Sahambavy and leaving Fianar

On Friday, Maribeth and I went to Sahambavy, to the Lac Hotel for a relaxing night in the country.  Gabe was supposed to go too, but backed out.  We got there on a taxi-brousse, and  Maribeth picked up 2 packages at the post office before we left, which made us look rather like vagabonds as we entered such a nice hotel.  Since we’ve met the owner before, we managed to score an entire cottage.  It slept 7 at minimum, and had a kitchen.  It was a little slice of heaven for a night.  On Saturday morning, we went for a walk to visit the Sahambavy Tea Plantation.  On the way, some farmers in a rice field yelled out in Malagasy (joking) that we should come help them weed their rice.  So, we took off our shoes and climbed on into the rice field.  It was pretty neat, and the farmers sure got a kick out of it.  Pictures to follow.  Returning, we wound up in the back of a pickup truck with benches in it.

Saturday afternoon, my host family came to my room to thank me for the support I’ve given them (in the form of rent), and to give me a small going away present – an embroidered tablecloth for an end table.  We all cried a little, and it was a really neat moment – it’s a really matriarchal family, so it was just Mme Elysoa, Mama Tendry and her sister, and her little daughter Kenia.  In the evening, I had dinner with Karen and the girls one last time, and then we went to Karaoke.  I haven’t been in awhile – it’s usually pretty busy.  We were literally the only ones there for quite awhile.  Gabe, Haddie and I did a pretty awesome rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody.

Sunday was the drive to Tana.  Mariette packed me a big lunch, and I had a person per bag help me get things down to the car.  A Peace Corps volunteer named Haddie needed to go to Tana too, so she came along with us.  It was nice to have her along.   We stopped for a break in Antsirabe and checked out the gemstone market – pretty cool stuff!

Now I’m in Tana, and feeling much more relaxed now that the goodbyes are over.  I can’t wait for Cape Town, and then to come home!  Tonight we’re making a Thanksgiving dinner – I helped Theresa’s housekeeper make pumpkin pie today (from actual pumpkin, not the canned stuff!).  I fly out on Wednesday, and it’s off to see the beautiful sights of Cape Town.