exercise judgment and personal responsibility to protect your health, safety, and well-being and that of others 9. Recognize that you will be perceived, in your host country and community, as a representative of the people, cultures, values, and traditions of the United States of America 10. Represent responsively the people, cultures, values, and traditions of your host country and community to people in the United States both during and following your service
PEACE CORPS/MADAGASCAR HISTORY AND PROGRAMS

History of the Peace Corps in Madagascar
Despite political and economic reform measures, Madagascar continues to face many development challenges. The education system is burdened by overcrowded classrooms, poorly trained teachers, and a severe shortage of teaching materials. Widespread poverty, a poorly educated population, food insecurity, unsafe water supplies, and inadequate health services have resulted in a high rate of infant mortality. Madagascar has one of the highest levels of biodiversity on Earth, but its natural resource base is severely threatened by deforestation, soil erosion, and the decline in overall land productivity. Peace Corps Volunteers in Madagascar teach English, train teachers, conduct health and HIV/AIDS education, and work on natural resources management and community development.
PEACE CORPS | MADAGASCAR WELCOME BOOK (CCD) 1
The first 10 Peace Corps Volunteers arrived in Madagascar in September 1993 to initiate the teacher training project, which eventually became the English education project. In August 1994, the environmental project kicked off with the arrival of 13 trainees. The health project began in September 1995. Since reopening in 2002, the Peace Corps has been providing approximately 75 new Volunteers per year in this country. Since the beginning, the program has had a close working relationship with the government of Madagascar.
History and Future of Peace Corps Programming in Madagascar
Peace Corps/Madagascar focuses on three main areas of vital need: health, education, and natural resources management. These projects have evolved over the years based on the needs of the government and the communities with which we work. Volunteers in the community health project help communities address health issues through behavioral change methodologies and the effective dissemination of health messages. Volunteers work to promote prevention of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), prevention of childhood illnesses, family life skills, and reproductive health. Volunteers also work with community leaders and organizations to disseminate health messages that are critical to mother and child survival. Volunteers in the English as a foreign language (EFL) project are posted to underserved rural communities and work with students, teachers, and the larger community to improve their capacity to speak English. In 2005, President Ravalomanana stated that he wanted English to become the second official language of this country. In collaboration with central and regional curriculum professionals, Volunteers support the governments initiatives to raise the standards of teaching, develop teaching resources, and strengthen the links between schools and their communities. Using the community-content-based instructional approach as well as project design and management training, Peace Corps/ Madagascar Volunteers model the belief that teachers, by definition, are community development workers. As such, Peace Corps teachers and their counterparts use English as a vehicle to promote awareness of community issues, to encourage using schools as a base for community activities, and to develop the future community development workers of Madagascarits young, school-age population. Madagascar has several national parks and protected natural areas. Volunteers in the natural resources management project provide training for managers of protected areas, community members, and groups to improve conservation in these areas. Volunteers are engaged in environmental education, income-generation activities, trail construction, ecotourism, ecological monitoring, community development, construction of fuel-conserving stoves, forestry, and gardening. Their goals are to reduce the degradation of natural resources, to develop the capacity of local individuals and institutions, and to enhance the management capabilities of responsible governmental and nongovernmental organizations.
COUNTRY OVERVIEW: MADAGASCAR AT A GLANCE

History
Madagascar, as the fourth largest island in the world, is often called the eighth continent. Madagascar has been settled in the past 200 years by people from Asia and Africa, yet its culture is neither African nor Asian, but an intriguing blend of the two that is uniquely Malagasy.
With thousands of species of plants and animals that exist only on this island, Madagascar is considered a global environmental hot spot. From an evolutionary perspective, it is the path not taken and is justly considered by many to be a world treasure to be preserved for future generations. While Madagascar supports a fairly large human population whose presence often threatens the environment, the Malagasy work hard at conserving their natural heritage while maintaining their culture and lifestyle.
Government
The nations Constitution, which was approved on August 19, 1992, in a national referendum, established separation of powers among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches; a multiparty political system; and protection of human rights and freedom of speech. The president is elected by universal suffrage for a five-year period with a twoterm limit. The prime minister is nominated by a bicameral Parliament composed of the Senate and the National Assembly, which is approved by the president. The Supreme Court has 11 members. Local government consists of 28 regions with decentralized powers. A traditional village council (fokonolona) system supplements the modern political system. A proportional representation system encourages multiple candidacies. During the legislative elections in 1993, for example, more than 120 political parties entered 4,000 candidates for 138 seats. The last presidential elections, which occurred in December 2001, resulted in tremendous controversy. People took to the streets in protest of what was perceived as vote count fraud and, after months of sometimes violent conflict, overthrew the existing government and installed a new president. The conflict had far-reaching economic effects, with the capital, Antananarivo, cut off from the provinces and the fuel supply dwindling to nothing. In April 2002, as things reached a boiling point, the U.S. Department of State required all Americans residing in the country in an official capacity, including Peace Corps Volunteers, to leave Madagascar. The Department of State declared the country safe again in July 2002, allowing for the arrival in February 2003 of the first group of Peace Corps trainees after the program was suspended. In early 2009, anti-government demonstrations occurred in the capital of Antananarivo, leading to looting and spreading to other regional cities. Following a military coup, Peace Corps evacuated and temporarily suspended its program in Madagascar in March of 2009 due to security concerns. A transitional government is now in place and planning elections in 2013. In November 2009, 11 volunteers and 5 Peace Corps Response volunteers were reinstated to Madagascar. Peace Corps/Madagascar has been regularly welcoming Peace Corps volunteers since that time.
Economy
The gross domestic product of Madagascar was estimated at $12.3 billion in 2000, with an economic growth rate of 4.8 percent. The gross national product per capita was $800 in 2000. To put this into perspective, in 1991, Madagascar was rated the 10th poorest country in the world by the World Bank. Agriculture constituted 30 percent of GDP in 2000, providing more than 70 percent of the countrys exports. Sixteen percent of the cultivated land in Madagascar is irrigated. The major crops include coffee, vanilla, sugar cane, cloves, cocoa, rice, cassava, bananas, and peanuts. There is also widespread cattle raising and extensive fishing. Industry, mining, and energy were responsible for 14 percent of GDP in 2000. Food processing and clothing manufacturing are important industries. While the country has many mineral deposits, their exploitation has been disappointing. Madagascar is dependent on imported oil and local firewood for energy. Exports were estimated at $538 million in 1998. Major exportsprimarily to France, the United States, Germany, and Japanincluded coffee, vanilla, cloves, shellfish, and sugar. Imports, including capital goods, petroleum, consumer goods, and food, were estimated at $693 million in 1998. The main suppliers were France, Japan, and Germany.
People and Culture
Madagascars population of close to 16 million comprises 18 ethnic groups. The Merina, who are of Malayan descent, dominate the high plateau and the capital region. Each group has its own characteristics, but all share a version of the Malagasy language. Although French is an official language, it is not used much outside of the larger towns. Many Malagasy are predominantly animist and follow a complex system of ancestor veneration. An intricate set of taboos, or fady, governs many aspects of their behavior, including their interactions with one another and their environment and, most important, their treatment of the dead. Roughly 50 percent of the population is Christian and 2 percent are Muslim.
Environment
Madagascar is one of the worlds most biologically unique areas. Approximately 75 percent of its flora and fauna are endemic to the island. Of special note is the lemur, a primate that is found only in Madagascar and the Comoros Islands. Despite its tremendous biological diversity, Madagascar faces extreme environmental problems. Most pervasive is its slash-and-burn agriculture: Nearly 80 percent of the original forest has been converted to agricultural use, and erosion and depletion of the soils fertility have rendered a large portion of this land useless. Habitat loss and unsustainable agricultural practices have resulted in the reduction or extinction of several species of plants and animals. For example, nearly one-third of the 45 original lemur species have vanished. Another problem is the lost opportunity for alternative economic gain through the sustainable harvesting or conservation of these resources. Finally, the land degradation has reduced agricultural production, leading to poorer nutrition and health, urban migration, lower incomes, and increased poverty throughout the country. Most of the remaining forest land is demarcated by the government as protected areas (1.8 percent) and classified forests (6.4 percent). These areas have various levels of protection ranging from nonallowable use to harvesting allowed by permit. However, the management of these areas is often ineffective. The governmental and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) responsible for management are understaffed and undertrained and lack the financial resources to adequately address the pressures exerted on the protected areas from encroaching local populations. Without immediate attention, the continued destruction of the unique ecosystems of Madagascar will have irreversible effects on the plants, animals, and people of this island nation.
RESOURCES FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

Following is a list of websites for additional information about the Peace Corps and Madagascar and to connect you to returned Volunteers and other invitees. Please keep in mind that although we try to make sure all these links are active and current, we cannot guarantee it. If you do not have access to the Internet, visit your local library. Libraries offer free Internet usage and often let you print information to take home. A note of caution: As you surf the Internet, be aware that you may find bulletin boards and chat rooms in which people are free to express opinions about the Peace Corps based on their own experience, including comments by those who were unhappy with their choice to serve in the Peace Corps. These opinions are not those of the Peace Corps or the U.S. government, and we hope you will keep in mind that no two people experience their service in the same way.
General Information About Madagascar www.countrywatch.com/
On this site, you can learn anything from what time it is in the Antananarivo to how to convert from the dollar to the Malagasy ariary. Just click on Madagascar and go from there.
www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations
Visit this site for general travel advice about almost any country in the world.
www.state.gov
The State Departments website issues background notes periodically about countries around the world. Find Madagascar and learn more about its social and political history. You can also go to the sites international travel section to check on conditions that may affect your safety.
www.psr.keele.ac.uk/official.htm
This includes links to all the official sites for governments worldwide.
www.geography.about.com/library/maps/blindex.htm
This online world atlas includes maps and geographical information, and each country page contains links to other sites, such as the Library of Congress, that contain comprehensive historical, social, and political background.
www.cyberschoolbus.un.org/infonation/info.asp
This United Nations site allows you to search for statistical information for member states of the U.N.
www.worldinformation.com
This site provides an additional source of current and historical information about countries around the world.
Connect With Returned Volunteers and Other Invitees www.rpcv.org
This is the site of the National Peace Corps Association, made up of returned Volunteers. On this site you can find links to all the Web pages of the Friends of groups for most countries of service, comprised of former Volunteers who served in those countries. There are also regional groups that frequently get together for social events and local volunteer activities. Or go straight to the Friends of Madagascar site: friendsofmadagascar.org
www.PeaceCorpsWorldwide.org
This site is hosted by a group of returned Volunteer writers. It is a monthly online publication of essays and Volunteer accounts of their Peace Corps service.
Online Articles/Current News Sites About Madagascar http://news.bbc.co.uk/
The site of BBC News world edition, from which you can search for news on Madagascar.
http://air-mad.com/index.html
A travel site with information on all things Malagasy.

