Last night while Stephen was at a meeting, I decided to drive to another missionary’s house which is outside of the compound where I live. In case you didn’t see my posted picture from a week ago of me driving, I am very thankful my parent’s made me learn to drive on a standard. If I didn’t know how to drive stick shift, this would only add to the chaos of driving here. Since Madagascar was a French colony, we drive on the right side of the road, but that doesn’t mean it is anything like America.

I felt a bit nervous starting the car, mind you it’s a diesel and the first time I’ve driven a diesel. I get the car started, put it in reverse…breathe a little and drive on! A rush comes over me! I. AM. DRIVING. OVERSEAS. BY. MYSELF! Then I start to sweat…woah! I’m driving overseas BY MYSELF! I tell myself to relax and proceed to the gate on my street. Of course there is someone backing out of a driveway all crazy and two guards whistling and making motions and hollering in Malagasy. I brake even though they motion me through the gate because I know the other guy isn’t watching. Right now certainly wouldn’t be a good time to have an accident. Have I mentioned how thankful I am to my parents for teaching me great driving skills? Because I’m so grateful!! Ok, so through the gate I go and I turn onto the connecting street. ALL I have to do is go down this street for half a mile and turn into another compound. Easy right? WELL, there are about 150-200 people lining either side of a narrow barely two car cobblestone road. Not just that, but dogs, and a cart being pulled by two “zebus” or cows are all making their way around. BREATHE BAILEY…more sweat expels from my body. A semi truck is in front of me, a large white truck behind me and several oooooold school Volkswagon bugs marked as “Taxis” coming at me from the opposite direction. Street vendors line the streets and I grip the steering wheel and the clutch. Eventually I make my way down the straight but bumpy road to the gate and eventually park outside the house of my destination. Relieved, I walk inside with a smile on my face. I did it! I drove here all by myself! A small victory, but a victory nonetheless.

Today we spent a lot of time in our car driving all over Antananarivo, the capital city where we live. We call it *Tana* for short. I can’t really describe the driving here to anyone who has not driven in a highly populated city that is not first world. I can’t count how many people tried to sell me sunglasses, seat covers, fruit, sunshades, towels etc. as we sat in bumper bumper traffic. Or how many cars pushed their way into our lane of traffic. It’s quite the adventure! While I’ve been exposed to this style of driving several times overseas, I have never had to drive it myself!

I always state that I’m the better drive in the USA over Stephen, but he by FAR exceeds my Africa road abilities ;-) He says that he drives offensively and I drive defensively because of the USA. I will learn to adjust. My hat is off to you my dear husband and your mad driving skills! You’re my hero babe!