(written 7/1/08; posted by MOM)
Why? Because when I start appearing on television, it has to be a bad sign. That’s right; I was briefly on Malagasy TV. I did not see it, since there are no televisions in my town, but fellow volunteers in my banking town saw me and told me about it. During tryouts for the town’s singing competitions for June 26th at the local radio station, I make an appearance in the background as I observe the talent. It was very brief, of course. Nevertheless—a star is born! Naturally, it was not a speaking part, but we all start somewhere. Perhaps I can be a silent star like Charlie Chaplin? An unknowing star, since I had no idea I would be on television until after it aired, but still a star!
I greatly enjoy shopping at Frips—the little stands in the market selling clothing. Since many of the clothes are donated from America, I often see shirts from local bars, high schools, athletic teams, restaurants and more from home. I also enjoy looking for ridiculous shirts, much as I did at thrift store in the US. In fact, when my Peace Corps training group gathers for in-service training (IST) next month, one event we have planned is a ridiculous tee shirt competition (there may or may not be a facial hair competition as well) But often when I am looking for outrageous or hideous shirts (or the Holy Grail—sports champion misprint shirts, like Patriots 19-0), I am surprised to find shirts that I would wear regularly in the US> Often these are band shirts (particularly cool G n’ R and Iron Maiden shirts, although the Scorpions shirt is most popular) but also cool South African and Aussie rugby shirts, English Premier League shirts..such a variety. You just never know when you will find a true treasure. As for what I have set for my IST wardrobe...I think it is best to wait for the photos, for the full effect.
Continuing the non-sequitoir stories, I had dinner with a Malagasy friend and his family tonight. Two things stuck out, both of which I have touched on before: the American songs on locally, and the Malagasy children. During my visit, I twice heard the Brittany Spears song “Not a Girl, Not yet a Woman”. It has, unfortunately, been stuck in my head since. The other point is that children really are the same everywhere. I completely lost track of time playing hand games and other simple word-less games with family’s little kids, I like that there is no cultural barrier when it comes to playing simple games with children, wherever you are.
Finally, I thought I would regularly drop some Malagasy language lessons in here. Maybe they will come in handy for you? At the very least, when I return in a few years and am still often speaking Malagasy, maybe some little bit of it will make since. Probably wishful thinking, but on with Malagasy 101!
• Masandro—sun—I start with this one because it is fun to say (pronounced “mah-swan-drew”) and it has a cool root: “maso” means “eye” and “andro” means “day”. Thus the sun is the eye of the day!
• Mihinana—to eat—very important verb, one of the first you learn when you arrive at your host family hungry (“noana”). Pronounced “me-he-na-na”. Most Malagasy verbs start with the letter M (making the M section take up half of the dictionary), and there is no conjugation. This means you rely on personal pronouns to determine the subject (“aho” for I, “ianau” for you pronounced “ah-who” like the sneeze “achoo” and “Ya-now”). Part of the usual greeting may include the question “Mihin anam-Bary ve ianao?”, meaning “have you eaten rice” basically, “bary” coming from “Vary {var-e, rice} “ve” being a question word for yes or no questions, like if someone said “you enjoy reading this blog, right?” The “right” would be equivalent to “ve”, but there is no translation.
• Aiza—where, where is [there is no verb “to be” in Malagasy]. Pronounced “tea-ah-kew”. In a related political note, the Malagasy President’s party if TIM, or Tiako I Madagasikara, literally “I Love Madagascar”. “Tough to vote against a name like the, I imagine!
Now, let’s put these sentences to some useful purpose—when it has been raining constantly for a few days, you ask “Aiza ny Masoandro?” When you want to reassure your Malagasy friends, say “Tiako Mihinanam-bary!) See, it’s not so hard, and soon you too will be Efa Mahay teny Malagasy! [Literally, “already smart at the Malagasy language” or already knowing the Malagasy language”}
P.S. In a sign of how humid and moist it is here, all of my envelopes have sealed themselves shut and I have to rip them a bit to use them. Whoops!
