I thought the hospitality industry had a lot of acronyms (RevPAR, ADR, DoR, GM, FOH, BOH, PMS, F&B, etc) but…..you got nothing on Peace Corps! Everything is abbreviated. EVERYTHING! Unless you’re a volunteer or working with Peace Corps, sentences that come out of our mouths are like a foreign language on top of the foreign language we already speak in country.

“I sent an email to the CD about my PCPP proposal and instead of copying my APCD and I copied the SSO. I got an answer that said my project was actually classified under SPA but they would explain everything at the PCTC during MSC. Staff however was busy preparing VRFs for their sectors and finishing COSers paperwork, plus revisiting our EAP, that they couldn’t answer with more details. They wished me a good time at VAC and then reminded me to submit my AVS and I should start working on my CDS.”

So…..catch any of that?

I realized that a lot of times I write blogs and don’t really clarify what any of those acronyms actually mean. So here it goes. Hopefully, a lightbulb will go off in your head when you think “so that’s what she wanted to say”

CD – Country Director
APCD – Associate Peace Corps Director (the heads of each sector of volunteers in country)
PA – Programing Assistant
PCMO – Peace Corps Medical Officer
EAP – Emergency Action Plan
SSO – Safety and Security Officer
PST – Pre Service Training (roughly the first 2 months in country before you Swear In as a Volunteer)
PCV – Peace Corps Volunteer
PCT – Peace Corps Trainee
PCR – Peace Corps Response (shorter time commitment, typically 3-6 months)
RPCV – Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (PCVs that have completed their time commitment and returned to the US)
PCTC – Peace Corps Training Center
VRF – Volunteer Reporting Form (completed quarterly, a list of all activities and work completed at site and in country)
AVS – All Volunteer Survey (completed worldwide by all volunteers of Peace Corps)
MSC – Mid Service Conference
COS – Close of Service (when your 2 years of commitment are up)
IST – In Service Training (at 3 months as a Volunteer)
PCPP – Peace Corps Partnership Program (a form of project funding)
SPA – Small Project Assistance (another form of funding)
VAST – final form of project funding (I’m not even sure what it stands for)
GLOW – Girls Leading Our World (week long camp for empowering girls)
DOS – Description of Service (document to be written at COS regarding your service in country)
PACA – Participatory Analysis of Community Action (activities to be done in the first three months at site to allow you to get to know your village and their needs)
CDS – Community Diagnostic Survey (a report formulated based on the results of PACA and your views)
ET – Early Terminate (when you end your service prior to your time commitment)
MEDEVAC – Medical Evacuation
USAID – US Agency for International Development
WID/GAD – Women in Development/Gender and Diversity

And that’s not to mention things that have been shortened, and words that have been completely erased from our vocabulary and replaced with the Malagasy substitution.

Ah Madagascar, tsa mahay antsony izao aho…misaotra (ah Madagascar, I don’t know anything anymore now, thanks.

It was drilled in our brains almost every day during PST (Pre Service Training), Peace Corps is a roller coaster. The longest roller coaster of your life, but also the toughest job you will ever love. Not just a roller coaster from day to day, but hour to hour, minute to minute.

Emotions can change from one second to another. Music has become a huge part of my life in this country; it keeps me sane and acts as an escape from the annoyances and difficulties in country. I can relate a song to almost every aspect of my life. And every feeling. I walk around with a soundtrack to my life in my head. Want to see what really goes on in my head as a Peace Corps Volunteer? Let’s let some famous artists do the talking for me.

1. Done. by The Band Perry – “Momma always told me to be nice but she didn’t know you when she gave me that advice…..all I want to be is done.”

For those times when some of the villagers in my village pull something on me. Like over charging or pocketing money I give them for a job and say I never paid them. Oh corruptness. Ever so present in this country.

2. God Gave Me You by Blake Shelton – “God gave me you for the ups and the downs. God gave me you for the days of doubt.”

For all people that have stood by me during my rough days in Peace Corps. My family, friends back home, and most importantly those that understand what I’m feeling because they feel it too, other Peace Corps Volunteers. Monica P, Monica D, Sally, Sarah, Eric, Emily, Amy, and my sitemate Liz. Honestly without her, I would have never made it.

3. Blonde by Bridgit Mendler – “I’m a blonde. So excuse me. I’m a blonde, I get crazy. Everyone knows we’re a little more fun”

I may not be the same person that I entered Peace Corps as, but one thing remains the same, my outgoing-ness. My Christina-isms. Not thinking before opening my mouth and saying something and realizing how blonde and Orange County I sounded.

4. Good Time by Carly Rae Jepsen and Owl City – “Good morning and good night. I wake up at twilight. It’s going to be alright. We don’t even have to try, it’s always a good time.”

In partnership with the song above, there is never a dull moment with me in my village between me and my sitemate. Just skip on down that road.

