Restocking

Well, I'm back. Ranobe didn't go quite as planned (does it ever?), but we still got a fair amount accomplished. Olivia and our undergrad "research assistant" Steph both got sick for 2 of the 3.5 days we were there, so that slowed us down a bunch. We also ran out of wood for the solar dryer, so we're back in town to restock on hardware, lumber, and food. The PV system at the research center isn't mounted yet, but the frame is built and the panels are charging on the "veranda." (Can a structure without floors or even all its walls yet really have a veranda?) The first treadle pump encountered some problems but is awaiting installation now, and Steph started construction on the second pump. We're in Tulear for one more day but then heading back to finish the pump, the dryer, the PV frame, and start designing an irrigation system for the tree nurseries.

I'm slowly trying to post some pictures, although the internet connection is really spotty here. Sometimes it's as fast as at home in the US; sometimes it's barely up to dial-up standards. You can never tell. This is a photo of our first Madagascar swim/wade in the Indian Ocean. Can you tell how huge the waves are? It was intimidating; no one went in beyond hip level because the current was so strong and the waves were over our heads. Very beautiful beach though!

And this picture is of the incredibly endangered and endemic to south Madagascar mantela frog. It is tiny and took us half an hour to find in the forest, but here it is, in all it's colorful glory! So beautiful!

And this is the success of the first treadle pump built in Ranobe! This is Steph spraying the nursery and surrounding agriculture fields. The pump encountered a couple structural problems a few minutes later, but it's so close to working, and the villagers were shouting and running about like kids under the spray. The kids hammed it up, pretending to shower with the water, or covering the hose with their thumbs to shoot a powerful jet at their friends. Just like I did maybe 15 years ago. Kids around the world are exactly the same!

Anyway, we have also decided to make our return trips to Tulear coincide with the most important World Cup games. We're planning to celebrate July 4th at the hotel on the beach on the 6th or 7th, when the semifinals are, and to be back in Tulear for the finals on the 11th. Yeah soccer!