Day Nineteen - packing up ready to leave

The traffic must have magically cleared overnight because the vehicle taking some of the MFG delegates to Betampona arrived on time to collect Britt this morning. Ivoloina manager Bernard was accompanying them and he explained that the litchi processing plants were now closed because they had reached their export quota. Therefore all litchis now had to be taken to Antananarivo. Once that information had filtered through the bedlam had vanished, moving on to Tana. It’s incredible how much chaos can be generated by a small fruit!

I said my farewells to those going on the trip because by the time they returned I would be on my way back to the UK.
Tomorrow I was to leave Ivoloina so I spent the morning sorting my stuff and deciding what to take home and what to leave behind. When Karen had her accident she received lots of practical help (including the procurement of the helicopter) from a wonderful charity called Help Madagascar. They work with some of the very poorest communities in and around Tamatave.  I heard that they would be grateful for any donations of clothing or medication so I made up a large bag of suitable things for them. Despite leaving all these things behind my rucksack was still ridiculously full - I had no idea what could possibly be taking up all the space!

Once my chores were done I met with Nirina to discuss ideas for evaluating the long term impact of the Saturday School programme. Nirina showed a good understanding of objective-led education and of the importance of evaluation. He was very keen to develop his pedagogical skills so I promised to try to help him as much as I could. I had already asked Maya whether it would be possible for Nirina to become a member of the International Zoo Educators Association. I arranged to send him some research papers on my return to the UK and to work with him via email to develop an evaluation programme. It will be good to be able to support the MFG by sharing expertise as well as by sending funds.
During the afternoon I went for a final stroll around the Parc, listening to the wind rattling the ravenala leaves and watching the birds flitting through the canopy. Brown lemurs were gorging themselves on ripe litchis.

I had enjoyed an amazing time at Ivoloina and was going to miss the place very much. It hadn’t always been easy, particularly when I had felt unwell, but it was such a beautiful place and the staff had made me feel so very welcome. I loved the eccentricity of the facilities - especially the ‘tippy tappies’ which were ingenious handwashing stations made from recycled plastic bottles.

I was very glad that I came and that I had been able to spend so much time here.
Tomorrow I was to leave on the first leg of my journey home: a journey that would take almost three days. I was looking forward to seeing my lovely family again and to sharing my experience with them. I confess that I was also looking forward to running water and electric lights, too.