Ambatolampy, teaching and the friendly Malagasy people

I've now moved to Ambatolampy, my placement for 2 months. I taught my first lessons this morning at the primary school across the road from the little house I am staying in. There is no guard, no need for any worry, I feel safer here than in London, although I wouldn't walk in the village by myself at night. I'm by myself for the first 2 weeks and then will be joined by 2 other volunteers.

Tina and Hary of The Dodwell Trust settled me in for the first 3 days and introduced me to the primary school and high school. I will teach 5 primary classes 2-3 times a week, 20 minutes per class. It doesn't sound like much, but they children take in a lot in that time and at that age, they can only do short lessons. At the Cathlolic high school I will take a 2 hour English club once a week and may also be asked to help out in advanced English classes as well.

Getting used to the slow pace, especially the internet! Constant power failures and dial up speed I remember from 12 years ago. The internet is in the Catholic school across the road, so there is constant "Sssssss" from the librarian.

A busy main road runs through the village, cars and taxi-brousses don't slow down for pedestrians, there was  child hit by a car recently, that's how ruthlessly they drive through here. I have struggled my way through buying food at the market, a combination of hand signals, very bad French and Malagasy combinations on my part and my new Malagasy friends helping me when I run into them at the market. Mango yesterday was 30p - very expensive because 1. I am VAZAHA (European) and 2. they are almost out of season. I don't mind being ripped off really, but I am inclined to go back to the stall holders who seem the most honest.

Yesterday (Sunday) I had said goodbye to the lovely teenagers of my host family after they had stopped by for lunch, and there was a knock at the door. 3 girls, 11 and 12, started asking me questions in good English. They wanted something but I couldn't work out what. When they asked to come inside and I siad no, there seemed nothing left to say, so I said goodbye and thought that would be that. But no - I was haunted by these children for the next hour, knocking on the doors, front and back, peering through the windows and generally making a bit of a nuisance of themselves. I really just wanted to read, but as soon as it started to get annoying, I noticed they had left me bright flowers on my front door. I opened the window, said thanks and left them a banana each. That still wasn't enough attention for them, so they covered my door in flowers of all colours, it was beautiful! I couldn't resist, I had excess rice left over from lunch anyway, so gave them a little bag of rice each. They were finally satisfied and went home in the pouring rain.

 Tina and Hary, my faithful Dodwell Trust agents, they did an amazing job of settling me in here.