Ambohitriniandriana...beautiful countryside...part 1.

I spent 8 days in this countryside, visiting some old friends. I've known Faly and Clara and their family for over 16 years now. I have been to their countryside multiple times, but they were always for a short visit. This time, I wanted to stay a bit longer, spend more time with them and the ministry they have going on. 

As you can see, in the photos, it was a beautiful area, lots of green!! Just during those 8 days I was able to do many things, bless them and those around them. I attended and photographed a wedding, explored the countryside, shared my personal testimony, visited the private school there in the village, shared about American and my family to a couple of classes, and taught about American history to the 12 grade class of the school, 

Pictured above is the private school. My friends helped open this school back in 2004. It's preschool age up to 12th grade. Almost every morning I would walk down the hill and visit the kids when they were out at recess. Some afternoons I would hang out with them as well, and play basketball. 

The photo above is my friend Faly teaching English grammar to some of the high school students. I took this photo during my first day that I arrived. I was coming out of the house and Faly was walking down to the school. He asked if I wanted to come along. I ended up sharing about myself, my family and my country, in English. 

My friends Faly and Clara's oldest daughter Mamy got married while I was there. It was great to attend my second wedding this trip! Malagasy weddings are usually long but full of excitement and fun!! Things got under way around 9:30am that morning and ended around 5:30pm. 

Me with the happy couple, Raj and Mamy!

One of the mornings I was there, I took some photos of the teachers, as well as each of the classes. In the photo above are most of the teachers in the school, there were a couple of them missing. The man in the front, and the woman to his left are my friends, Faly and Clara. 

The kids loved getting their photos taken!! I loved hanging with the preschool class, they were so much fun! I would be walking down the hill towards the school, some of them would see me coming and would shout my name and ask me to take their photos. Every time I took a photo they would have to look at it on my camera and they always burst out laughing! Having a camera with kids around equals a lot of fun and a lot of laughter!!

Here I am (above photo) hanging out with a few of the teachers, during the kids recess time. 

The teachers were aware I might be popping into their classroom to sneak a shot of the kids studying. The are used to having foreigners come and visit them. 

During lunch time, most of the kids go home during their break, but around 80-90 of the kids stay at school. They have a canteen that runs for the kids during the week, for those who don't have time to prepare lunch ahead of time, or they live further away. 

Once or twice a week, they also receive a dessert with their meal. Picture above, some of the older students are handing out fresh fruit to the kids. 

Pictured above is the open, covered area where the canteen is. They just hang out their during lunchtime, eating and talking! 

The kids have an area to play basketball as well as a field down below for playing soccer. You can see up in the distance the canteen from the outside. 

I have so many photos that I would love to share, but didn't want to make a huge blog, so I decide to make two different ones. 

Part 2 will be coming soon! Thanks for taking a look!

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