Update

Here I am back in Antalaha where the temperatures are warm and the humidity is humid. I've been in Tana for nearly a month where the temperatures are cool and the humidity is much less... humid. I always need a few days back here to adjust to sweating and feeling the good layer of body oil between skin and t-shirt.

I loved being a PC trainer. I got to watch the new group walk off of the plane, to see them in their first few minutes in Madagascar. Later, I helped to announce their sites for the next two years. Then I helped to teach classes in organic gardening, composting, permaculture, seed collection, storage, and treatment, and tree nurseries. I also led a session on "American Diversity." I got to know the new group in at least a cursory way and I look forward to seeing all of them as volunteers.

I enjoyed Tana this time around. I got to see more of its winding european-style streets. The air quality was better than normal, making the usually grimey town look pretty. We ate at great restaurants and visited a museum. I got to play tennis one day, too. Which I happen to have only played three times in my life, but apparently I have a killer serve. So look for me at Wimpledon.

I return to my site for nearly a week. I will then head back to Maroantsetra to meet friends. I may be in charge of purchasing grafted orange trees for park tree nurseries and transporting them by boat from Tamatave to Maroantsetra. After that, I will go to assess and help to improve a corridor restoration project in the northern area of Parc Masoala. I will be in the area well into April.

So there's a brief update. Please stay in touch,
Stephen.

I've now been here over a year, just in case you were keeping count.