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| Me not being serious in a rice field |
I would like to think that I am, generally, a lighthearted and
straightforward guy. Those of you who have been following my blog can most
likely attest to the fact that my posts reflect these personality traits. Those
of you who have not been following my
blog should go back, read my other posts, and confirm the previous statement.
If not for the aforementioned reason, you should read my other blog posts
solely for the purpose of providing me with the small ego boost that comes with
seeing my “Blog Viewed” numbers go up. Thank you in advance.
As I was saying, my blog posts tend to follow a trend of circumventing
too many “serious” topics. This, primarily, has been the case because it is
much more enjoyable for me to give you all a peek into my life in rural
Madagascar by producing posts about cute children’s classes, jam making,
talking to animals, and being asked to hold chickens on an overcrowded taxi
brousse. With this being said, I have decided to mix things up a bit by laying
out a small handful of some more serious questions, concerns, frustrations, and
hopes that consistently confront me. By doing this, I intend to give you a
slightly more candid look into my unique situation in this beautiful place.
But let’s not get too serious.
To lighten the mood, each deep thought will be bookended my
some of my latest animal poetry. Enjoy.
A Limerick for Rats
I know you eat my
food for free,
and gnaw through my
stuff carelessly.
I wish you would leave,
grant me a reprieve.
Find a new home,
ASAP.
Deep Thought – Hope
I recently had a conversation with my site supervisor, Hoby
(hoo-bee), about his latest trip to the capital city. We talked about how he
went to agricultural meetings, filed some paperwork at governmental offices,
and visited his family, but then seemingly out of nowhere he asked me, “Do you
know of Nelson Mandela?” He had recently watched a movie on the South African
leader’s life, and as he was emotionally describing it to me, he tearfully
stated, “Madagascar needs a leader like him.” This comes from a man who daily
confronts and struggles with the deep seeded corruption of governmental
entities in this country. Anyone from the local post office worker to the
regional police officers to governmental executives will accept (and often
expect) bribes to sidestep the harsh repercussions they seem to be able to
deliver at will. This, unfortunately, isn’t just a monetary issue, but an
efficiency concern as well. Certain issues are, consequently, not addressed in
a timely manner (e.g. a small village clinic in my region not being restocked
with child malaria treatments for two months).
Despite the presence of these dismal events, the Malagasy
people never lose hope for a better tomorrow. I am perpetually floored by the
unwavering hope and optimism of these beautiful people. Hoby summed it up
better than I can by saying, “I look around and I see amazing Malagasy people.
There is always hope that they will lead this country, so that is what I pray
for.”
My Thoughts on Duck Thoughts
(A haiku)
What does it ponder?
Perhaps justice, self
worth, truth.
Or maybe just… Quack.
A Duck Dilemma
(Another duck haiku)
The rock soars
towards it.
I warn it, to no
avail.
Shouldn’t have said,
“Duck!”
Deep Thought – Opportunity
The current President of Madagascar, Hery
Rajaonarimampianina (talk about a tongue twister), has traveled the world,
echoing the same message to anyone that will listen, “Madagascar is, today, a
land of opportunity.” Although his intentions are good, many Malagasy people
ask, “Opportunity for whom?” President Rajaonarimampianina is coining this
phrase with the hopes of wooing foreign investors (one of the top priorities
for the current administration), and consequently improving the quality of life
of the Malagasy people as a whole.
The reason that doubt exists among the general public is
that, historically, when a foreign investor takes stock in a Malagasy resource,
the only people who don’t see benefit are the Malagasy people themselves. Take
the example of recent mining (and other extractive industries) in Madagascar.
The technician jobs that were created required such a high level of specialty
that the vast majority of citizens couldn’t qualify. This lack of opportunity
can seem like a slap to the face when The World Bank estimates that more than
92 percent of the population lives under $2 a day (and often less than $1 in
rural regions).
But none of this seems to stop the Malagasy people from
pushing towards a better life. Talking with the young adults of Madagascar is
truly inspirational. Despite being faced with social immobility, they continue
to crave education, expanded perspectives, and better lives for the generations
to come. And they are not afraid to work for it. I can confidently say that
Malagasy people are some of the hardest workers I have ever encountered, and I
am glad to see that their hard work is starting to be noticed by the outside world.
To see the beginnings of a foreign investment making a difference in the lives
of the Malagasy people, click here to check out an article on the
international demand for lychees (yum).
A Letter to a Tenrec
Dear strange, hedgehog-like creature,
I do not care that you
live by my door
or
eat my leftover
banana peels
or
occasionally knock
over my water bucket.
I do care that you
sleep in my shoes.
Cordially,
-A surprised shoe-wearer
Deep Thought – Tradition & (slow) Progress
Upon entering my USA hometown (Farmington, Missouri), the
first thing you see off of the highway is a city water tower brandishing the
town’s motto: The city of tradition & progress. I find this label oddly
appropriate for Madagascar, except with one small adjustment: The country of
tradition & (slow) progress. Madagascar is full of incredible cultural
pieces that stem out of an exceptionally strong sense of tradition and honoring
the past. The Malagasy proverb Manaova
toy ny dian-tanalahy: jerena ny aloha, todihina my aoriana (Walk like the chameleon: one eye forward,
the other backward), seems to accurately describe the importance that the
Malagasy people put on the past.
While this philosophy is often beautiful to witness and
essential for the survival of the rich traditional Malagasy culture and
identity, it can stir up some destructive tendencies as well. Some examples
include the widespread use of “slash & burn,” many out of date medical
practices, and even a belief (in my village) that the water from the nearby
river is clean during the rainy season and thus, does not need to be treated
before consumption. Finding a balance of systematically removing harmful
practices and preventing the disappearance of Malagasy culture turns out to be quite
the challenge.
“But Nicholas, that’s why you’re in Madagascar! You can
change the country for the better!” Although it’s tempting to think that I can
come into a place, stand on a Western pedestal, preach the words of change,
and then leave knowing I altered the world for good, I realize that it’s not only delusional,
but also self-righteous. If healthy and long-term change is to take place
without the destruction of certain cultural pieces, the Malagasy people must do
it in a Malagasy way. Which usually means slow and steady (Moramora). I am
confident that this country will slowly walk together (like the chameleon)
towards a healthier tomorrow without losing site of their cultural roots. And
when they move as a collective unit, the Malagasy people are unstoppable. Izay mitambatra vato fa izay misaraka fasika
(Together we are rock, separate we
are sand).
The Transitive Property
I feed the pigs. The
pigs get fat.
I eat the pigs. I get
fat.
Thus, by the
transitive property, feeding pigs makes me fat.
Now do you see?
I told you that my
degree in Mathematics would come in handy on the farm.
Cow Days
Moo.
Chew.
Poo.
Snooze.
Repeat.
*Many of the figures
in this blog post came from Ambony-Ambany, a collection of articles by Soamiely
Andriamananjara.
