Then and now

It’s amazing to think about how much my life has changed since I arrived in Madagascar. When I do a mental comparison of what my life was like a year ago versus today, it can be almost comical to compare the difference. I saw another volunteer post a similar entry on her blog, so I thought it would be fun to replicate it myself.

THEN:
Ah, the convenience of a washing machine. Just press a button and wait for it to be done.

NOW:
I hand-wash everything (including sheets) in plastic basins. It takes me about 2-3 hours, and I do this once a week. I also sometimes pay a woman to help when I have too many dirty clothes to deal with.

THEN:
Pre-work Starbucks visits.

∫NOW:
My local coffee and mofo stand, with endrini' Arnaud, its proprietor. 10 cents for a small cup of coffee.

THEN:

Barre workout classes at the Physique 57 studios all over NYC.

NOW:
Physique 57 DVDs in my house, using sand-filled water bottles as weights.

THEN:
Commuting to work on the NYC subway.

NOW:
Commuting to work on my trusty bike, via rutted, muddy roads.

THEN:
Monthly air-travel.

NOW:
Monthly taxi-brousse travel.

THEN:
iPhone.

NOW:

Crappy circa 2007 phone.

THEN:
Drinks at cocktail bars (especially my favorite, scotch on the rocks.)

NOW:
Cheap rum that has been steeped with vanilla beans (known here as rhum arrangée) to make it taste better.

THEN:
Running water in my kitchen and bathroom, with NYC tap water-- the world's best!

NOW:
Water from a hand-pump about 50 meters away from my house. I fetch about 3 buckets' worth per day. My "running water" setup is a jerry can that I've fitted with a tap so that I have a good place for handwashing.