Mbola Tsara!!!!

Mbola Tsara ! (yo !)
Ino vao vao ? (what’s going on ?) Akory? (how YOU doing?)
Lot’s of goods and bad have happened since we talked last:

--I spent an incredible day body surfing, enjoying the beach, witnessed
one of the most beautiful sunsets ever imagined, and actually found a
decent bottle of wine which Jesse (volunteer) and I enjoyed over a great
dinner!!!---Excellent
--there have been more shootings, raids, riots, thug forces on the
streets, use of torture tactics, grenade showers, and deaths!---WHY??
--there has been no movement towards a solution—(sigh!)
--I am still safe!!—we like that!
--I had some incredible interviews at the hospital, got great info and am
working on starting informational classes in my house for women after
their prenatal consultations—very good
--almost got bitten by a hidden snake attempting to slither into my
house—not so good
--another cyclone veered out of the way sparing us once again—thank you
very much
--people think rainbows eat your children!!—no comment
--some &( year old tried to seduce me!-go back to the playground honey
--easter weekend was a PARTAY! ‘ volunteers crashed out my house, there
was an easter disco (???) where we danced the night away fuelled by my
Malagasy dad’s home brew rum which was surprisingly sweet, smooth and even
more surprisingly STRONG AS HELL—it’s all a cultural exchange!
--I tried to explain easter in the states, they only looked at me like I
was out of my goddamn mind-coloring egss (why play with food), giant
rabbits, and what kind of chicken lays chocolate eggs???—nevermind!
We enjoyed the fumbe (tradition) of having an easter monday pinic by our
river, everyone fires up their pots of rice and kills their chickensd and
goes to town. I suppose the whole sandwhich thing would be too
complicated—right!
--a small boy drowned in the commotion of the festivities—hertbreaking
--there have been 4 deaths last week due to malaria—im religious about my
medication!!!
--the planning for the girls empowerment camp is going really well and
should be a great success—Excellent
--I love my village—it’s a beautiful thing!
--I’m domestic!!! Who knew?? I’ve made banana pancakes, crepes, and
zucchini bread for my villagers and it was a hit! No I’m NOT trying to
buy friends! I resent you thinking so! Humpf!
--a 17 year old wrote me a love letter—why me?
--then his fat, old dad tried to get me to be his “deuxieme bureau” what
the Malagasy fondly refer to as you second “office”, many men have many
other palces of “work”! then they wonder why they have so many damn kids
and STDs!!! Stop WORKING so hard!!!—sorry gramps, go back home to your
wife and kids!! Jesus!
--my – month anniversary is in “ weeks!!—holy shit!
--I miss you guys!!—very much

I just got word that the mail system is running—I going to check my box
right away!!! I think I’m going to cry—and PLEASE write, please please
please! I print it out, you can write ( pages worth!!! Please!!!

All the best, hope to hear from you SOON!!!
Love,
aisha