making contact

I should have some access to email while in Madagascar. If not, there is always snail mail.

During training, June 15th until mid-September, you can reach me by writing letters/sending packages to:

Elaine Wacuka Hurt, PCT
Bureau du Corps de la Paix
B.P. 120891
Post Zoom Ankorondrano
Antananarivo 101
Madagascar
South East Africa

- Please write "Air Mail via Paris" at the bottom of the address.
- Mail can take 1 to 2 months to arrive, so don't be alarmed if you don't receive a response from me right away.
- Please DATE and NUMBER your messages, so that I know what order they go in and can tell if some are missing.
- Use padded envelopes whenever possible [esp. for sending things like books, dvds, cds, teaching materials, magazines (Vogue, People, True Love, etc), pictures,vitamins or my favorite snacks]. I'm told these tend to be taxed less heavily and may travel faster.

OR

Send things via DHL if you need to get something to me fast or if the item is sensitive.

My DHL address is
Elaine Wacuka Hurt, PCT
c/o U. S. Peace Corps Madagascar
Villa Les Lierres
Lot IIk 76, Bonnet Invandry
Antananarivo
Madagascar
South East Africa

You will need to include the Peace Corps/Madagascar phone number: 261-20-224-3820.

After September though, I have no clue where I will be posted. But no worries, just keep watching this space.

finally

I am nearing my June 11 departure date - the beginning of my nail biting adventure. Not too long now, I will be meeting up with my fellow trainees in Philadelphia, for vaccinations and general formalities before departing for the Great Red Island on June 13. In Madagascar, we'll begin three lovely months of intense cultural, technical and language training, during which I'll live with a host family. Most of our days will be filled with language and survival training, no doubt in Malagasy and not so much French. After those (hopefully not as grueling as I have heard) 3 months of training we will be sworn in as Peace Corps Volunteers, receive our assignments and anxiously begin a two-year commitment somewhere in the country. I am keeping my fingers crossed for a beach assignment. Wish me luck.