Letters from Madagascar: Dancing with the dead

Seeing the remains of dead relatives would be akin to a nightmare for most of us Americans. But for the Malagasy, it's a reason to celebrate.

Letters from Madagascar: Let’s talk about rice

Letters from Madagascar: Anyone want a puppy?

I had no clue what I was getting into when I adopted a dog and her six newborn puppies back in April.

Letters from Madagascar: Education is no guarantee in Madagascar

Whether public or private, students must pay a fee to attend school here. For many families, it's more than they can afford.

Letters from Madagascar: Nothing here is easy

I'd like to say that living in Madagascar has made me strong, but even the 12-year-old girls put me to shame.

Letters from Madagascar: The only rest for pregnant women comes after giving birth

A baby is born healthy and her loving family (and this writer) are determined to make sure she stays that way.

Letters from Madagascar: When lightning strikes, the villagers eat well

Being a good neighbor here means buying the butchered meat of a cow killed by lightning.

Letters from Madagascar: Why we say ‘Good thing the night is finished’

What is it here that makes the night seem especially dangerous? Evil spirits, witchcraft and cattle thieves.

Peace Corps: John F. Kennedy’s most enduring legacy

Just two months into his presidency in 1961, Kennedy signed an executive order to form the Peace Corps on a trial basis.

Letters from Madagascar: Exploring life and culture on Earth’s oldest island

Bates College graduate and former Sun Journal reporter Vanessa Paolella is now a Peace Corps volunteer living in Madagascar. This is the first of a series of columns of what life is like on the unique island in the Indian Ocean.