5. Warrior by Demi Lovato – “I used to wear everything like a battle wound…Now I’m a warrior. Now I’ve got thicker skin…I’m stronger than I’ve ever been”

I was very emotional coming into Peace Corps. Ask the two bosses I consider like big brothers, Dominic and Jerrod. Constructive criticism = me crying. Peace Corps has changed me and helped me grow.

6. Some Nights by Foster the People – “I miss my mom and dad for this?”

Not only my parents but my friends and family. My sisters, my best friends Caroline, Jaclyn, Annica, and others I hold near and dear to my heart (way too many to name but you know who you are). There are some (very few but some) days when I ask myself why I’m here and why I gave up so much to be here.

7. I Like it Like That by Hot Chelle Rae – “Lost my iPhone, I wouldn’t have it any other way…I like it like that.”

Being disconnected from Internet, modern technology, etc has been both a blessing and curse. Reflecting time. Reading time. Dancing like a crazy person time.

8. On Top of the World by Imagine Dragons – “Cause I’m on top of the world ehhhh, waiting on this for a while now.”

My brousse song. Hand out the window snaking through wind. My ‘I freakin’ live in Madagascar, ya’ll’ song.

9. Always be Together by Little Mix – “We are friends for life.”

We came in as strangers, but leave as friends. My family is 100+ deeper now. Peace Corps for life.

10. Over Again by One Direction/Feel Again by One Republic MASHUP“Can we do this over again?”/”But with you I feel again.”

I hold this mashup close to my heart. No explanation to be given. But a huge part of who I am today.

11. Where We Came From by Phillip Phillips – “I must have used up all my wishes yesterday.”

When you have a good day, you can almost guarantee things won’t go as smoothly next time.

12. 22 by Taylor Swift” – I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling 22…everything will be alright if we keep dancing like we’re 22″

Sometimes dancing like a stupid person is the only way to go when the going gets hard.

13. Run by Thompson Square – “I’m going to run as fast as I can. Hold every little moment in the palm of my hand.”

I take in each moment and try to remember everything. Years from now, I want to be able to share with my kids what I experienced and learned in this country.

14. Eyes Open by Taylor Swift – “Everybody’s waiting for you to break down.”

Sometimes I feel like Peace Corps staff is against me. Realistically, no, they are probably not. But, it feels that way. I have to remember the harsh love they dell out is just to help make me a stronger more independent person.

15. Made in America by Cimorelli” – California born and raised, just trying to make my name.”

Always lived by this. Always will. One of four girls. I want to die thinking I have accomplished something and have made a difference. I’m not just one of the triplets, I’m Christina Nielsen, hospitality professional, future RPVC…..insert future stuff here.

And my mantra in this country –> “I ain’t got no car, and I’ve got one pair of jeans. They’ve been stretched too far and now they’re weak at the seams. I can’t see what’s next, and I’ve got nothing on my sleeve, but I don’t loose my head cause it ain’t really up to me. And I’m doing just fine, I’m always landing on my feet.” – Sweet Serendipity by Lee DeWyze

Get rid of all the excess. Take it as it is. You can only control so much in your life; the rest is up to destiny.

BBC reported over a month ago that Madagascar was having the largest outbreak of locusts in a very long time. However, ask any volunteer then what BBC was talking about and they wouldn’t have a clue. Grasshoppers are everywhere in this country; the people eat them as meals and for snack. However, I don’t think any of us have observed a humongous swarm of them destroying the crops. So BBC, I think you’re trippin’.

However, today I was sitting in my house reading a book and I hear repeating clangs on my tin roof. Thinking it was the start of a rain storm I ran outside to collect water in my bucket. Yes, shower night!! I got more than I bargained for. I was greeted by millions upon millions of locusts. Locusts landing in my hair. Locusts taunting Parasy and flying just out of biting reach. Locusts flying through my window, entering my house.

What did I do….well after the prancing around screaming ‘Eew, eew, eeewwwww’ swatting locusts off of me, I boarded up my house and sat in darkness before deciding to crack a window and take pictures to document this event. After all, I’m in Madagascar for only 10 more months and I’m probably not going to experience this again.

So BBC, I now know what you meant by a locust outbreak. And a locust cloud. And how absolutely absurd and yet normal my life is in this country.

a close up of what I saw for one week straight

Parasy confused as to what is going on..

It’s been a little over a year since I have stepped foot in the land of English, fast food, and washing machines and boy has it changed. Yes Irvine and Tustin look just the way I left it, but in other ways it has changed completely. I took for granted random things like quick accessibility to food, free and fast wifi, multiple lane roads, customer service, and stop lights. Yes, I wrote stop lights.

When I first arrived in the US, at a layover at JFK airport in New York, my first goal was to get my hand on some oily, grubby fast food. I didn’t care about the high cholesterol that runs in my family and I probably inevitably have, I just wanted the food I had been craving for the last year of my life. However, I had to pass through customs and go through security again. Seems easy enough, right? Oh no, not for a Nielsen. “so ma’am, do you have any animal products to declare?….well not edible, but I do have a cow head in my luggage…excuse me, did you just say cow head?….yes, you know, a skull, but its been cleaned…so you have a cow’s skull in your luggage, that’s a new one. Ummmmmmm go ahead.”