www.wanadoo.mg/
The site of one of the first Internet service providers in Madagascar (in French).
International Development Sites About Madagascar wwww.unaids.org
Site of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, with thorough information on the worldwide AIDS epidemic.
www.usaid.gov/regions/afr/country_info/madagascar.html
Provides an overview of the Agency for International Developments projects in Madagascar and other valuable information.
www.worldbank.org
Find Madagascar for several documents related to developmental aid.

www.comminit.com/index.html
The site of the Communication Initiative has general information on development issues.
Recommended Books 1. Bradt, Hilary. Madagascar: The Bradt Travel Guide. Chalfont St. Peter: Bradt Travel Guides, 2005. 2. Garbutt, Nick. Mammals of Madagascar. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1999. 3. Jolly, Alison. Lords and Lemurs: Mad Scientists, Kings with Spears, and the Survival of Diversity in Madagascar. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, Co., 2004. 4. Lanting, Frans (photographer). Madagascar: A World Out of Time. New York, NY: Aperture, 1990. 5. Lambek, Michael. The Weight of the Past: Living with History in Mahajanga Madagascar. Basingstoke: Palgrave MacMillan, 2002. 6. Sharp, Lesley A. The Possessed and the Dispossessed: Spirits, Identity, and Power in a Madagascar Migrant Town. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1993 (out of print). 7. Tyson, Peter. The Eighth Continent: Life, Death, and Discovery in the Lost World of Madagascar. New York: Avon Books, 2000.
Books About the History of the Peace Corps
1. 2. 3. 4.
Hoffman, Elizabeth Cobbs. All You Need is Love: The Peace Corps and the Spirit of the 1960s. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 2000. Rice, Gerald T. The Bold Experiment: JFKs Peace Corps. Notre Dame, Ind.: University of Notre Dame Press, 1985. Stossel, Scott. Sarge: The Life and Times of Sargent Shriver. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 2004. Meisler, Stanley. When the World Calls: The Inside Story of the Peace Corps and its First 50 Years. Boston, Mass.: Beacon Press, 2011.
Books on the Volunteer Experience
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Dirlam, Sharon. Beyond Siberia: Two Years in a Forgotten Place. Santa Barbara, Calif.: McSeas Books, 2004. Casebolt, Marjorie DeMoss. Margarita: A Guatemalan Peace Corps Experience. Gig Harbor, Wash.: Red Apple Publishing, 2000. Erdman, Sarah. Nine Hills to Nambonkaha: Two Years in the Heart of an African Village. New York, N.Y.: Picador, 2003. Hessler, Peter. River Town: Two Years on the Yangtze. New York, N.Y.: Perennial, 2001. Kennedy, Geraldine ed. From the Center of the Earth: Stories out of the Peace Corps. Santa Monica, Calif.: Clover Park Press, 1991. Thompsen, Moritz. Living Poor: A Peace Corps Chronicle. Seattle, Wash.: University of Washington Press, 1997 (reprint).
LIVING CONDITIONS AND VOLUNTEER LIFESTYLE

Communications
[Insert text]
Mail
Few countries in the world offer the level of mail service considered normal in the United States. If you expect U.S. standards of mail service, you will be in for some frustration. Mail takes a minimum of two to three weeks to arrive in Madagascar. Some mail may simply not arrive (fortunately this is not a frequent occurrence, but it does happen). Advise your family and friends to number their letters and to include Airmail and Par Avion on their envelopes. Packages take six to nine weeks by airmail and about six months by surface mail. If someone is sending you a package, it is a good idea to keep it small and to use a padded envelope; that way it will be treated as a letter. Despite these delays, we encourage you to write to your family regularly and to number your letters. Family and friends typically become worried when they do not hear from you, so it is a good idea to advise them that mail service is sporadic and that they should not worry if they do not receive your letters regularly. Volunteers in Madagascar may receive packages but are responsible for all duty fees, which may be imposed on food and cosmetics and are based on the items value. Also be aware that packages containing valuable items may occasionally get lost or held up. Your address during training will be: "Your Name" PCT Peace Corps Corps de la Paix B.P. 12091 Poste Zoom Ankorondrano 101 Antananarivo Madagascar Once you have become a Volunteer, you will receive your mail directly at your assigned site.
Telephones
You will not have routine access to a telephone during training, although the training site does have telephones for emergency use. While international phone service is available in major cities, it is very expensive. Calling cards (such as those available from MCI, Sprint, and AT&T) do not work in Madagascar. So while calling the United States is possible, it can be a frustrating experience, and if you are calling from outside a major city, it will take longer to get a line. Writing letters is the best method of regular communication with family and friends. Few Volunteers have phones in their houses although many are now buying personal cellphones so family and friends can call them. But, many of the Volunteer sites do not have cellphone service so these can only be used when the Volunteers go to a larger town.
Computer, Internet, and Email Access
Few Volunteer homes have electricity, so bringing a personal computer to Madagascar is not recommended. Computers are available for use by Volunteers at the Peace Corps office. Although some of the major cities have Internet cafes, it is best to assume that, at best, you will have only limited access to the Internet and e-mail. The staff at your post in Madagascar would like to request that you set up a unique email address to use during your Peace Corps service. You can leave this address with all friends and family before you leave. And having the email address that we request will greatly facilitate communication with you once you are at your site.
Housing and Site Location
Volunteers are posted throughout the country. Housing conditions here vary from mud houses with thatched roofs to modern cement houses with running water and electricity. Your project, the area of the country, and the availability of housing all have a role in the type of home you will have. Many Volunteers have only a pit toilet and a thatched shed for taking bucket showers. Environmental Volunteers tend to live in more remote areas (near the national parks and protected areas), while education and health Volunteers generally live in areas of greater population density. During training, you will live with and have most of your meals with a host family. A homestay is considered one of the most important aspects of the training program and is required for this period. Trainees generally stay in a village with three or four other trainees and one or two staff members. Volunteers often form strong and lasting friendships with their host families.
Living Allowance and Money Management
As a Volunteer, you will receive a modest living allowance that will allow you to live on a par with your colleagues and co-workers. The amount of the allowance is based on regular surveys of Volunteers and the cost of living in Madagascar. The living allowance is usually deposited quarterly, in local currency, in Volunteers bank accounts, so an ability to manage funds wisely is important. In addition, you receive a monthly travel allowance. Volunteers suggest you bring cash and credit cards for vacation travel. The amount depends on the amount of traveling you plan to do while serving in Madagascar. Some local banks offer ATM cards, but only for local accounts. Only a few Malagasy establishments accept credit cards, so they are mostly useful for travel to other countries.
Food and Diet
The staple food in Madagascar is rice, which is eaten with vegetables, beans, or meat. Many fruits and vegetables grow in Madagascar, and with a little creativity one can enjoy a varied diet. Most Volunteers prepare their own food. Some, after becoming more familiar with their site, hire someone to help with household work, including cooking. Meat and dairy products are available in the larger towns, but they can be expensive. If you are a vegetarian, you will be able to eat well in Madagascar after you learn about local foods and their preparation. Some Malagasy are not familiar with vegetarianism and will not be prepared to serve a vegetarian meal if you are a guest in their home. However, a sensitive explanation of your preferences will be accepted. Most vegetarian Volunteers have no difficulty after an initial adjustment period.
Transportation
Volunteers primary mode of transport is public buses and taxis brousses (small vans usually loaded with people and goods). Buses and minibuses travel among towns on irregular schedules (i.e., when full), so travel in Madagascar is never a timed affair. Many Volunteers use mountain bikes and bike helmets that are provided by Peace Corps. The Peace Corps issues mens bikes to Volunteers, which can be difficult for a woman in a skirt to ride. Many female Volunteers wear shorts under their skirts to solve this problem. Volunteers are not allowed to drive or operate motor vehicles or motorcycles (two- or three-wheeled) in Madagascar.
Geography and Climate
Madagascar is south of the equator, so its seasons will be the opposite of what you are accustomed to. At the winter solstice, for example, when the sun is directly over the Tropic of Capricorn, the weather is warm. Conversely, at the time of the summer solstice in June, the weather is cool. Madagascar has a tropical climate with rainy and dry seasons. During the rainy season (November to March), southwest trade winds drop their moisture on the eastern mountain slopes and blow hot and dry in the west. North and northwest monsoon air currents bring heavy rains in summer, decreasing as one moves southward, so that, for example, the rainfall in Fort Dauphin is half that in Tamatave. During February and March, eastern Madagascar can be hit by cyclones, which may impact other areas, particularly in the north. The dry season runs from April to October. Seasonal changes in temperature in Madagascar are also influenced by altitude and latitude. From December to April, the coastal regions are very hot and dry in the west but very hot and wet in the east. Average midday temperatures in the dry season are 86 degrees Fahrenheit (30C) on the coast. From December to April (summer), the central plateau is warm, with periods of rain. In June, July, and August (winter), the central plateau gets very chilly, while the west coast is warm and dry and the east coast is warm with occasional showers.
Social Activities
There are several radio stations in Madagascar, some of which play popular music. Many Volunteers bring shortwave radios so they can listen to international broadcasts (BBC, Voice of America, Radio Nederlands, etc.). Madagascar has no cinemas. The most common form of entertainment is socializing with friends and neighbors. Music is very important to the Malagasy, and singing together can be a lot of fun. While Volunteers are encouraged to remain at their sites to develop relationships with people in their community, the Peace Corps recognizes that occasional trips to the capital or to visit friends are also a necessity. Vacation time is allotted for non-work-related and approved absences from ones site.
Professionalism, Dress, and Behavior
One of the challenges all Peace Corps Volunteers have is attempting to fit into the local culture and act like a
professional while at the same time maintaining ones own cultural identity. It is not an easy thing to resolve, and we can only provide you with guidelines. You will be working as a representative of a government ministry and will be expected to dress and behave accordingly, whether you are in training, traveling, or on the job. While some of your counterparts may dress in seemingly worn or shabby clothes, this is undoubtedly due to economics rather than choice. The likelihood is that they are wearing their best. A foreigner who wears ragged, un-mended clothing, however, is likely to be considered an affront. Malagasy regard ones dress as an expression of ones respect for others. Neatness of appearance is valued more than being stylish. Unfortunately, just one inappropriately dressed Volunteer could cause a Malagasy host agency to form a negative opinion about the Peace Corps and share it with other officials at national and regional meetings. Volunteers are therefore expected to dress appropriately to avoid jeopardizing the credibility of the entire program. Following are Peace Corps/Madagascars guidelines for Volunteers dress. (They have been formalized in response to advice from people in Madagascar and other countries where the Peace Corps works and are meant to inform, not to offend.) Womens dresses and skirts should fall to or below the knees. Men and women should wear shorts only at home, when exercising, or when doing work for which Malagasy counterparts are also wearing shorts. If shorts are worn in public, they should be of walking length for both men and women. Hair should be clean and combed. Mens hair should not be longer than shirt-collar length, and beards should be neatly trimmed. Men should not wear a hat indoors. Flip-flops should not be worn as professional footwear. Female Volunteers should wear appropriate undergarments, including bras and slips. Excessive body piercing or tattoos should not be visible.
Personal Safety
More detailed information about the Peace Corps approach to safety is contained in the Health Care and Safety chapter, but it is an important issue and cannot be overemphasized. As stated in the Volunteer Handbook, becoming a Peace Corps Volunteer entails certain safety risks. Living and traveling in an unfamiliar environment (oftentimes alone), having a limited understanding of local language and culture, and being perceived as well-off are some of the factors that can put a Volunteer at risk. Many Volunteers experience varying degrees of unwanted attention and harassment. Petty thefts and burglaries are not uncommon, and incidents of physical and sexual assault do occur, although most Madagascar Volunteers complete their two years of service without incident. The Peace Corps has established procedures and policies designed to help you reduce your risks and enhance your safety and security. These procedures and policies, in addition to safety training, will be provided once you arrive in Country X. Using these tools, you are expected to take responsibility for your safety and well-being. Each staff member at the Peace Corps is committed to providing Volunteers with the support they need to successfully meet the challenges they will face to have a safe, healthy, and productive service. We encourage Volunteers and families to look at our safety and security information on the Peace Corps website at www.peacecorps.gov/safety. Information on these pages gives messages on Volunteer health and Volunteer safety. There is a section titled Safety and Security Our Partnership. Among topics addressed are the risks of serving as a Volunteer, posts safety support systems, and emergency planning and communications.
Rewards and Frustrations
Although the potential for job satisfaction is very high, like all Volunteers, you will encounter numerous frustrations. Perceptions of time are very different from those in America. The lack of basic infrastructure can become tiring. Host agencies do not always provide expected support in a timely manner. The Malagasy generally perceive Americans as very rich. Adapting to a new culture as a Peace Corps Volunteer is often described as an intense series of emotional peaks and valleys. As a Volunteer, you will be given a great deal of responsibility and independence in your workperhaps more than in any other job you will ever have. Often you will need to motivate yourself and others with little guidance. You might work for months with little visible impact and without receiving feedback on your work. Development is a slow process. You must possess the self-confidence, patience, and vision to continue working toward long-term goals without seeing immediate results. The AIDS pandemic strikes across all social strata in many Peace Corps countries. The loss of teachers has crippled education systems, while illness and disability drains family income and forces governments and donors to redirect limited resources from other priorities. The fear and uncertainty AIDS causes has led to increased domestic violence and stigmatizing of people living with HIV/AIDS, isolating them from friends and family and cutting them off from economic opportunities. As a Peace Corps Volunteer, you will confront these issues on a very personal level. It is important to be aware of the high emotional toll that disease, death, and violence can have on Volunteers. As you strive to integrate into your community, you will develop relationships with local people who might die during your service. Because of the AIDS pandemic, some Volunteers will be regularly meeting with HIV positive people and working with training staff, office staff and host family members living with AIDS. Volunteers need to prepare themselves to embrace these relationships in a sensitive and positive manner. Likewise, malaria and malnutrition, motor vehicle accidents and other unintentional injuries, domestic violence and corporal punishment are problems a Volunteer may confront. You will need to anticipate these situations and utilize supportive resources available throughout your training and service to maintain your own emotional strength, so that you can continue to be of service to your community. To overcome these difficulties, you will need maturity, flexibility, open-mindedness, and resourcefulness. Judging by the experience of former Volunteers, the peaks are well worth the difficult times, and most Volunteers leave Madagascar feeling they have gained much more than they sacrificed during their service. If you are able to make the commitment to integrate into your community and work hard, your service could be a truly life-altering experience.
PEACE CORPS TRAINING

