Malagasy Students

“My tribe has a taboo against eating pig, so I don’t eat pig.” The girl informs those of us at her table.

“Did you know hot dogs have pig in them? I didn’t know that until I had lived here in America for a couple years.” Responds a Malagasy guy.

“Hot dogs have pig?! Oh dear – I eat hot dogs sometimes!” The girl looks slightly troubled.

“Yeah – another one I learned was ham. Ham is pig, too!” The boy puts his arms wide in the ‘who knew?!’ position.

“Oh no – I eat ham sandwiches every day!!!” The girl says with a look of horror on her face.

It has been a blast getting to meet some of the Malagasy students here in town. I have been especially amused by their initial thoughts of and adjustments to America. They arrived at the university a mere week before classes began (in English, of course), barely knowing the language! They said the first month they were here they just hoped to get in line at the cafeteria behind someone who wanted a yummy meal, because all they knew how to say was, “The same!”

My family very sweetly went along with my idea to invite all of the students over (we had about 20 people for supper) to our house. It was fun showing them my pictures from Mada because I have been to several of their home towns and they were excited to show their friends where they lived. One guy also knew one of my Malagasy friends in my photos (the one above)!

Some of the students want to head back to Madagascar upon graduation, others want to visit then return, and still others want to stay in America. They are a diverse group, but all agreed that, for Madagascar to develop well, people (especially in government) need to have a heart and mind change.

Thanks for praying for my language ability. A bunch of vocab came flooding back as I was speaking with them, and several of them complimented my language skills (following the normal pleasant Malagasy culture they would have regardless, but hey, I’m choosing to believe some of them were sincere!), so I could tell you guys were lifting me up. :)

Tratra ny Krismasy!

Merry Christmas to all, and to all in Africa, goodnight.

Here in America, however, it is still mid-day Christmas Eve. The tree is lit, the goodies are made, and family is, indeed, gathered near.

I wanted to let you guys know that I was able to attend an international dinner with the Malagasy students at my sister's university and have them over to our home. It has been utterly delightful getting to know them and speak Malagasy with them. I will blog about it soon, but for now I am merely hopping on to say Merry Christmas. :)

A Different Proposal

Here I was missing the oddities of living in another culture and I get one in my own. :-)

Stopping at Burger King to get an icee on my way home, I called my little brother and ask if he’d like one. “No, but I want onion rings,” he answers. I lower my window to order.

“What can I get you today?” The faceless man through the box queries. “I’d like an icee and medium onion rings, please.” “That will be a bamedium…arg…seeicee…arg! An icee and onion rings? Sorry about that, I got my words mixed up,” announces the box. I chuckle and tell him it’s no problem.

Arriving at the window, a gentleman in a red Burger King visor leans out. “That’ll be $1.57.” “One fifty-seven?” I ask. “Shouldn’t my total should be more than that?” “Yeah,” the guy grins and looks me in the eye. “I’ve got a proposal for you.”

Oh dear. The last dozen proposals I’ve received have only been for one thing: marriage. But since this guy and I met mere moments before, I’m hoping it’s something else…

“Here’s my proposal. You take the satisfaction survey, tell them V** gave you awesome customer service, and I’ll give you a free icee!”

I ponder quickly. Hmm…can he do that? Give away free food for good reviews? Is this corruption on the lightest level? I guess he knows the rules better than me since he works here. A free icee would be nice. I definitely consider free food awesome customer service, so…

“Sure,” I say. “Thanks!” He turns around, tossing the onion rings into the brown sack. “I’ve got one more surprise for you.” Reaching out, he hands me the bag. “It’s a large.” Smiling broadly, the guy bids me goodnight and I pull away.

I don’t know if this is normal in America now, if he does this to everyone or just people who are nice to him when he stumbles over his words, but I certainly was laughing on the way home, sipping my Coke icee in bliss. ;)

Thoughts a Month Later

I’ve been back in Nashville for over a month now. Fall is in full swing (see the colors changing on the trees in the photo above – definitely different than the ever-green rain forest). I have stopped washing and re-using Ziplocks. I have mostly stopped blurting out Malagasy words or phrases. I have stopped remembering people by their outfits (since it’s doesn’t work because those change here in America :P). I have not stopped being grateful for seeing friends and family in person. I am a little amazed at how fat and healthy the squirrels are in my neighborhood – even though several of them are tailless. Very strange.

I miss my friends in Madagascar. I miss getting US embassy updates, humorous as they were. I miss hiking in the rain forest. I miss oddities happening to me every day.

I am still ever, ever so glad to have our Lord with me. He is my Rock and my Refuge. He is my Shepherd. He is worthy of my trust. “My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory; the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in Him at all times, you people, pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.” Psalm 62:5-8

Update from the rain forest: Lolo has been sharing her story with other villages. She recently asked if there was anything that forbade her to go to more than one village per day! I praise God that He is rising up believers in the rain forest to tell of His goodness to those who have not heard.

Continuing on...

I am officially a student again. Crazy, I know. :) I'm taking a 15-month RN-BSN program with classes starting in January 2012.

Still thinking/praying about which job to accept. You can definitely continue to lift me up in that regard.

I have a date to meet my soon-to-be favorite Nashvillian-Malagasy friends on the first Friday in December, so yay! :-)

I love all of Isaiah 40, but the ending's really super:
"Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint."