Just NB

I have decided to hope for the best situation. Sometimes I try not to, so that I don’t risk getting let down – but in this case, my only option is to hope for the best, and continue to hope for the best. And wait. Whoever said “Patience is a virtue”….well, they annoy the crap out of me right now – but…well….they’re right. Living in Madagascar has changed my life. I’m not ready to move away from it yet. At this point, I’ve done everything that I can and will continue to do so. Of course, I won’t take a job just for the sake of having a job here – I need to be happy and fulfilled while I’m here or else it will be all in vain… but, I’m just going to hope for the best. And nothing less. (Non dramatic, slightly humorous post coming tomorrow. Hopefully one of many. This emotional crap is getting old already.)

My weekend was spent as follows: Friday night – Fall asleep at 19h00 while trying to watch a movie. Saturday – Work from 07h00 to 17h00. Fall asleep at 20h00 while trying to watch a movie. Sunday – Wake up with massive migraine. Lie in bed after taking copious amounts of drugs and hoping it goes away. Around 12h00, I started feeling okay, so Louis and I went to this awesome patio to UPDATE MY RESUME. It’s my only day off – I have a post-migraine headache – and I’m updating my resume. Yay for the best weekend ever. (Actually, it ended quite nice. My migraine went away and I went for an after supper swim with Louis. The water was the perrrrfect temperature. This was followed by me falling asleep at 21h30 while trying to watch a TV show.)

I haven't talked very much about it (or not at all), but next month I'm travelling Madagascar with my mom!! I had a very "Madagascar" experience today while booking a portion of our travel. Since the option to reserve/pay on-line is frequently unavailable, and I needed some help booking parts of the trip, I used a recommended travel agent. The travel agent booked my mom and I the following: - A night at La Pirogue - Transfers from La Pirogue to the port - Boat tickets from the port to St. Marie (like, a super amazing island...off the island) - Transfer from the port to le Libertalia - Three nights at le Libertalia - Transfer from le Libertalia to the airport - Flights from St. Marie to Tana All for the steal of a deal of ONE MILLION SIX HUNDRED THOUSAND AND SIXTY FIVE....Ariary. (Works out to be around $850CD). So...here's a few dilemas 1. My travel agency only takes cash 2. The bank machine that I use dispenses a maximum of 400 000 Ar per tr...

The last few days there has been far too much talking on this blog...and not enough pictures. Today...well...sucked...for no particular reason (other than the obvious)... but there are small little things that make the day that much better and that much easier. Here they are in picture format to try and get my word to picture ratio a little less skewed. 1. My Starbucks VIA s in the morning. (I probably spent a mortgage payment on for this stash, but it's soooo worth it...)  2. The fact that my toes perfectly matched my skirt today.  Sorry for the gross foot picture, but my pedicure from Canada has lasted extra long.  3. Oilers stickers to secretly put on the back of Louis' shirt (He's a hardcore Nordiques Avalanche Fan. Regardless of both of our teams' standings at the moment...it's a pretty fun joke to play :P)  4. Emails and quick Skype messages sent throughout the day and lots to read when I get home from work.  5. A quick phone call ...

After the week I had, I needed a good Sunday. Luckily, it's not too hard to find one here in Toamasina. Breakfast, watching a movie, and then off into town into the Calypso Hotel , a pretty swanky new hotel. Nothing beats starting off a Sunday afternoon with a mojito - especially one that's not full of peices of dirt or bugs. (Like the one I had here ). I had a nice lunch but couldn't finish it all so I packed up the meat for my next stop. But first, one of the swimming pool potholes. This one was about three feet deep, at least. I thought about standing in it to show just how deep it is...but well...that's just gross. Next stop was Le Bateau Ivre. I haven't been in a month or more, and it's always nice to sit and relax near the beach. One of my favorite parts is the dogs here, I always want to take care of them!!! (And take them home).  My friend perked up when I showed him I had a steak to feed him.  He enjoyed his afternoon snack! It's hard ...

Alright, enough with the drama and back to the regularly scheduled picture posts. I'm at a bit of a loss for most of my pictures right now because I have lost misplaced the cord to download pictures from my good camera. Dammit. I either have to order one on-line or hope to find someone else's that I can borrow. In the meantime, here are some pictures I took while flying the new route that I took to/from Canada with my little camera. The journey begins in Toamasina and we take the corporate charter to Antananarivo (the capital of MG). It's a a one hour flight on a plane that seats roughly 15. Some pics from the sky: Most days the charter stops at the mine to pick up or drop off people. Both on the way to Antananarivo (Tana for short) and on the way home, it was too cloudy and conditions were too rough to land. Fine by me, the sooner that I'm off this little plane, the better! The next sequence of pictures is on my way back to Toamasina, after a wonderful three w...

I went into town today to pick up some groceries Orangina Light this afternoon.   We have a new driver, and his name is Arsene. He’s super friendly, although he’s confused me a couple of times with his French comprehension, but I’m convinced with his personality that we’ll squash those kinds of things soon.   To make some random conversation, I asked what the name “Arsene” meant. He didn’t know. He asked me what my name meant. I am well aware of what it means, because I ask this question ALL the time wherever I go  (especially to any taxi driver in any country. It always seems to be my ice breaker. If you are a taxi driver reading this – yes I am one of those people that will ask you questions about where you come from, if you like it here, do you have family, etc.) and I’m always prepared with my answer, should the question be asked in return.   Nicole   Nicole pronounced Ni-kohl is a popular name of Greek ...