Pre-Service Training
Pre-service training will provide you with the essential skills needed to successfully complete your service in Madagascar. During training, you will learn what you need to know to integrate into your community and to develop and implement an appropriate work plan with your community and counterparts. Training has five major components: Technical training, cross-cultural training, language instruction, personal health and safety training, and the role of the Volunteer in development. The training in Madagascar is community-based, which means that the bulk of it takes place in the community instead
of at a training center. Community-based training is a more difficult training model in some respects, as the learning environment is real, not artificial. Most of your time will be spent in villages similar to the one in which you will be placed as a Volunteer, living with a Malagasy family and working in village schools. The learning environment is designed to provide you with experiences and meetings that will help you develop the knowledge and skills you need in your work as a Volunteer.
Technical Training
Technical training will prepare you to work in Madagascar by building on the skills you already have and helping you develop new skills in a manner appropriate to the needs of the country. The Peace Corps staff, Madagascar experts, and current Volunteers will conduct the training program. Training places great emphasis on learning how to transfer the skills you have to the community in which you will serve as a Volunteer. Technical training will include sessions on the general economic and political environment in Madagascar and strategies for working within such a framework. You will review your technical sectors goals and will meet with the Malagasy agencies and organizations that invited the Peace Corps to assist them. You will be supported and evaluated throughout the training to build the confidence and skills you need to undertake your project activities and be a productive member of your community. Technical training will prepare you to work in Madagascar by building on the skills you already have and helping you develop new skills in a manner appropriate to the needs of the country. The Peace Corps staff, Malagasy experts, and current Volunteers will conduct the training program. Training places great emphasis on learning how to transfer the skills you have to the community in which you will serve as a Volunteer. Technical training will include sessions on the environment, culture, economics, and politics in Madagascar and strategies for working within such a framework. You will review your technical sectors goals and will meet with the Malagasy agencies and organizations that invited the Peace Corps to assist them. You will be supported and evaluated throughout the training to build the confidence and skills you need to undertake your project activities and be a productive member of your community.
Language Training
As a Peace Corps Volunteer, you will find that language skills are key to personal and professional satisfaction during your service. These skills are critical to your job performance, they help you integrate into your community, and they can ease your personal adaptation to the new surroundings. Therefore, language training is at the heart of the training program. You must successfully meet minimum language requirements to complete training and become a Volunteer. Malagasy language instructors teach formal language classes five days a week in small groups of four to five people. Your language training will incorporate a community-based approach. In addition to classroom time, you will be given assignments to work on outside of the classroom and with your host family. The goal is to get you to a point of basic social communication skills so you can practice and develop language skills further once you are at your site. Prior to being sworn in as a Volunteer, you will work on strategies to continue language studies during your service. Your language training will incorporate a community-based approach. In addition to classroom time, you will be given assignments to work on outside of the classroom and with your host family. The goal is to get you to a point of basic social communication skills so that you can practice and develop language skills further on your own. Prior to your swearing in as a Volunteer, you will work on strategies to continue language studies during your two years of service.
Cross-Cultural Training
As part of your pre-service training, you will live with a Malagasy host family. This experience is designed to ease your transition to life at your site. Families go through an orientation conducted by Peace Corps staff to explain the purpose of pre-service training and to assist them in helping you adapt to living in Madagascar. Many Volunteers form strong and lasting friendships with their host families. Cross-cultural and community development training will help you improve your communication skills and understand your role as a facilitator of development. You will be exposed to topics such as community mobilization, conflict resolution, gender and development, nonformal and adult education strategies, and political structures.
Health Training
During pre-service training, you will be given basic medical training and information. You will be expected to practice preventive health care and to take responsibility for your own health by adhering to all medical policies. Trainees are required to attend all medical sessions. The topics include preventive health measures and minor and major medical issues that you might encounter while in Madagascar. Nutrition, mental health, setting up a safe living compound, and how to avoid HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are also covered.
Safety Training
During the safety training sessions, you will learn how to adopt a lifestyle that reduces your risks at home, at work, and during your travels. You will also learn appropriate, effective strategies for coping with unwanted attention and about your individual responsibility for promoting safety throughout your service.
Additional Trainings During Volunteer Service
In its commitment to institutionalize quality training, the Peace Corps has implemented a training system that provides Volunteers with continual opportunities to examine their commitment to Peace Corps service while increasing their technical and cross-cultural skills. During service, there are usually three training events. The titles and objectives for those trainings are as follows: In-service training: Provides an opportunity for Volunteers to upgrade their technical, language, and project development skills while sharing their experiences and reaffirming their commitment after having served for three to six months. Midterm conference (done in conjunction with technical sector in-service): Assists Volunteers in reviewing their first year, reassessing their personal and project objectives, and planning for their second year of service. Close-of-service conference: Prepares Volunteers for the future after Peace Corps service and reviews their respective projects and personal experiences.
The number, length, and design of these trainings are adapted to country-specific needs and conditions. The key to the training system is that training events are integrated and interrelated, from the pre-departure orientation through the end of your service, and are planned, implemented, and evaluated cooperatively by the training staff, Peace Corps staff, and Volunteers.
YOUR HEALTH CARE AND SAFETY IN MADAGASCAR

