September 18, 2026
Last night, I had trouble sleeping.
Despite the luxuries of hot, running water and a comfortable bed at the Peace Corps Training Center (PCTC), my mind was elsewhere.
In just eight hours, I would finally learn which community I would have the privilege of calling home for the next two years.
After months of preparing for Peace Corps, nearly three weeks in Madagascar, and countless conversations about what our future sites might look like, the uncertainty was finally coming to an end.
I would soon learn where I would live, who I would work alongside, and which community I would begin the long process of getting to know and integrating into.
Needless to say, I was excited.
The Big Announcement
The day itself seemed to drag on as anticipation continued to build. We had several important, emotionally demanding training sessions, including discussions about sexual assault prevention, risk mitigation, and response.
All the while, the site announcement was sitting in the back of my mind.
Eventually, the moment arrived.
I’ll be spending the next two years in a small agricultural community in Madagascar’s Central Highlands!
My permanent site will be in the broader Ambositra area, a region known for its mountainous landscape and extensive rice cultivation.
At an elevation of approximately 1,400 meters above sea level, I’m expecting the climate to be noticeably cooler than in some other parts of Madagascar.
My future community is primarily agricultural, with rice terraces covering the surrounding hillsides. According to my program manager, the area has some of the most beautiful rice fields in all of Madagascar!
I can’t wait to see them for myself.
What Will I Be Doing?
I’ll be working alongside local leaders, including the mayor and members of the commune (municipality), to support farmers in improving agricultural practices and strengthening food security.
Of course, the specific projects I’ll undertake will depend on what I learn once I arrive.
One of the things I’ve been looking forward to most about Peace Corps is the opportunity to live and work within a community rather than arriving with a predetermined list of solutions.
My first priority will be getting to know the people I’ll be living alongside, understanding their existing agricultural practices, and learning what they see as their community’s needs and priorities.
From there, we’ll see what opportunities emerge.
A Glimpse of My Future Home
I’ve also received some preliminary information about my future living arrangements.
I’ll have access to electricity, which is certainly a welcome surprise, and a nearby water source. I’m excited to learn more about what everyday life will look like once I actually visit the site.
Another Peace Corps Volunteer serving in the health sector will be in the broader region. We’ve already discussed the possibility of meeting up occasionally on weekends to catch up, speak English, and enjoy the comfort of communicating without having to translate every other word!
I suspect those conversations will become particularly valuable after long weeks of working to improve our Malagasy.
What’s Next?
As much as I would love to share the name of my future village, I’m keeping its exact location private out of respect for my future community and Peace Corps safety considerations.
There will undoubtedly be more to share as I get to know the area and better understand what information is appropriate to publish.
In approximately two weeks, I’ll have the opportunity to visit my permanent site for the first time.
For now, I have a name, a general location, and a handful of details about the place that will become my home.
It’s strange to think that somewhere in the Central Highlands, there is a community whose residents I have yet to meet but who will soon become an enormous part of my life.
After months of wondering where in Madagascar I would end up, that question finally has an answer.
Now comes the much more important part: getting to know the community and beginning to build a life there.
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