Just NB

Yesterday, this showed up on my desk: The gift box is made with handmade paper (and is super cool, actually!) and the manger scene is made from local wood and the card is from someone that I sort of work with. She is a very nice, caring girl and this gift surprised me and well...you all know what's coming, Made Me Cry. I sent her an email (translated): To: Nice Girl From: Nicole Hi Nice Girl. Thank you so much for the very lovely gift and card. (The box is also very nice too!) Today I’m missing my family in Canada a lot, especially since I won’t be there for Christmas, so this was the perfect day to receive such a thoughtful gift. Your gift was very touching. Merry Christmas to you and your family, and I hope that we can work together more in 2013. Nicole Nice Girl replied later that day, To: Nicole From: Nice Girl Hi Nicole, It is not much but I'm happy that this little gift has touched you that much and and I am pleased ...

Last night I was exhausted. I had a bit of a nap, woke up around 20h00 and figured I should have some supper. I went to the reception to find out where the restaurant is and I was told they didn't really have one. I got a map and directions to walk to the nearest town. Although it's not very far, the LAST thing I felt like doing was going to a restaurant. Okay the last thing I felt like doing was walking...so I asked here if there was any food around. She was SO helpful and for supper I had a wonderful caprese salad (buffalo mozzarella, tomato, and basil) and CHERRIES and a peach. It was FANTASTIC. All those people that are into eating "local food" really have something going. Fresh and local food is about a gazillion times better than imported, unorganic food. (Something I'd love to look into more, but don't have a ton - or any - options while I'm living in MG). I ate in my room, looking out the window of this amazing little town, listening to the noise...

When I first arrived in MG, the awkwardness and shyness of my national co-workers was brutal. I'm new, I'm one of five expats in our department, a giant, light hair, light eyes, and a girl. I'm sure I looked interesting. Each morning, as I walked to my office, most of my co-workers would keep their heads down or shyly glance up as I passed by. Combine that with my...new expat state (i.e.: scared shitless ), I wouldn’t say hello to them either. I would just let them stare at me...walk by...and say nothing. This wasn't going to help the situation... I learned the Malagasy phrase of, Manaona, Il voe voe . (I’m sure that I brutalized the spelling, but it means, simply, Hey, what's new?). After a few days of timidly walking past the uncomfortable stares, I started to say Manaona, Il voe voe , to ANYONE AND EVERYONE. Surprised, my co-workers started to see that I'm not the big cranky scary monster that I looked like. Some of the my braver co-wokers would teach...

Last night I went to a party/work function and drank entire two and a half glasses of wine. Wasn’t really ready to go home when my ride was ready to leave....but given it was a work function and a MONDAY thought it be best not to have an all nighter ... Went outside to get into the SUV, and there was a lack of spaces. This meant that someone had to sit in the far back seats. No one could figure out how to get in the back. Except for me. Then I did what can only be described as a leap combined with a summersault roll – while wearing a skirt - in front of my boss. All seventy two inches (one hundred and eighty three centimetres) of me came together in almost gazelle-like in gracefulness. I’m nothing but pure class. And then, upon arriving to camp, I had to go on a hunt to find the keys to my villa. Yup....the old me is totally back.