The Peace Corps highest priority is maintaining the good health and safety of every Volunteer. Peace Corps medical programs emphasize the preventive, rather than the curative, approach to disease. The Peace Corps in Madagascar maintains a clinic with a full-time medical officer, who takes care of Volunteers primary health care needs. Additional medical services, such as testing and basic treatment, are also available in Madagascar at local hospitals. If you become seriously ill, you will be transported either to an American-standard medical facility in the region or to the United States.
Health Issues in Madagascar
Most of the medical problems seen in Madagascar are also found in the United States, such as colds, diarrhea, skin infections, headaches, minor injuries, sexually transmitted diseases, adjustment disorders, and emotional problems. For Volunteers, these problems may be more frequent or compounded by life in Madagascar because local factors raise the risk of or exacerbate the severity of certain illnesses. The medical problems specific to Madagascar are typical of those in any developing tropical country. Malaria, HIV/AIDS, schistosomiasis, gastrointestinal infections, typhoid fever, and hepatitis are all common illnesses, most of which are entirely preventable with appropriate knowledge and interventions. Because malaria is endemic in Madagascar, taking anti-malaria pills is required of all Volunteers. You will also be vaccinated against hepatitis A and B, meningitis, tetanus, typhoid, and rabies. It is important for Volunteers to know that counseling services in Madagascar are extremely limited, with no therapists available for extended monitoring of mental health conditions. Also, there are no Alcoholics Anonymous facilities or support groups for recovering alcoholics. Alcohol is an integral part of many social interactions, and you may experience pressure to drink.
Helping You Stay Healthy
The Peace Corps will provide you with all the necessary inoculations, medications, and information to stay healthy. Upon your arrival in Madagascar, you will receive a medical handbook. At the end of training, you will receive a medical kit with supplies to take care of mild illnesses and first aid needs. The contents of the kit are listed later in this chapter. During pre-service training, you will have access to basic medical supplies through the medical officer. However, you will be responsible for your own supply of prescription drugs and any other specific medical supplies you require, as the Peace Corps will not order these items during training. Please bring a three-month supply of any prescription drugs you use, since they may not be available here and it may take several months for shipments to arrive. You will have physicals at midservice and at the end of your service. If you develop a serious medical problem during your service, the medical officer in Madagascar will consult with the Office of Medical Services in Washington, D.C. If it is determined that your condition cannot be treated in Madagascar, you may be sent out of the country for further evaluation and care.
Maintaining Your Health
As a Volunteer, you must accept considerable responsibility for your own health. Proper precautions will significantly reduce your risk of serious illness or injury. The adage An ounce of prevention becomes extremely important in
areas where diagnostic and treatment facilities are not up to the standards of the United States. The most important of your responsibilities in Madagascar is to take the following preventive measures: Malaria is present throughout the year in most of the country. It can kill you if left untreated, so prevention and early recognition of infection are extremely important. It is important that you take the malaria prophylaxis, and other preventive measures are strongly encouraged. The Peace Corps will teach you how to do a blood slide and how to treat malaria in the case of infection. Rabies is also prevalent in the region, and you will receive a series of immunizations against it during training. Schistosomiasis, or bilharzia, is a parasitic infection contracted by swimming in infected water. Because most bodies of water in the country harbor the parasite, you should avoid swimming in known contaminated water. Symptoms of infection can take some time to develop, so the Peace Corps routinely screens for it at mid-service and end-of-service physical examinations. It is critical to your health that you promptly report to the medical office for scheduled immunizations, and that you let your medical officer know immediately of significant illness and injuries. Many illnesses that afflict Volunteers worldwide are entirely preventable if proper food and water precautions are taken. These illnesses include food poisoning, parasitic infections, hepatitis A, dysentery, Guinea worms, tapeworms, and typhoid fever. Your medical officer will discuss specific standards for water and food preparation in Madagascar during pre-service training.
Abstinence is the only certain choice for preventing infection with HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. You are taking risks if you choose to be sexually active. To lessen risk, use a condom every time you have sex. Whether your partner is a host country citizen, a fellow Volunteer, or anyone else, do not assume this person is free of HIV/AIDS or other STDs. You will receive more information from the medical officer about this important issue. Volunteers are expected to adhere to an effective means of birth control to prevent an unplanned pregnancy. Your medical officer can help you decide on the most appropriate method to suit your individual needs. Contraceptive methods are available without charge from the medical officer. It is critical to your health that you promptly report to the medical office or other designated facility for scheduled immunizations, and that you let the medical officer know immediately of significant illnesses and injuries. .
Womens Health Information
Pregnancy is treated in the same manner as other Volunteer health conditions that require medical attention but also have programmatic ramifications. The Peace Corps is responsible for determining the medical risk and the availability of appropriate medical care if the Volunteer remains in-country. Given the circumstances under which Volunteers live and work in Peace Corps countries, it is rare that the Peace Corps medical and programmatic standards for continued service during pregnancy can be met. If feminine hygiene products are not available for you to purchase on the local market, the Peace Corps medical officer in Madagascar will provide them. If you require a specific product, please bring a three-month supply with you.
Your Peace Corps Medical Kit
The Peace Corps medical officer will provide you with a kit that contains basic items necessary to prevent and treat illnesses that may occur during service. Kit items can be periodically restocked at the medical office.
Medical Kit Contents
Ace bandages
Adhesive tape American Red Cross First Aid & Safety Handbook Antacid tablets (Tums) Antibiotic ointment (Bacitracin/Neomycin/Polymycin B) Antiseptic antimicrobial skin cleaner (Hibiclens) Band-Aids Butterfly closures Calamine lotion Cepacol lozenges Condoms Dental floss Diphenhydramine HCL 25 mg (Benadryl) Insect repellent stick (Cutter) Iodine tablets (for water purification) Lip balm (Chapstick) Oral rehydration salts Oral thermometer (Fahrenheit) Pseudoephedrine HCL 30 mg (Sudafed) Robitussin-DM lozenges (for cough) Scissors Sterile gauze pads Tetrahydrozaline eyedrops (Visine) Tinactin (antifungal cream) Tweezers
Before You Leave: A Medical Checklist
If there has been any change in your healthphysical, mental, or dentalsince you submitted your examination reports to the Peace Corps, you must immediately notify the Office of Medical Services. Failure to disclose new illnesses, injuries, allergies, or pregnancy can endanger your health and may jeopardize your eligibility to serve. If your dental exam was done more than a year ago, or if your physical exam is more than two years old, contact the Office of Medical Services to find out whether you need to update your records. If your dentist or Peace Corps dental consultant has recommended that you undergo dental treatment or repair, you must complete that work and make sure your dentist sends requested confirmation reports or X-rays to the Office of Medical Services.
If you wish to avoid having duplicate vaccinations, contact your physicians office to obtain a copy of your immunization record and bring it to your pre-departure orientation. If you have any immunizations prior to Peace Corps service, the Peace Corps cannot reimburse you for the cost. The Peace Corps will provide all the immunizations necessary for your overseas assignment, either at your pre-departure orientation or shortly after you arrive in Madagascar. You do not need to begin taking malaria medication prior to departure. Bring a three-month supply of any prescription or over-the-counter medication you use on a regular basis, including birth control pills. Although the Peace Corps cannot reimburse you for this three-month supply, it will order refills during your service. While awaiting shipmentwhich can take several monthsyou will be dependent on your own medication supply. The Peace Corps will not pay for herbal or nonprescribed medications, such as St. Johns wort, glucosamine, selenium, or antioxidant supplements. You are encouraged to bring copies of medical prescriptions signed by your physician. This is not a requirement, but they might come in handy if you are questioned in transit about carrying a three-month supply of prescription drugs. If you wear eyeglasses, bring two pairs with youa pair and a spare. If a pair breaks, the Peace Corps will replace them, using the information your doctor in the United States provided on the eyeglasses form during your examination. The Peace Corps discourages you from using contact lenses during your service to reduce your risk of developing a serious infection or other eye disease. Most Peace Corps countries do not have appropriate water and sanitation to support eye care with the use of contact lenses. The Peace Corps will not supply or replace contact lenses or associated solutions unless an ophthalmologist has recommended their use for a specific medical condition and the Peace Corps Office of Medical Services has given approval.
If you are eligible for Medicare, are over 50 years of age, or have a health condition that may restrict your future participation in health care plans, you may wish to consult an insurance specialist about unique coverage needs before your departure. The Peace Corps will provide all necessary health care from the time you leave for your pre-departure orientation until you complete your service. When you finish, you will be entitled to the post-service health care benefits described in the Peace Corps Volunteer Handbook. You may wish to consider keeping an existing health plan in effect during your service if you think age or pre-existing conditions might prevent you from re-enrolling in your current plan when you return home.
Safety and SecurityOur Partnership
Serving as a Volunteer overseas entails certain safety and security risks. Living and traveling in an unfamiliar environment, a limited understanding of the local language and culture, and the perception of being a wealthy American are some of the factors that can put a Volunteer at risk. Property theft and burglaries are not uncommon. Incidents of physical and sexual assault do occur, although almost all Volunteers complete their two years of service without serious personal safety problems. Beyond knowing that Peace Corps approaches safety and security as a partnership with you, it might be helpful to see how this partnership works. Peace Corps has policies, procedures, and training in place to promote your safety. We depend on you to follow those policies and to put into practice what you have learned. An example of how this works in practicein this case to help manage the risk of burglaryis: Peace Corps assesses the security environment where you will live and work Peace Corps inspects the house where you will live according to established security criteria Peace Corps provides you with resources to take measures such as installing new locks
Peace Corps ensures you are welcomed by host country authorities in your new community Peace Corps responds to security concerns that you raise You lock your doors and windows You adopt a lifestyle appropriate to the community where you live You get to know neighbors You decide if purchasing personal articles insurance is appropriate for you You dont change residences before being authorized by Peace Corps You communicate concerns that you have to Peace Corps staff
Factors that Contribute to Volunteer Risk
There are several factors that can heighten a Volunteers risk, many of which are within the Volunteers control. By far the most common crime that Volunteers experience is theft. Thefts often occur when Volunteers are away from their sites, in crowded locations (such as markets or on public transportation), and when leaving items unattended. Before you depart for Madagascar there are several measures you can take to reduce your risk: Leave valuable objects in the U.S. Leave copies of important documents and account numbers with someone you trust in the U.S. Purchase a hidden money pouch or "dummy" wallet as a decoy Purchase personal articles insurance
After you arrive in Madagascar, you will receive more detailed information about common crimes, factors that contribute to Volunteer risk, and local strategies to reduce that risk. For example, Volunteers in Madagascar learn to: Choose safe routes and times for travel, and travel with someone trusted by the community whenever possible Make sure ones personal appearance is respectful of local customs Avoid high-crime areas Know the local language to get help in an emergency Make friends with local people who are respected in the community Limit alcohol consumption
As you can see from this list, you must be willing to work hard and adapt your lifestyle to minimize the potential for being a target for crime. As with anywhere in the world, crime does exist in Madagascar. You can reduce your risk by avoiding situations that place you at risk and by taking precautions. Crime at the village or town level is less frequent than in the large cities; people know each other and generally are less likely to steal from their neighbors. Tourist attractions in large towns are favorite worksites for pickpockets. The following are other security concerns in Madagascar of which you should be aware: The most important safety risk in Madagascar you should be aware of is road travel. Public transport is rudimentary, and vehicles often are in poor condition, are overcrowded, and travel too fast. What is more, the roads are often in a state of disrepair. It is important to use common sense when traveling on any form of public transport and, if you are uncomfortable, to voice your concerns to the driver. Motor vehicle accidents, although infrequent, are the biggest cause of fatalities and serious medical problems among Volunteers worldwide. In addition, there are certain areas in Antananarivo where robberies and muggings are more frequent. These will be pointed out to you, and you are advised either to avoid walking in these areas altogether or to make sure you are not alone if you must go through these areas. While whistles and exclamations may be fairly common on the street, this behavior can be reduced if you dress conservatively, abide by local cultural norms, and respond according to the training you will receive.
Staying Safe: Dont Be a Target for Crime
You must be prepared to take on a large degree of responsibility for your own safety. You can make yourself less of a target, ensure that your home is secure, and develop relationships in your community that will make you an unlikely victim of crime. While the factors that contribute to your risk in Madagascar may be different, in many ways you can do what you would do if you moved to a new city anywhere: Be cautious, check things out, ask questions, learn about your neighborhood, know where the more risky locations are, use common sense, and be aware. You can reduce your vulnerability to crime by integrating into your community, learning the local language, acting responsibly, and abiding by Peace Corps policies and procedures. Serving safely and effectively in Madagascar will require that you accept some restrictions on your current lifestyle. Volunteers attract a lot of attention in large cities and at their sites, but receive far more negative attention in highly populated centers, where they are anonymous, than in smaller towns, where family, friends, and colleagues look out for them. While whistles and exclamations are fairly common on the street, this behavior can be reduced if you dress conservatively, avoid eye contact, and do not respond to unwanted attention. Keep your money out of sight by using an undergarment money pouch, the kind that hangs around your neck and stays hidden under your shirt or inside your coat. Do not keep your money in outside pockets of backpacks, in coat pockets, or in fanny packs. You should always walk with a companion at night.
Support from Staff
If a trainee or Volunteer is the victim of a safety incident, Peace Corps staff is prepared to provide support. All Peace Corps posts have procedures in place to respond to incidents of crime committed against Volunteers. The first priority for all posts in the aftermath of an incident is to ensure the Volunteer is safe and receiving medical treatment as needed. After assuring the safety of the Volunteer, Peace Corps staff response may include reassessing the
Volunteers worksite and housing arrangements and making any adjustments, as needed. In some cases, the nature of the incident may necessitate a site or housing transfer. Peace Corps staff will also assist Volunteers with preserving their rights to pursue legal sanctions against the perpetrators of the crime. It is very important that Volunteers report incidents as they occur, not only to protect their peer Volunteers, but also to preserve the future right to prosecute. Should Volunteers decide later in the process that they want to proceed with the prosecution of their assailant, this option may no longer exist if the evidence of the event has not been preserved at the time of the incident.
Crime Data for Madagascar
Crime data and statistics for Madagascar, which are updated yearly, are available at the following link: http://www.peacecorps.gov/countrydata/madagascar Please take the time to review this important information. Few Peace Corps Volunteers are victims of serious crimes and crimes that do occur overseas are investigated and prosecuted by local authorities through the local courts system. If you are the victim of a crime, you will decide if you wish to pursue prosecution. If you decide to prosecute, Peace Corps will be there to assist you. One of our tasks is to ensure you are fully informed of your options and understand how the local legal process works. Peace Corps will help you ensure your rights are protected to the fullest extent possible under the laws of the country. If you are the victim of a serious crime, you will learn how to get to a safe location as quickly as possible and contact your Peace Corps office. Its important that you notify Peace Corps as soon as you can so Peace Corps can provide you with the help you need.
Volunteer Safety Support in Madagascar
The Peace Corps approach to safety is a five-pronged plan to help you stay safe during your service and includes the following: information sharing, Volunteer training, site selection criteria, a detailed emergency action plan, and protocols for addressing safety and security incidents. Madagascars in-country safety program is outlined below. The Peace Corps/Madagascar office will keep you informed of any issues that may impact Volunteer safety through information sharing. Regular updates will be provided in Volunteer newsletters and in memorandums from the country director. In the event of a critical situation or emergency, you will be contacted through the emergency communication network. An important component of the capacity of Peace Corps to keep you informed is your buyin to the partnership concept with the Peace Corps staff. It is expected that you will do your part in ensuring that Peace Corps staff members are kept apprised of your movements in-country so they are able to inform you. Volunteer training will include sessions on specific safety and security issues in Madagascar. This training will prepare you to adopt a culturally appropriate lifestyle and exercise judgment that promotes safety and reduces risk in your home, at work, and while traveling. Safety training is offered throughout service and is integrated into the language, cross-cultural aspects, health, and other components of training. You will be expected to successfully complete all training competencies in a variety of areas, including safety and security, as a condition of service. Certain site selection criteria are used to determine safe housing for Volunteers before their arrival. The Peace Corps staff works closely with host communities and counterpart agencies to help prepare them for a Volunteers arrival and to establish expectations of their respective roles in supporting the Volunteer. Each site is inspected before the Volunteers arrival to ensure placement in appropriate, safe, and secure housing and worksites. Site selection is based, in part, on any relevant site history; access to medical, banking, postal, and other essential services; availability of communications, transportation, and markets; different housing options and living arrangements; and other Volunteer support needs. You will also learn about Peace Corps/Madagascars detailed emergency action plan, which is implemented in the event of civil or political unrest or a natural disaster. When you arrive at your site, you will complete and submit a site locator form with your address, contact information, and a map to your house. If there is a security threat, you
will gather with other Volunteers in Madagascar at predetermined locations until the situation is resolved or the Peace Corps decides to evacuate. Finally, in order for the Peace Corps to be fully responsive to the needs of Volunteers, it is imperative that Volunteers immediately report any security incident to the Peace Corps office. The Peace Corps has established protocols for addressing safety and security incidents in a timely and appropriate manner, and it collects and evaluates safety and security data to track trends and develop strategies to minimize risks to future Volunteers.
DIVERSITY AND CROSS-CULTURAL ISSUES

