When I just arrived at Schiphol I realized that my GEP-adventure is over. Almost a year ago I filled in the application form, convinced of the fact that this experience would change my life. Now, months later, I can say it definitely did.

Living in a small secluded town like Ambovombe has it up- and downsides. There are things I appreciate and things I miss. For example: I like the fact that it is not polluted here as it is in Tana, just as the fact that there are no traffic jams (since there are almost no cars and I did not run into a zebu chart-jam up till now). I love walking to work in the morning and being greeted by almost everyone I pass by. People are calm and friendly and even if someone you don’t know approaches you it is more out of curiosity than out of anything else.

Even though it may sound strange, it is easy to get used to seeing the harsh living conditions people here in Madagascar have to live with. The first few weeks in the field you cannot get your head around the poverty and hunger you see every day: the neighbors kids playing in the yard with their floated bellies, the old man begging for food on the way to work, the skinny little girl chewing on a dry potato because she is hungry but doesn’t have anything else to eat.