Recently, Rachel had to ask Peace Corps administration to speak with her host family about giving her more to eat. She was getting much less variety than other volunteers—mostly “vary sosoa” (soupy rice), even several times a day. Now the situation is better, but here’s the straw that broke the camel’s back. One morning recently Rachel was walking to class during her Trainee period and was joined by the twins who have befriended her. They are from a poorer family than Rachel’s host family; live in a much less nice house on Rachel’s way to school.

As usual, they each took one of Rachel’s hands and started teaching her words. Rachel was in a bad mood because she was HUNGRY that morning and was just wishing that they were not with her when one of the twins pulled out two little plastic bags of Malagasy snack food from her pocket and gave Rachel one. “It’s called ‘caca pigeon’,� the little girl told Rachel. Rachel was hungry enough so that she was grateful even for pigeon poop—and touched beyond words that the twin would share her snack when snacks are few and far between in the child’s life.