In fulfilling its mandate to share the face of America with host countries, the Peace Corps is making special efforts to assure that all of Americas richness is reflected in the Volunteer corps. More Americans of color are serving in todays Peace Corps than at any time in recent history. Differences in race, ethnic background, age, religion, and sexual orientation are expected and welcomed among our Volunteers. Part of the Peace Corps mission is to help dispel any notion that Americans are all of one origin or race and to establish that each of us is as thoroughly American as the other despite our many differences. Our diversity helps us accomplish that goal. In other ways, however, it poses challenges. In Madagascar, as in other Peace Corps host countries, Volunteers behavior, lifestyle, background, and beliefs are judged in a cultural context very different from their own. Certain personal perspectives or characteristics commonly accepted in the United States may be quite uncommon, unacceptable, or even repressed in Madagascar. Outside of Madagascars capital, residents of rural communities have had relatively little direct exposure to other cultures, races, religions, and lifestyles. What people view as typical American behavior or norms may be a misconception, such as the belief that all Americans are rich and have blond hair and blue eyes. The people of Madagascar are justly known for their generous hospitality to foreigners; however, members of the community in which you will live may display a range of reactions to cultural differences that you present. To ease the transition and adapt to life in Madagascar, you may need to make some temporary, yet fundamental compromises in how you present yourself as an American and as an individual. For example, female trainees and Volunteers may not be able to exercise the independence available to them in the United States; political discussions need to be handled with great care; and some of your personal beliefs may best remain undisclosed. You will need to develop techniques and personal strategies for coping with these and other limitations. The Peace Corps staff will lead diversity and sensitivity discussions during pre-service training and will be on call to provide support, but the challenge ultimately will be your own.
Overview of Diversity in Madagascar
The Peace Corps staff in Madagascar recognizes the adjustment issues that come with diversity and will endeavor to provide support and guidance. During pre-service training, several sessions will be held to discuss diversity and coping mechanisms. We look forward to having male and female Volunteers from a variety of races, ethnic groups, ages, religions, and sexual orientations, and hope that you will become part of a diverse group of Americans who take pride in supporting one another and demonstrating the richness of American culture. All Volunteers, regardless of background, will find themselves addressed frequently as a vazaha, or foreigner. Madagascar is a traditional, patriarchal culture, and current Volunteers emphasize that serving here is more difficult for females than for males. Among the challenges of living and working in Madagascar is coping effectively and constructively with the differing status of women and men and the different standards of behavior to which they are held.
Age is positively viewed in Madagascar. Younger Volunteers may have to work harder than their older colleagues to be accepted as professionals. Conversely, older Volunteers may at times feel isolated within the Peace Corps community in Madagascar as they tend to be few in number. In Madagascar, as in other traditional societies, members of American ethnic minorities may have less freedom to be themselves than they do in the United States. It may be difficult for them to find or establish a support network, and they are likely to encounter prejudicial beliefs or expectations on the part of some Malagasy (e.g., that they will learn the local language and adapt to the climate and culture more easily than other Volunteers; that they are not as technically competent as other Volunteers; or that they are not real Americans). Americans of all backgrounds, however, have dealt with these issues and have had productive and fulfilling experiences in Madagascar. They have also brought new depth to the second goal of the Peace Corps, which is to promote a better understanding of the American people by the Malagasy people they live and work with.
What Might a Volunteer Face? Possible Issues for Female Volunteers
There is great variance in Malagasy views of gender equality. In remote villages, gender roles are clearly defined, while in larger towns, gender roles are less strictly characterized. But wherever they live and work, the behavior of female Volunteers will be more closely scrutinized and more often criticized than that of their male peers. Although the Peace Corps emphasizes understanding of and sensitivity to other cultures, it may occasionally be necessary to explain why you believe something or behave a certain way. Female Volunteers should expect frequent questions from host country counterparts and friends regarding their marital status and whether they have children. Volunteer Comment It has been difficult to have men realize that I am equally capable of working with them. This is particularly true in terms of manual labor. More often than not, a man will try to remove the angandy from my hands in the belief that I cannot work. Like all things here, its a learning experience for everybody.
Possible Issues for Volunteers of Color
There is great ethnic and racial diversity among Malagasy. Having been settled by people from Malaysia, India and other parts of Asia, Africa, and Europe, Madagascar features a mosaic of cultures and lifestyles that can shift from region to region and sometimes from village to village. While the Malagasy strive to maintain a harmonious relationship with one another, there are some tensions among the different groups. In particular, the dominant group living around the capital is considered somewhat suspect by the people living on the coast. Volunteers can expect to be treated very politely but need to be aware that behind the politeness may lie some unstated ill will. Volunteer Comments My family is Sri Lankan American, and since Seattle does not have a huge Sri Lankan community, Im used to standing out and being asked What are you? I wondered about how my ethic background and my physical appearance would affect my service. For the most part, it has been an unexpected blessing. For the first time in my life I can blend in. Depending upon whom Im with, how I am dressed, and whether or not Ive opened my mouth, people often assume I am Malagasy. There is a significant minority of Indian Malagasy here, known as Karana. People often assume that I am one of them, but with that come the stereotypes and resentments associated with that
cultural identity. There is growing resentment here toward Karana, who are generally members of the merchant class. They are perceived as rich, refusing to integrate, and speaking only French rather than Malagasy. Tourists and expatriates are still a novelty that comes with a special name, vazaha, or foreigner. Chances are that you will hear kids scream this at you. This can be unsettling, especially when you have worked hard at learning the local language and culture. Keep this in mind, because some of you will be the first Volunteers at your site. If you are of North Asian descenta Chinese American or a Japanese American, for examplepeople will ask if you are a sinoa, a Malagasy of Japanese descent. I have had to answer a lot of questions about Americaespecially since I look nothing like the American people they thought they were going to encounter. Besides answering the not-so-subtle question Dont all Chinese people know kung-fu? it has been fun sharing with the people the United States I knowand starting to understand the Madagascar they know.
Possible Issues for Senior Volunteers
The Malagasy people are respectful in all interactions, yet they reserve a special place for senior citizens, so much so that it may be difficult for Malagasy to help guide an older Volunteer in culturally appropriate behavior for fear of seeming disrespectful
Possible Issues for Married Couple Volunteers
Married couples serving together in the Peace Corps are in a unique situation. While they benefit from having a constant companion to provide support, they may have differing expectations of service. One spouse may be more enthusiastic, homesick, or adaptable than the other. In a new culture, married women may be expected to perform certain domestic chores, and find themselves in a less independent role than they are accustomed to. A married man may feel pressure to act as the dominant member in the relationship and make decisions apart from his wifes views. Some spouses experience differing levels of language ability, acceptance by their community, or job satisfaction. Each of you will have specific job assignments that may require you to spend time without your spouse during training and throughout your service.
Possible Issues for Gay, Lesbian, or Bisexual Volunteers
Gay, lesbian, and bisexual Volunteers need to know that Madagascar has a very strong cultural taboo against homosexuality. However, homosexuality is accepted among foreigners who visit the country. Homosexuality is not illegal per seit is not even mentioned in Malagasy lawbut public displays of behavior associated with homosexuality can affect a Volunteers acceptance into the culture by confirming his or her vazaha-ness. A recommended resource for support and advice prior to and during your service is the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender U.S. Peace Corps Alumni website at www.lgbrpcv.org.
Possible Religious Issues for Volunteers
Whether or not you practice a particular religion, you will probably be exposed to religious practices that are different from those in the United States. Although the country has many Christians and some Muslims, animism is the dominant religious belief. The practices of fady, a ritualized system of taboos and cultural mores combined with
ancestral veneration, have tremendous significance for Malagasy, though there will, of course, be differences in the degree depending on your location. Be prepared to tolerate views and practices very different from your own.
Possible Issues for Volunteers With Disabilities
As part of the medical clearance process, the Peace Corps Office of Medical Services determined that you were physically and emotionally capable, with or without reasonable accommodations, to perform a full tour of Volunteer service in Country X without unreasonable risk of harm to yourself or interruption of service. The Peace Corps/ Country X staff will work with disabled Volunteers to make reasonable accommodations for them in training, housing, jobsites, or other areas to enable them to serve safely and effectively. The Malagasy are enormously tolerant and respectful, and it is inherent in their culture that they be helpful to all. This carries over into their treatment of people with disabilities, even though there is very little infrastructure in the country to accommodate individuals with disabilities.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

