Dispatches From The Field

2 August, 2003 -- Luke Dollar

The first priority in maintaining the morale and esprit de corps of any hard-working, field-based group living in less-than-luxurious conditions is food. Plain and simple: if the food is good, plentiful, and predictable, most groups of people can remain relatively well-adjusted and energetic – even in the middle of a remote forest in northwestern Madagascar.

Suzanna, a team 3 Earthwatcher, volunteered to teach and prepare some new dishes with the women of Ambodimanga. Since we’d all gotten quite used to rice and beans, I wasn’t positive that this’d be a hit, but I’m proud to say it was. Way out in the middle of Madagascar, we all chipped in and helped prepare a favorite cuisine among those of us from other continents – Thai food.

Everyone hurried through trap checks to get back in time to contribute in preparing the meal. I’m pleased to say it was delicious; and a welcome change from rice a beans. I wonder if the women of Ambodimanga will incorporate some of the sauces and ingredients we enjoyed this evening into our future meals. I look forward to finding out!