Food
Went to Fianarantsoa to attend a region 4th of July soirée. We cooked and drank and talked. Very chill and fun. The food was delicious. Julian and Zhora cooked a wonderful mixed of the best food I’ve seen from any volunteer here in my 2 years.
Conflict In a Bar
World Cup in Full Swing. Late at night while everyone was tucked away in the Fianar Meva, I sauntered down the hill to watch the ending to a game Between Russia and Croatia. It’s a run down little establishment that is grimy but good. A lot of us volunteers go there because it’s cheap. It was full of people enjoying the game. I ordered my beers and cigarettes and sat by myself. Eventually a group of Malagasy got my attention and I chatted with a few of them. It started on a good note, then one of them was rude. I was calmly mean to him. I realized that after the fact and regretted it. I cut the conversation short ‘cause I knew where it was goin’. And I didn’t want to go there, so I said my goodbyes. At one point he put his fist out for a fist pump. I didn’t oblige. Instead I just touched it with my outstretched middle finger. I’m kinda of an asshole, and so was he.
Romance
There’s a girl that works the front desk at a hotel I normally stay at. She speaks a little English. So we talk. I asked her out to lunch but she said no. The next day she texted me so I passed through the hotel again. I was staying at the Meva. She was also selling oranges while watching the front desk. I bought some oranges. They’re really small. That night she texted asking if I was married. I said no. Then she asked who was the girl in my picture on Facebook. I asked her which picture, because there’s many pictures with me and girls. She hasn’t responded.
Strike and Protest
I participated in a protest. The teachers across the country aren’t working because they want a raise. We haven’t taught in about a month and a half. So today the teachers of our town had a march down main street. I marched along with my whistle. Technically I’m not supposed to take part in politics. Perhaps, I was inspired by Paul Theroux. He’s a writer who served in the Peace Corps in the 60’s in Africa. He helped a candidate who later got kicked out of the country and the Peace Corps kicked him out. He went on to become a rich and famous writer. Anyways, back to the Protest. People came out of their homes to watch us and cheer us on. We had a few guys with microphones and a few others carrying the speakers. People were astonished to see a foreigner taking part, which caused them to laugh they normally do in many situations, some when laughter doesn’t occur, like when someone gets bit by a dog. This happened to a friend of mine, Jessica, who serves in a small town up north a few hours.
Films
I’m enjoying the break from teaching because I have to complete my films: The Malaria Bikeride Video, The Beehives of Malalia, and the Malaria Theater Project. I submitted the Malaria Bikeride and The Theater Project to the Peace Corps so they’ll can, if they want, post it on their page. I’ve yet to hear anything back. It’s possible they they don’t like them. Lately, it’s been cold as hell. It’s even colder when the homes don’t have heating.
Wander and Ponder 