At security, I forgot I had a bottled water in my backpack. Then I touched the bag to try and help open it and was told if I touched it again I would be asked to step to the side. I apologized and instantly answered in Malagasy, got an extremely strange look from the security agent, and then was informed they were going to rescan all of my luggage again. In the process, a Kindle inside a mailing box raised questions and was requested for a security check.

I’m sorry United States, I’ve gotten weird.

My first meal in the US you may ask….Burger King fries and Dr. Pepper. It took me a good 24 hours to get readjusted to American food and the flavors. Definitely a far change from rice and a little bit of meat which is what I eat day in and day out in Madagascar. And I hate to admit this, but Burger King, you let me down. Your fries are not what I remembered them to be. But Taco Bell, you saved the day, like you always do with your scrumdiliumptous Crunch Wrap Supreme and bean burrito (no surprise there).

It took 37 hours to travel from Antananarivo, Madagascar to Los Angeles, California. In the process I watched six movies, four tv shows, and marveled over small things like magazines, multiple electrical outlets, and bread that wouldn’t knock someone out if you hit them over the head with it. Why is there so many people speaking English??? What do you mean you don’t understand me when I say “azafady“…any normal person would know that means excuse me. Oh wait, I’m in the States, focus Christina, focus.

So here I am, at 6a writing this blog, my body still hasn’t and probably won’t adjust to the drastic time change, trying to decide what to eat for breakfast. The options! My entire vacation is in front of me, with seeing friends, sharing funny stories, and gaining the 20 pounds I expect from all the fast food consumption.

…”so this one time I stuck my dog in the attic to see if there was a serial killer living in there because of a Methloquine hallucination……………..ooooooooo In’n’Out!!”

The other day, with unlimited internet at a PC Meva in Fianarantsoa, I finally went through my unread emails in my inbox. Over 1000 emails, oops. Things got a little out of control there. WordPress, for the new years always sends out an email covering your year before, number of views, most viewed blog post, etc. It’s always fun looking at the information and reminiscing over the previous year. This year however, they decided to include a photo of the world, and mark all the countries where your viewers viewed your blog. I was expecting the United States and Madagascar to be the only countries colored. Because obviously, my friends and family live in the States and I’m serving in Madagascar. However, I was surprised to see that 90 countries were highlighted. Ranging from just one reader to thirty readers, there are 88 countries with readers besides the States and Mada. So to anyone, anywhere, reading this post right now, thank you for showing an interest in my writing (no matter how sarcastic it has gotten) and thank you for taking the time out of your busy day to read my entries. One year of adventures down, and one year to go.

2012 felt like it flew by. It seemed like only yesterday I was preparing for my departure for Peace Corps, and today, it’s already 2013 and I’m nearing a 1 year mark of arriving in country. With inspiration from my friend’s blog, I have decided to put together a list of my 20 top moments of 2012 to share with all my readers. Some are inside jokes between PC Volunteers, others are realizations about myself, and some are just things that I have experienced that have changed me forever. It’s what made 2012 and what I will remember it to be. The only one that can truly be ranked is #1; the rest, while they are my favorite moments of 2012, are all very closely ranked together and interchangeable.

1. Taking the oath and swearing in as a Peace Corps Volunteer

-Hiking to the top of Pic Boby in Andringitra and coming to the realization that I can do and will do anything that I want, even after being told I wouldn’t make it.

-Working with an amazing group of people to build four houses in Ranomafana, Madagascar with Habitat for Humanity Global Villages and sharing some great experiences

-Hand feeding an Indri lemur in Andasibe

-Deciding I want to become a Public Interest Lawyer after Peace Corps

-Spending Christmas with my sister and a friend in Mahajanga and seeing the ocean for the first time in 9 months

-Finding and adopting my dog, Parasy from a trash pit in town. She has been a handful ever since, but I wouldn’t change it for anything

-Being invited to and experiencing a Malagasy exhumation.

-Spending Thanksgiving with my Peace Corps family in Fianar

-Arriving in my village of Alakamisy-Ambohimaha, on of all days, market day with thousands of people staring at me.

-Litchee season arriving in Madagascar and the consummation of kilos of this delicious fruit

-The arrival of ‘Daaron’ during IST (3 month training)

-Selling the product my group and I created during training in Manjakadriana

-The creation of Scrap Metal Stanley and PC Fight Club during Tech Trip

-Friday Happy Hours with my first sitemate, Savanna

-The PC Staff singing ‘RavoRavo’ to us our first night in Mantasoa; we sang that song for our Swearing In ceremony

-Johanessa’s security dance

-Sharing the Saturdays of our PC training with my stage at Hotel Ermitage over beers

-The last party before Swearing In at the PCTC with my stagemates, “Crazy Clothing Night”

-Spending three days with two friends from college in New York City prior to departure