MADAGASCAR!

Ryan doesn't have access to the internet at the Madagascar training center so his mom is posting this for him.

Madagascar is awesome. It is the 4th largest island in the world. The trainees are living at the Peace Corps Training Center - 70 km southeast of the capital Antananarivo - for the next 3 weeks. After that they will live with a host family for 3 weeks before moving to their site assignments. Ryan is hoping to be assigned to the coastal region. Everything is different from life in Niger. First of all - No sand!! No dirty feet!! It generally rains at night and then is warm and sunny during the day. Everything is green. This is Madagascar's summer - both the hot and the wet season. The training center is surrounded by a lake - which they canoe on, but can't swim in. They sell beer and alcohol. The food is incredible - they are eating amazing fresh fruit(the best mangos and plums),rice, fresh vegetables and lots of fish.

The trainees are sleeping inside - but still use a mosquito net. The beds are comfortable with warm blankets. They were each given 2 rolls of toilet paper - hope it lasts 3 weeks! They are learning the language - Malagasy. There are only 21 letters (no c, q, u, w, or x). There is no gender difference in the language.

Although the trainees were extremely sad to leave Niger - Madagascar is wonderful and are really enjoying it. And of course spending an entire day in Paris was a bonus! And they will be hiking in the rain forest the day after Christmas!