From NIGER to MADAGASCAR

Since Ryan doesn't have internet access this is being posted by his Mom . . .

Began my journey with orientation in Philadelphia on October 19th. Scared, anxious and unsure of what was ahead for me. Departed from JFK with a layover in Paris and arrived in NIGER on October 22nd along with 36 other Peace Corps trainees. The first thing we all noticed was the heat! It can get up to 130 degrees during the hot months. The people of Niger are the friendliest and happiest people in the world - they made us feel very welcome in their country. Trainees were paired up and moved in with a host family - this is where we would live during our 9 weeks of training. Arron and I lived with a "well-off" Christian family - even though 90% of the population in Niger is Muslim. My dad is a farmer, with only one wife and 6 children (ages 2 months to 16 years). Although they are without running water (the toilet is a hole in the ground) they have a TV, DVD, and a cell phone! Sadly, life with our host families was cut short. In mid-November there was an attempted kidnapping at the US Embassy in Tahoua. This was followed by another attempted kidnapping at the Niger-Mali border. Volunteers were called back from their posts, and we (the trainees) were moved into the training compound - in phase 2 consolidation. Phase 3 being evacuation. We felt very safe as we continued our training and language lessons - I was in the process of learning Hausa. We truly expected that we would return to our host families.

However, with the current security issues,the Peace Corps determined that we (the trainees) with our limited language and cross-cultural skills are simply too much of a risk. We learned we would be split up and re-located to one of three countries - neighboring Mali or Burkina Faso, or the island of Madagascar. It was devastating and disappointing news to hear. We have come to love Niger. In lockdown, the dorm-life atmosphere made us a close group of trainees. We played volleyball, games and cards, watched movies, had dances (music provided by i-pods and laptops) and the girls organized an awesome Thanksgiving dinner. We don't want to leave Niger - the country and our new friends.

The day after Thanksgiving we learned that accommodations had been made to send the entire training class as a group to Madagascar - something that rarely happens. All except for one of our friends who is unable to join us due to medical clearance. Although we are excited to have the chance to continue our journey instead of being sent back home it is also bittersweet. We love Niger but have been told that going to Madagascar is like winning the Peace Corps Lottery! The country is an island off the southeast coast of Africa. It is biologically diverse - specific plants and animals in Madagascar exist nowhere else in the world. Lemurs for example - are endemic to Madagascar. The climate is completely different from what we have become accustomed to in Niger -it rains in Madagascar. We all have the wrong clothes! Madagascar is somewhat more liberal than Niger - even with the heat, shorts are intolerable in Niger.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my short time in Niger. I was able to partake in the Muslim holiday Tabaski. I have tasted amazing food - all eaten with your right hand off of a large plate shared with family members. My mother made a very hot soup-like meal also eaten with your hand . . very hot! I have shopped in the local market and taken a bush taxi - what an experience. I had the local barber shave my head - bald is maintenance-free! I have tailor-made native clothing which I purchased from the local tailor in the market.

With mixed feelings, we leave for Paris late Sunday night, arriving at 6:00 am Monday. After spending all day Monday in Paris - we depart for Madagascar Tuesday morning to continue this incredible journey.

Will keep you posted on my life in Madagascar. I've been able to talk to my family at home with SKYPE. If you would like to mail me a letter (we all look forward to getting letters) my new address during training is:

RYAN ADAMS/PCT PEACE CORPS
Corps de la Paix
BP 12091
Poste Zoom Ankorondrano
101 Antananrivo
Madagascar