madagascar

Youth of Madagascar

I had this idea for a while now, to write up a blog all about the young adults that I know and love from Madagascar. These young adults are amazing! I have known most of them here since they were very little. It's been amazing to see them grow into such amazing young people. Now you have the chance to get to know them a little bit through this blog!

Sahaza - 18

Sahaza is in her second year of studying English and Law, at the local University. 

She loves classic movies (we watched some while I was there). Her English is amazing (it was so much fun to communicate in English with her)! She is an amazing singer! She has a huge love for her family, and helping to take care of her three younger brothers. 

Instagram account: @tsanta_sahaza

Languages: Malagasy, French, English

I have known Sahaza since she was around 1 or so. This last trip though, we really connected more and were able to have some amazing, long talks, mostly in English. Talks about life, America, photography, music, movies, etc. 

Fitahiana - 16

Fita is a senior in high school. 

He is a great artist, drawing sketches (he drew two for me that I love). He enjoys photography. He has an amazing sense of clothing style! He is Sahaza's younger brother. 

Instagram account: @tony_yzl

Languages: Malagasy, French

I remember when Fita was just a baby. And as he grew up, he would always follow me around. He loved hanging out with me, and having me play outside with him and his cousins. I enjoyed so much this last time with Fita. We did a lot of photography together. It was great to work with him because he also threw in some great ideas for photos, and his style is really awesome!

Hasina - 17 

Hasina just recently finished his senior year of high school.

Languages: Malagasy, French

He loves art, especially photography. The day we met, in Sahaza and Fita's family countryside (Hasina is their cousin), he loved watching me take photos, and had all kinds of questions. I could tell he was eager to learn. 

Jenny - 17

Jenny just recently finished her senior year of high school. 

She has an amazing love for the Lord. She is leading the children's club that I started back in 2003, which she attended. She has a big heart for little kids. She hopes to study abroad one day. She also enjoys playing the guitar and singing. 

Instagram account: @jen_hye_12

Languages: Malagasy, French, English

It really encourages me and makes my heart happy with seeing Jenny leading the kids club. I started it back in 2003, and she and her siblings and cousins would attend it every week. Now she, with the help of others, are leading other kids in their neighborhood. She has such a big heart for others and loves serving. 

Miandritiana - 19

He's looking into schools abroad, to further his studies. 

He is great musician, singing and playing the guitar. Has an amazing love for his little brother, loving on him and helping to take care of him. He loves football (soccer) and playing it with his brother and cousins. 

Instagram: @miandritiana 

Languages: Malagasy, French

 

Ranto - 20

Ranto is in his third year of studying Law at the local University.

He loves music, and enjoys photography. He has an amazing sense of style and a great smile!

I remember when he was little, and he would come over to Jenny and Miandritiana's house (he's their cousin), playing and running around!

Karen - 17

Karen is in her senior year of high school.

Karen's English is amazing! She loves classic movies, and has a great eye for photography. She has an amazing heart and love for her country and the children. 

Instagram: @karen_andrianaivo

Languages: Malagasy, French, English

I remember when Karen would attend the children's club I held back in 2003. It's fun to see her grow up and to spend more time with her, talking about the things we love...Madagascar and photography!

Nancy - 17

Nancy is studying her first year of Law at the local University.

She is a great musician! She loves playing the guitar and drums, especially with her brother Princy. 

Languages: Malagasy, French

I remember Nancy when she was just a little thing. She always loved playing with her cousins and singing!

Princy - 22

He is in his 6th year of studying Medicine at the local University, to become a doctor.

He is a great musician, playing the guitar and singing! Ever since I knew him at a young age, he always loved learning. He has a big heart for other people. 

Instagram: @pricnyadolf

Languages: Malagasy, French

I remember when I first started living in Madagascar. Princy would come to my room and visit me. At the time I didn't know any Malagasy or French. He would come though, and start speaking French to me, talking about all kinds of things. He would be there for a long time, though I didn't really say much, he still loved hanging out. 

Kezia - 22

She is working right now as a recruitment officer at a company in Tana, called OMT (OutreMer Telecom). 

Languages: Malagasy, French, English

I was able to visit and hang out a couple times with Kezia this last time I was there. She wanted to hang out and practice her English.

Kezia and her brothers would come to the children's club that I had started, when they were younger. 

The photo above was taken back in 2005, of Sahaza, Jenny and Fitahiana. I love this photo of them, and their adorable smiles! 

I first met these young adults back when they were babies and toddlers back in 1999. I love how we have been able to keep in touch and still have a good relationship. Since I moved back to the states, we have still been in touch often, more now than before. And I'm thankful for the time I was able to spend with all of them during my last trip. And I look forward to the day I get to hang out with them again. 

Misaotra betsaka ianaoreo t@ ny fotoana isika! Tena mahafinaritra be ianareo rehetra sady cool be! Tiako be ianaoreo!

