I don't really know where to start this entry. I am sure most people who read this blog have at least some idea of what is going on here in Madagascar. And if you don't I am going to have to apologize for not taking the time at the moment to try and explain everything. Even if I did want to try and explain what was going on it wouldn't make much sense. I don't think anyone really knows what is going on. Not even the main protagonists. To make it even harder to concentrate and write a senescent and interesting blog entry I am emotionally exhausted.

Madagascar is currently experiencing political chaos, there is a lot of blame to go around and a lot of people to take it. There are also a million reasons that this is happening. Everything from simple power grubbing to the meltdown of the global economy to too much rain. So I am not going to even attempt to explain it for the moment.

Peace Corps Madagascar has implemented its Emergency Action Plan, and all volunteers are consolidated in safe and secure locations. We are all healthy and physically safe. Unfortunately the state of flux and stagnation we have been forced into is taking its toll on everyone staff and volunteer alike. Despite this I am extremely impressed with the ability of my fellow volunteers to pull through and work together and am blown away by the dedication of the staff. I have never seen a group of people work so hard for so long. They have been just wonderful. We still don't know what will happen within the next couple of days, but hopefully we will have some type of solution soon, I've got my fingers crossed for going back to site.

Unfortunately this political crisis has wreaked havoc on my personal life. The day this was all starting I was in Tana and I went to the Peace Corps office and distributed 50 invitations for my planned May 9th wedding. Now I don't even know what continent I will be on next week, much less if I will be getting married in May. If Peace Corps gets evacuated I will apply for a fiance visa from the United States and hope that Mbola will be able to quickly join me there. If we are allowed to go back to site soon then I will continue on with plan A and get married on May 9th.

I am extremely stressed and feeling really burnt out, but I know that no matter what happens in the next couple of days Mbola and I will eventually find a solution that will allow us to get married. For now all we can do is wait and see.

There is no way for me to express how indebted I am to my friends and family at home and here in Madagascar for supporting me through this crisis. I wouldn't be in one piece (mentally) without them.