This list has been compiled by Volunteers serving in Country X and is based on their experience. Use it as an informal guide in making your own list, bearing in mind that each experience is individual. There is no perfect list! You obviously cannot bring everything on the list, so consider those items that make the most sense to you personally and professionally. You can always have things sent to you later. As you decide what to bring, keep in mind that you have a 100-pound weight limit on baggage. And remember, you can get almost everything you need in Madagascar. Most airlines have baggage size and weight limits and assess charges for transport of baggage that exceeds those limits. The Peace Corps has its own size and weight limits and will not pay the cost of transport for baggage that exceeds these limits. The Peace Corps allowance is two checked pieces of luggage with combined dimensions of both pieces not to exceed 107 inches (length + width + height) and a carry-on bag with dimensions of no more than 45 inches. Checked baggage should not exceed 100 pounds total with a maximum weight of 50 pounds for any one bag. Peace Corps Volunteers are not allowed to take pets, weapons, explosives, radio transmitters (shortwave radios are permitted), automobiles, or motorcycles to their overseas assignments. Do not pack flammable materials or liquids such as lighter fluid, cleaning solvents, hair spray, or aerosol containers. This is an important safety precaution.
What is the electric current in Madagascar? How much luggage am I allowed to bring to Madagascar?
It is roughly 230 volts (it ranges from 190 to 260 volts), 50 cycles. Fewer than half the Volunteers have electricity at work or at home. Batteries are available locally (though they may be of poor quality), and D cells are more easily found than C cells.
How much money should I bring?
Volunteers are expected to live at the same level as the people in their community. You will be given a settling-in allowance and a monthly living allowance, which should cover your expenses. Volunteers often wish to bring additional money for vacation travel to other countries. Credit cards and travelers checks are preferable to cash. If you choose to bring extra money, bring the amount that will suit your own travel plans and needs.
When can I take vacation and have people visit me?
Each Volunteer accrues two vacation days per month of service (excluding training). Leave may not be taken during training, the first three months of service, or the last three months of service, except in conjunction with an authorized emergency leave. Family and friends are welcome to visit you after pre-service training and the first three months of service as long as their stay does not interfere with your work. Extended stays at your site are not encouraged and may require permission from your country director. The Peace Corps is not able to provide your visitors with visa, medical, or travel assistance.
Will my belongings be covered by insurance?
The Peace Corps does not provide insurance coverage for personal effects; Volunteers are ultimately responsible for the safekeeping of their personal belongings. However, you can purchase personal property insurance before you leave. If you wish, you may contact your own insurance company; additionally, insurance application forms will be provided, and we encourage you to consider them carefully. Volunteers should not ship or take valuable items overseas. Jewelry, watches, radios, cameras, and expensive appliances are subject to loss, theft, and breakage, and in many places, satisfactory maintenance and repair services are not available.
Do I need an international drivers license?
Volunteers in Madagascar do not need an international drivers license because they are prohibited from operating privately owned motorized vehicles. Most urban travel is by bus or taxi. Rural travel ranges from buses and minibuses to trucks, bicycles, and lots of walking. On very rare occasions, a Volunteer may be asked to drive a sponsors vehicle, but this can occur only with prior written permission from the country director. Should this occur, the Volunteer may obtain a local drivers license. A U.S. drivers license will facilitate the process, so bring it with you just in case.
What should I bring as gifts for Madagascar friends and my host family?
This is not a requirement. A token of friendship is sufficient. Some gift suggestions include knickknacks for the house; pictures, books, or calendars of American scenes; souvenirs from your area; hard candies that will not melt or spoil; or photos to give away.
Where will my site assignment be when I finish training and how isolated will I be?
Peace Corps trainees are not assigned to individual sites until after they have completed pre-service training. This gives Peace Corps staff the opportunity to assess each trainees technical and language skills prior to assigning sites, in addition to finalizing site selections with their ministry counterparts. If feasible, you may have the opportunity to provide input on your site preferences, including geographical location, distance from other Volunteers, and living conditions. However, keep in mind that many factors influence the site selection process and that the Peace Corps cannot guarantee placement where you would ideally like to be. Most Volunteers live in small towns or in rural villages and are usually within one hour from another Volunteer. Some sites require a 10- to 12-hour drive from the capital. There is at least one Volunteer based in each of the regional capitals and about five to eight Volunteers in the capital city.
How can my family contact me in an emergency?
The Peace Corps Counseling and Outreach Unit (COU) provides assistance in handling emergencies affecting trainees and Volunteers or their families. Before leaving the United States, instruct your family to notify the Counseling and Outreach Unit immediately if an emergency arises, such as a serious illness or death of a family member. During normal business hours, the number for the Counseling and Outreach Unit is 855.855.1961, then select option 2; or directly at 202-692-1470. After normal business hours and on weekends and holidays, the COU duty officer can be reached at the above number. For non-emergency questions, your family can get information from your country desk staff at the Peace Corps by calling 855.855.1961.
Can I call home from Madagascar?
Yes, but generally only from larger towns. Calls from Madagascar to the United States are quite expensive. We recommend letter writing and setting up calls from home for special occasions. International phone cards do not work in Madagascar.
Should I bring a cellular phone with me?
No. The systems in Madagascar are different from those used in the United States, the costs for service are very high, and the coverage area is limited. Key Peace Corps staff carry cellular phones to ensure that they can be reached at all times in case of an emergency, and some Volunteers purchase cellphones locally for the occasional access they provide.
Will there be email and Internet access? Should I bring my computer?
You may not have internet access in your community but you will likely have the internet in your banking town, or the larger town where you will go once a month to get your living allowance. While bringing a laptop is not a requirement, many volunteers choose to bring them to Madagascar. Those that do bring laptops find them to be very helpful during their service and that the benefits outweigh the risks; ultimately, it is your decision. Keep in mind that you can purchase personal effects insurance in order to protect yourself against theft as Peace Corps will not be held responsible for these kinds of items.
WELCOME LETTERS FROM MADAGASCAR VOLUNTEERS

