Just NB

My blog description reads: "A blog to capture my travels, pictures, emotional breakdowns, and amazing experiences...." but some days, I think it should read: Emotional Breadowns 101. (Maybe even Emotional Breakdowns 401 - a far more advanced level than just the intro class?) Since taking this job I have had ....oh...about nine hundred or so breakdowns. After this week - nine hundred and one (okay...maybe a slight exageration) On Tuesday (why is it always Tuesdays?!?) I had a really hard day for no particular reason. I had a great morning, helped a friend take her little one to pre-school; did some damage to my credit card; had a nap; and made plans to meet up with some friends for supper. But the entire day I just felt like something was a bit off and was on the verge of tears... more than a few times. Why? I'm feeling like I'm somewhere "new"....but I've lived in Edmonton most of my life. A few expats had talked with me about the transition comi...

I haven't shared this on the blog but it has been a pretty stressful last couple of days. I may have mentioned before that there were severe riots in Madagascar in January 2009. Deaths, lootings, fires, etc. I'm not going to get into all the political reasons why this happened, maybe I'll save that for another post - but its happening again. Typically, the riots start in Tana (the capital) and come to Tamatave within a month or so. This can be scary, but we just stay in the camp and work from home (providing we have power and internet). I'm not trying to make it sound like a walk in the park...but once you're in the camp.... but its not like walking into a war zone or anything. Its just hard when you have to LEAVE the camp. So, last weekend the protesting/riots started in Tana. We were expecting that they would come to Tamatave in about a month's time. WRONG. They started this weekend. Thursday was a bit stressful....kind of a calm before the storm type feeling....

Well, after being postponed and changed at least three times we finally had our big “security meeting”. The intent of this meeting was to discuss the changes in the country; what expats need to do to be as safe as possible; and what additional security measures will be implemented. Like all things Madagascar – the intent and the result are two different things. We recently hired a new security guy who has worked all over the world and is an “expert” in expat security. He gave us instruction on how to: - Not talk to strangers - Not to fight a kidnapper - Give up our car in the event of a hijacking - Be aware of pickpockets - Avoid going to dangerous areas of town in the evening - Let someone know where we are at all times Gee, thanks! I’m glad that working in the Congo, South America, and Nigeria has taught you of all that valuable information! All you really had to do was to come to Canada for a day or two – because I’m pretty sure I learned all that stuff in grade two. Would have sa...

The little kids on this island start learning French in primary school - about the same time that I learned this song. They can say basic words like "Bonjour" and thanks to the Aussies - after we left also knew how to say "G'day Mate" and "Hasta la vista, baby!". They were little sponges - they picked it up so quickly and on the way back we drove past them and they yelled at us, "Hasta la vista, baby!". How's that for some....cultural diversity! Haha.

  This post is a little all over the place…but I’m excited that I finally feel back to normal (for now, anyway). Week five was…just…harder. And I’m guessing I’ll still have harder moments, but my head feels a little clearer and I’m less… overwhelmed.   Week six is going awesome! I think going to the doctor really helped – it was nice to know that all the feelings I’m having are pretty standard – and even though I’m going through an amazing time – it’s also really, really hard. And that its natural to find things hard. I have a new country, new culture, new language, new environment, new climate, new coworkers, new food…. And through all that I still have to go to work every day – work eleven hours – and manage to have some fun, rest, and downtime for myself. No wonder I am having troubles adjusting! It’s a lot to take in! I need to be a lot more patient with myse...

My routine here vs. my routine in Canada – is basically the same. But – it’s so different…and hard to explain. In MG and in Canada, most days - I wake up, eat breakfast, go to work, go for lunch, go back to work, eat supper, run/do yoga, hang out with friends, watch a bit of TV or read, and then go to bed. But in Canada? I wake up and get ready for work - and don’t even think about the fact that I’ll have power and running hot water I eat breakfast – and don’t have to think about what I’ll have for breakfast. I have a well stocked fridge to pick something from. Or as a treat I can pick something up from Starbucks. I commute to work – I have an idea of how long it will take me to get there. Even if there is a traffic jam, it’s never too serious or the radio has already warned me about it. I work – and don’t have to worry that the people won’t understand what I’m saying or vise versa. We all speak English fluently. I eat lunch - if I bring my lunch – it’s something that I chose to eat...