18 February 2009

18 Febroary 2009
So after 3 weeks of being away from site, I finally get to return tomorrow. On January 26, all hell broke loose in Tana as the (now ex) mayor Andry declared himself president, and protests turned into burning and looting. The unrest spread throughout the country during the next few days, causing Peace Corps to call all volunteers into consolidation. By the 31st I was at Mantasoa, Peace Corps old training center, where between 40 and 80 volunteers (depending on the day) were held in limbo. Each day, news from Tana was different. Some days I was sure we would soon be on a plane for South Africa; other days I was mentally preparing to go back to site.

But here I am now in Tamatave, buying provisions, finally checking internet, picking up mail, and other odds and ends. Going back to site is going to be challenging. As the newest volunteers in country, my health stage had only been at site a mere 7 weeks when we were yanked out. My return feels like starting all over again, and I can't help but have a sneaking suspicion that we'll be yanked out again...

Every day in Tana there are demonstrations, Andry's people trying to take over the ministry and convince the current president to resign. Although the violence is almost entirely confined to Tana, something has got to give sooner or later – whether Andry is arrested or the president resigns or who knows what – but this stale mate is doing nothing but upping the prices of rice and oil. Even in the past week there has been looting in Diego and Toliara, signs that people who already don't have enough money to eat are feeling an increase in desperation.

Fortunately for me, Tamatave has been quiet and well behaved. I hope it lasts so I can forget about this ridiculous political coup and get on with life in ambany-volo (the backwoods). My little village is, of course, safe and far removed from the dirty politics in Tana, but the moment violence spreads again, or planes stop flying, or roads are cut off, I could find myself in South Africa or even America. And from what I hear about job availability and the economy, the U.S. would not be the best place right now. These next few weeks and months will be tense, but I'm just going to try to live the quiet village life and forget about Tana. Hopefully it all works out in the end!