Getting Started When you arrive, the days of training will be tough, confusing, and frustrating, but at the same time rewarding, entertaining, and exciting. So be prepared to work hard and learn a lot about your new life in Madagascar. You will meet a fabulous training staff and, of course, the rest of your training groupinstant bonding will occur. Angela Sherbenou
First of all, try to adhere to the 80-pound baggage limit. I found it difficult to do, but I did it. When I arrived at site, I discovered I had 79 more pounds of stuff than my neighbors. It was a bit humbling, I must say. Lisa Pye
My biggest piece of advice is to not to get too wound up in the minutiae. If you forget something, there are ways of getting it here. Dont plan on taking care of last-minute details at staging. Thats a pain. And if theres a movie you want to see or a place you want to go to before you leave, go. Heather Bryant
A few questions to ask yourself before deciding to come to Madagascar: Have you ever wanted to be a celebrity? Are you a results-oriented person? Do you ever find yourself stating the obvious just to have something to say? Could you see yourself changing some of your standards? How do you feel about chickens? These are just a few of the questions I found myself searching for answers for during my first couple of months in Madagascar. Oliver Pierson
I truly find life here fascinating, but perhaps just as interesting is other peoples reaction to living in Madagascar. During our training, we stayed with a Malagasy family, something I enjoyed a great deal. But one trainee came back to the training center a little distraught and disillusioned. Liz, he exclaimed, I was a cross-cultural hostage during my homestay. I reveled at this comment, a ludicrous contention born, I fear, out of the understandable frustration that Americans feel as a result of our vulnerability in a land and a culture so different from our own. However, with time, you will meet many Malagasy who will help you adjust and adapt to your new life here. Liz ODonnell
Making the decision to join the Peace Corps and leave what is familiar to you is the first of many challenges. However, when you get to your training site and realize that with each day one thing becomes more familiar to you and more like home, you begin to open your eyes to what is about to be the next two years of your life. At first, this is a dreamlike state, and you question everything. But as the days go by, you dont question anymore; you simply accept and absorb. When your host family considers you as one of their own, when you make a joke in the native language and people respond with genuine belly laughter, or when you wake up and recognize Madagascar as home, then you know you made the right choice. Getting started is just the beginning; the rest is the reward. Kim Muller Pat yourself on the back; you have selected a great place to live for the next two years! Rene Van Slate
Working in Madagascar Some Volunteers are sent to sites where they continue the work of the previous Volunteer stationed there. However, Moramanga was a new site. I had stressed that I wanted to be assigned somewhere that encouraged creativity; maybe thats why I was sent here. Professionally, Im given a free hand to develop my materials and strategies. Rene S. de Turnier
Im a parks and wildlife Volunteer in the environment sector. I live 100 km from the northwest coast, in a village with around 4,000 people, on the south end of a huge deciduous forest that will soon be the Ankarafantsika National Park. Im in the forest on a daily basis, and I make it out to the coast once or twice a month. It is very hot, sunny, and dry where I live. There are two other Volunteers nearby, whom I see at least twice a month, and Ive cooperated with them on some projects. I work with a U.S. nongovernmental organization, Conservation International, which manages
the conservation and development projects in and around the forest. Im working on developing ecotourism and infrastructure in the park, and on a few development projects in my village. I usually work an eight-hour day. Oliver Pierson
Work is a relative term in Madagascar. Many days you wonder exactly what your work is here. It is frustrating when you spend days or months preparing for something and it falls through because of extraneous circumstances. The rewards of your work do not come from the number of projects that are successful or even the number of thankyous you receive. The rewards are the patience and skills acquired that you didnt have before coming. They are apparent through the kids in your village who know your name and sing it from the hilltops as you walk by. They include the realization that you have changed along the way and will remember the people you lived with for the rest of your life. Kim Muller
During our in-service training, the associate Peace Corps director for education posed the following question to us: What do people in your town think the Peace Corps is all about? The people in Morandava, I replied, think the Peace Corps is a subsidiary of the American entertainment industry. Whether you like it or not, you will be entertainment for your city, village, or hamlet. Your mere being will captivate the undivided and unwanted attention of some folks who have an unsatiable appetite for anything or anyone American. You will be bombarded with questions, ranging from Are all Rastafarians in America gangsters? to Is the Ku Klux Klan still active in the United States? Everyone, Im convinced, wants to hear stories about life in America and to learn English. Indeed, working with such eager and enthusiastic students is pure bliss. As an English teacher, I have entered my ideal galaxy. Liz ODonnell
Cultural Issues I speak for many of us when I say that we are in love with this country and the beauty of its people, culture, and scenery. Okay, Im not enamored of the guys who hiss at me and call me Cherie, but I try to remember that there arent many 5-foot-10 white women on whom to lavish attention. On that note, Im six inches taller than 98 percent of the people living on the plateau, including the men. If youre tall, be prepared to stick out even more than usual! Deming Herbert
Before arriving in Madagascar, I had all of these preconceived notions that I would be totally isolated, live in a grass hut, and eat grubs for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but I was all right with all of that and decided to come anyway. However, life here is much like anywhere else, minus a few of those Western luxuries. There are family gatherings, national holidays, presidential elections, local radio stations, popular culture, new fads, supermarkets, dance clubs (so remember your dancing shoes), clothing stores, roadways, etc. What Madagascar has that you might not be used to includes people telling you what they think in the most honest and pure way; a slow-and-steady
mentality; a family that does not translate into blood relatives but into anyone who is Malagasy; being a visitor who is the most honored of guests; and cultural beliefs and practices youll come to know as fady (taboos), which can include anything from smelling your food to stepping into a doorway with your left foot. Madagascar is inhabited by some of the poorest people in the world, but it is also inhabited by a world-renowned and unique biodiversity and a mixture of cultures that one can find only on this island. There are 18 official dialects and many more ways of life. Each area of the country is like a separate country altogether. Madagascar has beautiful beaches, rain forests, rice paddies, and place-specific elements like tsingy formations, scrub brush, limestone outcroppings, lemurs, and fossae. As an environment Volunteer, one couldnt ask for a better assignment! It is also a place that is in so much need of conservation and development that it makes being an environment Volunteer that much more challenging and rewarding. Life here is a struggle, but when you see what you are struggling for, it makes it all worthwhile. Kim Muller
Going with the flow has come to mean everything from adjusting to a new language and culture to being the object of constant scrutiny and amusement to sharing my domicile with large rodents that seem to regard said domicile as a maternity ward. But adjusting is what we are doing. Jackie and I knew we had crossed a line when we were sitting in our favorite breakfast establishment and saw a rat run across the floor. We had crossed a line because we didnt get grossed out, we didnt leave, and we didnt lose our appetites. We just laughed ourselves silly and ate our food. Heather Bryant
Madagascar will confront you with a whole new set of images, faces, shapes, ideas, and flavors, not to mention languages. During my first few weeks here, I felt like my brain was on a sensory overload setting; everywhere I looked I saw something new and incredible, be it the beauty of the sun setting over the rice paddies and deep red hills or the heart-wrenching sight of homeless children carrying babies as they ran through traffic begging for money. Dont worry. As different as Madagascar is, the differences that at first seem so vast soon fade. You get comfortable here. This is a country of laughterI laugh all the time, usually at myself but also with my friends and neighbors, about anything or nothing. No doubt youve read or heard about the poverty of Madagascar, and although youll see physical signs of it every day, poverty does not dominate peoples behavior and attitudes here. As I laugh, chat, work, and play with my friends and acquaintances here, those images seem very far away, and after over a year and a half, I still feel lucky to have been posted to Madagascar. Oliver Pierson
Food Food is not a problem for town dwellers; the outdoor markets are full of fruits and vegetables, and shops have plenty of things like chocolate and often things like cheese and yogurt. The only thing I have to buy in the capital is olive oil. I dont think anyone among us has much difficulty maintaining a vegetarian diet, although some have chosen to return to eating meat. But food security issues that are nonexistent in towns definitely surface at the village level. Deming Herbert
One thing youll do, if you are like me, is have food security issues. I am an extremely picky eater; my friends and family were convinced I would starve to death over here. I havent. If you are willing to eat beans, you can survive training and life at your site as a vegetarian, though some days you may not be happy about it. I refuse to eat beans, so I went back to being an omnivore. It has been alarmingly easy, so easy, in fact, that I was recently appalled to learn that I had gained 10 pounds. So much for my food security issues. This is not to say, however, that there wont be foods you miss. Heather Byrant Madagascar is blessed with a great variety of food crops. You can get anything here from mangoes to apples and cherries, litchis to peas and carrots, all in their correct season. There is even an amazing supermarket in the capital where you can stock up on your favorites, like cereal, peanut butter, and dairy products. Of course, they are costly! When you first arrive in-country, you might not be able to think of anything other than your favorite foods and how you will manage without them. Eventually this will fade, and you will crave rice and beansor at least I do. Malagasy food is based on rice, but the loka, or side dishes, are amazing. One favorite of every newcomer is sakay, or hot pepper. What part of the country you wind up in will determine what you will normally eat, but there are always trips into the bigger cities for medical, banking, or vacation purposes that allow you to indulge in specialties. I would definitely suggest having some of your favorite American food sent in care packages; it is always a fun surprise. Kim Muller Daily Life Perhaps the most important thing to keep in mind is that all Peace Corps experiences are genuine. I believed in the live in a mud hut, dig for worms myth, and I was initially disappointed to live in town in a nice house with electricity and running water in my kitchen. (My latrine and cold water outdoor shower keep me grounded.) So dont feel that its not the Peace Corps if you arent rubbing sticks to start fires, although some of you might resort to that out there in your mud huts. Madagascar offers a wide range of living and working experiences, and life is still pretty challenging even if theres a cold drink waiting at the end of the day. Deming Herbert If I could overlook the inconveniences caused by the rains, Id find much to like here: Moramanga is in the high plateau region. The weather is like our temperate regionsnever too hot. However, taking a cold shower every morning, when the temperature is about 40 degrees Fahrenheit, brings out A LOT of goose pimples. Dont forget, our seasons are reversed. It is true that one of the leaflets distributed to invitees mentioned the cold weather. However, it didnt seem very meaningful when I read it back in the States. Besides, we were informed that we could only take two suitcases, and woolens take up a lot of room in baggage. Unfortunately, I brought too many spring and summer items instead of the heavier clothing I need. Of course, you might be assigned to a tropical site. Rene S. de Turnier
I would have to say that nothing constitutes routine for a Peace Corps Volunteer. There are always surprises, shocks, adventures, and letdowns. However, what you relish every day to keep you sane and uniquely you are the routine thingslike washing your clothes, cooking your meals, reading, singing out loud to your music, and just being in your own head for relaxation. Madagascar is a great place that has so much opportunity for a motivated person. You just need to let it guide you, and youll accomplish great things. Kim Muller
I just got back from my daily mofo run. Three women in Bevoay (the name of my little village, which literally means lots of gators) make these mofos (rice-flour bread things), and I am by far their most devoted customer. Along the way, I was thinking about coming back to my house and writing this, and looked around for some letter content that would be of interest to you. I guess what stands out the most at this point, however, is within myself, in how much my own attitudes and perspectives toward things I see here in Madagascar have mellowed out. Five months ago, I was dropped off here on a three-day site visit during pre-service training. The only thing I remember about those 72 hours is terror! A big part of my fear was realizing that I did not have a clue what daily life as a Volunteer would look like. The point is that nothing can prepare us for this experience as far as what to expect every site is so different. The essential thing is just to come with a conscious determination and commitment to learn. Fear can be blinding. Once the cloud of dust fear kicks up has settled, an open mind more than anything else is what it takes to adjust and have a good experience. Anita Deeg
The poverty here can be overwhelming and extremely depressing. Many people here truly suffer: Seventy-five percent of the population lives in poverty. I work in a roofless school (cyclone Cynthia ripped the roof off the building in 1991), and when I first saw the battered facility, I asked the Volunteer whom I replaced, You mean it isnt a condemned building? He chortled and replied, No, it just means you wont be doing much teaching there during the rainy season. Yes, la vie est dure ici, as many, many people will tell you, and financially the people are poor. However, you will find the people here extremely generous, and you will discover that the language, culture, and traditions here are very rich. Liz ODonnell
What do I hate? The dichotomy that I live in. While I live at the village level, I have my vazaha (foreigner) life too. It is frustrating. Sometimes you feel like you have so much to offer (and you definitely do), and other times you feel like you have nothing. What do I love most? That Im finally treading lightly on the Earth, like I always dreamed about doing when I was at home. Im finally traveling and having my own adventures instead of reading about someone elses. And Im doing my best to serve to the best of my ability. Dana Profirio
Health and Happiness One of the first things on your mind before you come is health and safety. Once you are here for a while, it becomes one of the things you concentrate the least on. As long as you are active (and it is hard not to be), are wise with your decisions, know that every time you are sick you will get better, and take care of yourself first and foremost, health and safety are assured. Madagascar has as many health issues as any other developing country, but a Volunteers life is surrounded by safety netslike your village constantly looking out for you, the healthcare the Peace Corps provides, and the mental happiness you get when around people you laugh, smile, and play with every day. Kim Muller
Life here presents many challenges, physically and emotionally, and I often extend my limits. Never have I experienced such crippling loneliness or mind-numbing boredom as I did my first three months at site; yet, neither have I experienced such intense moments of jubilation or personal accomplishment. Clearly you will be on an emotional roller-coaster ride for the next two years of your life. Liz ODonnell
As I flip-flopped along those village paths I thought Id never master and thought about writing this letter, I realized that fear has given way to contentment, comfort in familiarity, and happiness. Friendship has soothed the loneliness a rudimentary understanding of the language works miracles. I have found new and creative ways of functioning happily. Its hard to describe: Life here definitely penetrates into things within oneself that were previously undiscovered. As soon as I let an open mind take over, I started to see why destiny brought me here. It is an extraordinary feeling. Anita Deeg
PACKING LIST
This list has been compiled by Volunteers serving in Madagascar and is based on their experience. Use it as an informal guide in making your own list, bearing in mind that each experience is individual. There is no perfect list! You obviously cannot bring everything on the list, so consider those items that make the most sense to you personally and professionally. You can always have things sent to you later. As you decide what to bring, keep in mind that you have an 100-pound weight limit on baggage. And remember, you can get almost everything you need in Madagascar.
General Clothing
Lightweight all-weather jacket Hooded sweatshirt or fleece Knit hat and gloves Swimsuit (one-piece and very sturdy) Bandannas or handkerchiefs Baseball cap or straw hat for sun protection Good-quality lightweight raincoat and heavy-duty poncho Slacks and shirts or blouses (some sleeveless) Shorts and other clothes for lounging around (e.g., drawstring pajama pants or doctors scrubs). For women, dresses or skirts (below the knee for teachers, with no slits above the knee and not tight-fitting), including a dressy outfit For women, cotton slips (short and long) For men, a button-down shirt and tie for special occasions Plenty of underwear, bras (including a sports bra), and socks Belt
Money belt Quick-drying shorts for biking
Note: The three ideal characteristics of clothing in Madagascar are dark colors, many pockets, and the ability to withstand rain and mud splatters (i.e., quick drying and breathable). In general, one should dress conservatively. It does get cold, so bring some warm clothes. Do not bring a lot of clothes, just three or four outfits for staging and the beginning of training; you can buy just about anything in local markets.
Shoes
Sandals such as Tevas or Chacos Sneakers and/or hiking boots (at least two pairs of shoes) Professional shoes for teachers (with closed toes and comfortable for standing) Dress shoes for special occasions
Personal Hygiene and Toiletry Items
Enough deodorant, shampoo, toothpaste, sunscreen, lotion, etc. to last you through training A few toothbrushes Tampons without applicators (e.g., o.b.); a basic selection of pads and tampons without applicators are available through the Peace Corps. If a specific brand/type is preferred, please have them sent to you. Razor and extra blades Manicure set Hair-cutting scissors, if so inclined
Miscellaneous
Sturdy water bottle (e.g., Nalgene) Leatherman or Swiss army knife Compact sleeping bag for cold weather Indiglo watch Bungee cords or backpack straps Chair that folds out into a sleeping mat Flashlight or headlamp with extra bulbs Shortwave radio Solar-powered rechargeable batteries with recharger Duct tape Scissors Good envelopes Glue Dictionary U.S. stamps for sending letters with travelers (and for mailing in student loan deferments, taxes, etc)
Battery-powered alarm clock Double-size flat sheets and a couple of towels Sewing kit Sunglasses Cash (which you can keep in the safe at the Peace Corps office) A voided check or deposit slip from your U.S. bank account Games (Scrabble, cards, chess, Frisbee, etc.) Walkman/iPod with favorite music Musical instruments (harmonica, guitar, etc.) Videotapes of some favorite or new movies to share at the Volunteer house in the capital A few novels (to swap after reading) Hobby materials like sketching pads and pencils Day pack or a small backpack without a frame Sturdy gardening gloves Good-quality large umbrella
PRE-DEPARTURE CHECKLIST
The following list consists of suggestions for you to consider as you prepare to live outside the United States for two years. Not all items will be relevant to everyone, and the list does not include everything you should make arrangements for.
Family
Notify family that they can call the Peace Corps Counseling and Outreach Unit at any time if there is a critical illness or death of a family member (24-hour telephone number: 1-855-855-1961, then press 2; or directly at 202-692-1470). Give the Peace Corps On the Home Front handbook to family and friends.
Passport/Travel
Forward to the Peace Corps travel office all paperwork for the Peace Corps passport and visas. Verify that your luggage meets the size and weight limits for international travel. Obtain a personal passport if you plan to travel after your service ends. (Your Peace Corps passport will expire three months after you finish your service, so if you plan to travel longer, you will need a regular passport.)
Medical/Health
Complete any needed dental and medical work. If you wear glasses, bring two pairs. Arrange to bring a three-month supply of all medications (including birth control pills) you are currently taking.
Insurance
Make arrangements to maintain life insurance coverage. Arrange to maintain supplemental health coverage while you are away. (Even though the Peace Corps is responsible for your health care during Peace Corps service overseas, it is advisable for people who have preexisting conditions to arrange for the continuation of their supplemental health coverage. If there is a lapse in coverage, it is often difficult and expensive to be reinstated.) Arrange to continue Medicare coverage if applicable.
Personal Papers
Bring a copy of your certificate of marriage or divorce.
Voting
Register to vote in the state of your home of record. (Many state universities consider voting and payment of state taxes as evidence of residence in that state.) Obtain a voter registration card and take it with you overseas. Arrange to have an absentee ballot forwarded to you overseas.
Personal Effects
Purchase personal property insurance to extend from the time you leave your home for service overseas until the time you complete your service and return to the United States.
Financial Management
Keep a bank account in your name in the U.S. Obtain student loan deferment forms from the lender or loan service. Execute a Power of Attorney for the management of your property and business. Arrange for deductions from your readjustment allowance to pay alimony, child support, and other debts through the Office of Volunteer Financial Operations at 855.855.1961, extension 1770. Place all important papersmortgages, deeds, stocks, and bondsin a safe deposit box or with an attorney or other caretaker.
CONTACTING PEACE CORPS HEADQUARTERS