F I T A H I A N A

‘Be daring, be different, be impractical, be anything that will assert integrity of purpose and imaginative vision against the play-it-safers, the creatures of the common place, the slaves of the ordinary.’ -Cecil Beaton

Fita is 15 years old now and I remember when he was just a little baby. I know I’ve told this story before, but when was a toddler, around 2 or 3, he would love visiting me. One time when I went home on furlough, he still went to my room trying to find me. 

Later on, when he was around 5 or 6, he would come over and talk to me after he got home from school and tell me all kinds of stories. 

Of course there was a time where I was absent and didn’t see him for a number of years. When I saw him back in July after I arrived, I almost didn’t recognize him. He’s grown into an amazing young man. 

I was visiting him and some of his other family the other day. I brought my camera gear along, hoping to get some photos of the kids playing around outside. Later in the day, he asked if we could do some photos. We both had different ideas for the photo session, and I was very happy and satisfied with many of the photos. He’s a born model!!

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"Home is behind, the world ahead, and there are many paths to tread through shadows to the edge of night, until the stars are all alight." - J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings

"With courage you will dare to take risks, have the strength to be compassionate and the wisdom to be humble. Courage is the foundation of integrity"  - Mark Twain

I hope the best for you Fita, and I hope you can accomplish the things on your heart!

Street Photography: Tamatave

On the way to Las Palmas, since we had to pass through areas of town, I took this time as an advantage and captured some street photography.

The road leaving the center, heading to town.

The road leaving the center, heading to town.

Boys playing ball down a sandy dirt road near one of the churches Victor and his team started

Boys playing ball down a sandy dirt road near one of the churches Victor and his team started

'He found himself understanding the wearisomeness of this life, where every part was an improvision and a considerable part of one’s waking life was spent watching one’s feet' - Lord of the Flies, William Golding

Get your motor oil!

Get your motor oil!

Rice, beans and other things.

Rice, beans and other things.

Along a dirt road.

Along a dirt road.

Sponges, rice, beans, brooms....

Sponges, rice, beans, brooms....

Wood, gravel and other building supplies.

Wood, gravel and other building supplies.

Mr. DJ, can you play my song?

I thought these photos deserved their own blog!!

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I had this idea for Jo, and of course he loved it!!

I let his personality totally come out in this session!!

This kid is seriously the funniest little 3 year old ever!!!

And he loves looking at his photos...he smiles and gives a little laugh. And whenever he sees my headphones that he sued in these photos...he tells me, those are the things I was listening to music with!!!

homesick.

Have you ever been to a place, a home, a city, anywhere? And once you left, you wish you could be there again? You wish you could just teleport yourself to that specific place? That's how I've been feeling lately. There are times when I miss a specific place, I miss the smells, I miss the views, I miss the people, I miss my friends...and lately, that place has been Madagascar. More specifically, Tamatave, at the place where I was last year for three months, with my friends Victor and Douce, and their three kids. 

Douce (far left) and Victor (far right with Jo) at a small market in one of the villages we visited.

Douce (far left) and Victor (far right with Jo) at a small market in one of the villages we visited.

I miss waking up in the morning, having breakfast with them, watching the kids get ready for school, and either getting ready myself for a day in a village, or just staying at the base, working on communication stuff for my friends. 

A little boy in one of the villages I visited.

A little boy in one of the villages I visited.

I love the days when I would play for hours outside with the kids around the base. I would teach them some games, and they taught me some as well. They would sing, dance, and they loved having their photos taken, and videos. Pretty much after every photo or video I took, they would run up to me, asking to look at themselves. And of course they loved it!

Sina, Petro, Sharone and Ariel jumping

Sina, Petro, Sharone and Ariel jumping

I remember little Jo, he loved playing with my phone and looking at his photos. Whenever I came into the room, he would ask 'Where's Jo' ('Aiza Jo')? I would sit with him on my lap and go through the videos or photos of him and he would love it! It would always bring a smile to my face. And if for some reason I put my phone away, he would continue asking 'Aiza Jo' until I brought out the phone again. 

Little Jo, posing for the camera. He's a natural!

Little Jo, posing for the camera. He's a natural!

When I was on my flight back to the states, after my time in Madagascar, last year, I wasn't sure if I was able to do it again. I wasn't sure if I could make that long flight again. My flight coming home was longer than normal, but I just wasn't sure if I could make it again like that. But you know what, at the beginning of the year, I couldn't help but think, 'when am I going back to Madagascar'. I don't think too much about the flying, yes, I wish I could teleport myself back there in an instance, but things doing work that way. But my love for this country, for the people, is stronger than my thoughts of having a to take a long travel back. I do plan to go back, and I hope soon. Though the travels may be long, those feelings soon dwindle away once I step onto the big red island and let the adventures begin!

Be ready Madagascar, I will be back!

Me and Petro

Me and Petro

'Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive' -H. Thurman

Crossing a bridge, going to a village in Tamatave.

Crossing a bridge, going to a village in Tamatave.