Far and Away

Rowan's Mom here - she is not able to access internet at this point so I will pass along what I've learned during 2 recent phone conversations.
Rowan has found Malagasies to be very friendly and the Peace Corps takes good care of the volunteers. Her host family consists of 3 generations: Grandma, Mom and Granddaughter. Last night, after a game of dominoes, Row taught them the Macarena. She does her chores every day which includes helping with the pigs and chickens and she scrubs her floor with 1/2 a coconut shell. Living with a host family helps the volunteers learn how to run a Malagasy household.
There is a cyclone off the coast so there is a lot of rain lately.
After training, Rowan will be placed in Makaiorvana - nearest "big" town is Vohemar - in the Northeast part of the island. There she will work with the Missouri Botanical Gardens.
Rowan said everything is red and green - green rice paddies and red dirt. She speaks fondly of her host family - "Mom" sings in the morning.