This list of numbers will help connect you with the appropriate office at Peace Corps headquarters to answer various questions. You can use the toll-free number and extension or dial directly using the local numbers provided. Be sure to leave the toll-free number and extensions with your family so they can contact you in the event of an emergency. Peace Corps Headquarters Toll-free Number: Peace Corps Mailing Address: 855.855.1961, Press 1 or the Ext. # (see below)
Peace Corps Headquarters 1111 20th Street, NW Washington, DC 20526 Staff: Office of Placement Toll-Free Ext: x1840 Direct/Local Number: 202.692.1840
For Questions About: Responding to an Invitation:
Country Information:
Kelly Daly
x2366
202.692.2366
Desk Officer / Madagascar Madagascar@peacecorps.gov
Plane Tickets, Passports, Visas, or other travel matters: CWT SATO Travel x1170 202.692.1170
Legal Clearance:
Office of Placement
x1840
202.692.1840
Medical Clearance and Forms Processing (includes dental): Screening Nurse x1500 202.692.1500
Medical Reimbursements (handled by a subcontractor):
800.818.8772
Loan Deferments, Taxes, Financial Operations:
x1770
202.692.1770
Readjustment Allowance Withdrawals, Power of Attorney, Staging (Pre-Departure Orientation), and Reporting Instructions: Office of Staging x1865 202.692.1865
Note: You will receive comprehensive information (hotel and flight arrangements) three to five weeks prior to departure. This information is not available sooner.
Family Emergencies (to get information to a Volunteer overseas) 24 hours: Counseling & Outreach Unit x1470 202.692.1470

Peace Corps Madagascar Welcome Book - June 2013 'CCD' mgwb684

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Peace Corps Madagascar Welcome Book - June 2013 'CCD' mgwb684

Uploaded by

Copyright:

THE PEACE CORPS WELCOMES YOU TO

A PEACE CORPS PUBLICATION FOR NEW VOLUNTEERS June 2013 CCD

CORE EXPECTATIONS FOR PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEERS

PEACE CORPS/MADAGASCAR HISTORY AND PROGRAMS

History and Future of Peace Corps Programming in Madagascar

COUNTRY OVERVIEW: MADAGASCAR AT A GLANCE

PEACE CORPS | MADAGASCAR WELCOME BOOK (CCD) 3

People and Culture

PEACE CORPS | MADAGASCAR WELCOME BOOK (CCD) 4

RESOURCES FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

PEACE CORPS | MADAGASCAR WELCOME BOOK (CCD) 5

Online Articles/Current News Sites About Madagascar http://news.bbc.co.uk/

A travel site with information on all things Malagasy.

Find Madagascar for several documents related to developmental aid.

PEACE CORPS | MADAGASCAR WELCOME BOOK (CCD) 6

Books About the History of the Peace Corps

Books on the Volunteer Experience

PEACE CORPS | MADAGASCAR WELCOME BOOK (CCD) 7

LIVING CONDITIONS AND VOLUNTEER LIFESTYLE

PEACE CORPS | MADAGASCAR WELCOME BOOK (CCD) 8

Computer, Internet, and Email Access

Housing and Site Location

Food and Diet

Geography and Climate

Professionalism, Dress, and Behavior

PEACE CORPS | MADAGASCAR WELCOME BOOK (CCD) 11

Rewards and Frustrations

PEACE CORPS TRAINING

PEACE CORPS | MADAGASCAR WELCOME BOOK (CCD) 12

PEACE CORPS | MADAGASCAR WELCOME BOOK (CCD) 13

Additional Trainings During Volunteer Service

PEACE CORPS | MADAGASCAR WELCOME BOOK (CCD) 14

YOUR HEALTH CARE AND SAFETY IN MADAGASCAR

Health Issues in Madagascar

Helping You Stay Healthy

Maintaining Your Health

PEACE CORPS | MADAGASCAR WELCOME BOOK (CCD) 16

Your Peace Corps Medical Kit

Medical Kit Contents

Before You Leave: A Medical Checklist

Safety and SecurityOur Partnership

Factors that Contribute to Volunteer Risk

PEACE CORPS | MADAGASCAR WELCOME BOOK (CCD) 19

Staying Safe: Dont Be a Target for Crime

Support from Staff

PEACE CORPS | MADAGASCAR WELCOME BOOK (CCD) 20

PEACE CORPS | MADAGASCAR WELCOME BOOK (CCD) 21

DIVERSITY AND CROSS-CULTURAL ISSUES

PEACE CORPS | MADAGASCAR WELCOME BOOK (CCD) 22

What Might a Volunteer Face? Possible Issues for Female Volunteers

PEACE CORPS | MADAGASCAR WELCOME BOOK (CCD) 23

Possible Issues for Senior Volunteers

Possible Religious Issues for Volunteers

PEACE CORPS | MADAGASCAR WELCOME BOOK (CCD) 24

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

PEACE CORPS | MADAGASCAR WELCOME BOOK (CCD) 25

When can I take vacation and have people visit me?

PEACE CORPS | MADAGASCAR WELCOME BOOK (CCD) 26

Can I call home from Madagascar?

WELCOME LETTERS FROM MADAGASCAR VOLUNTEERS

PEACE CORPS | MADAGASCAR WELCOME BOOK (CCD) 27

PEACE CORPS | MADAGASCAR WELCOME BOOK (CCD) 28

PEACE CORPS | MADAGASCAR WELCOME BOOK (CCD) 30

PEACE CORPS | MADAGASCAR WELCOME BOOK (CCD) 31

PEACE CORPS | MADAGASCAR WELCOME BOOK (CCD) 32

PEACE CORPS | MADAGASCAR WELCOME BOOK (CCD) 33