Settling into the rhythm of the place...
Sunday, October 14, 2007
I have been here in Madagascar a little over a month now and I can most assuredly say I will not return home the same person. Although I will forever be an outsider here (a “vazaha” in Malagasy) I am beginning to settle into the rhythm of the place.
Until our field visit last week, I had only seen the capital and therefore my experience of the project and of Madagascar itself had been somewhat limited. This recent visit, though, I feel gave me little more insight. Even in Antananarivo one cannot help but notice the jarring beauty of the surrounding mountains, yet, as we traveled a few hours outside the city I was rendered speechless by the amazing geography of this great island.
Mountains were followed by grasslands, which were then followed by deserts. We drove though bitter cold and searing heat, through green forests and fields of giant ant hills, most often over roads that were impassably rough and remarkably dusty. It is true I was astounded by almost everything on this visit, but, it is fair to say I was most moved by the people I met. From my jovial but devoted traveling companions (from the Croix-Rouge Malagasy and the Canadian Red Cross delegation), to the helpful and courteous members of the local Red Cross societies, to the people on the roadside happily waving to us “vazahas” as we stirred up dirt clouds with our lumbering land rovers. I have come to greatly appreciate the people here.
My visions of the malaria project in Madagascar were also encouraging. In the metropolis of Tana it had sometimes been hard to envision how the weeklong campaign would unfold in some of the more remote towns and villages. This field visit allowed me to observe volunteer trainings and talk to the on site volunteers. This gave me a great deal more insight into what will be happening in the upcoming weeks.
My recent travels to Morondava have been both enlightening and alarming. I was, indeed, refreshed by the voyage into the field, but, was also shaken by some of the visions and stories surrounding the campaign. I discovered that Madagascar’s beauty is unquestionable, but, also that there is a pressing need for something to be done to improve the lives of many of the people here. I have realized the distressing truth that death, disease and loss are not foreign concepts to many Malagasy people. It is sad to see that something as preventable as malaria can ravage a people as resilient and affable as those that inhabit this place.
Almost everyone seems to have been affected by or have had an experience with malaria and as I discovered, on my arm, my first mosquito bite of the trip (despite layers of insect repellant and a bed net) I began to ponder just how it must feel to be afflicted by such an illness without the comfort of and assurance that is provided by easy access to drugs and treatment.We now preparing for the upcoming intensive week of the Campaign Integree, which will hopefully contribute to the eradication of this devastating and endemic problem. During the week of the campaign we will once again venture into the field for to observe the activities of the Croix Rouge Malagasy and its partners here and I will assuredly learn a great deal more about this important work.
Posted for: Many LeRiche
I have been here in Madagascar a little over a month now and I can most assuredly say I will not return home the same person. Although I will forever be an outsider here (a “vazaha” in Malagasy) I am beginning to settle into the rhythm of the place.
Until our field visit last week, I had only seen the capital and therefore my experience of the project and of Madagascar itself had been somewhat limited. This recent visit, though, I feel gave me little more insight. Even in Antananarivo one cannot help but notice the jarring beauty of the surrounding mountains, yet, as we traveled a few hours outside the city I was rendered speechless by the amazing geography of this great island.
Mountains were followed by grasslands, which were then followed by deserts. We drove though bitter cold and searing heat, through green forests and fields of giant ant hills, most often over roads that were impassably rough and remarkably dusty. It is true I was astounded by almost everything on this visit, but, it is fair to say I was most moved by the people I met. From my jovial but devoted traveling companions (from the Croix-Rouge Malagasy and the Canadian Red Cross delegation), to the helpful and courteous members of the local Red Cross societies, to the people on the roadside happily waving to us “vazahas” as we stirred up dirt clouds with our lumbering land rovers. I have come to greatly appreciate the people here.
My visions of the malaria project in Madagascar were also encouraging. In the metropolis of Tana it had sometimes been hard to envision how the weeklong campaign would unfold in some of the more remote towns and villages. This field visit allowed me to observe volunteer trainings and talk to the on site volunteers. This gave me a great deal more insight into what will be happening in the upcoming weeks.
My recent travels to Morondava have been both enlightening and alarming. I was, indeed, refreshed by the voyage into the field, but, was also shaken by some of the visions and stories surrounding the campaign. I discovered that Madagascar’s beauty is unquestionable, but, also that there is a pressing need for something to be done to improve the lives of many of the people here. I have realized the distressing truth that death, disease and loss are not foreign concepts to many Malagasy people. It is sad to see that something as preventable as malaria can ravage a people as resilient and affable as those that inhabit this place.
Almost everyone seems to have been affected by or have had an experience with malaria and as I discovered, on my arm, my first mosquito bite of the trip (despite layers of insect repellant and a bed net) I began to ponder just how it must feel to be afflicted by such an illness without the comfort of and assurance that is provided by easy access to drugs and treatment.We now preparing for the upcoming intensive week of the Campaign Integree, which will hopefully contribute to the eradication of this devastating and endemic problem. During the week of the campaign we will once again venture into the field for to observe the activities of the Croix Rouge Malagasy and its partners here and I will assuredly learn a great deal more about this important work.
Posted for: Many LeRiche
Labels: africa, bed nets, canadian red cross, madagascar, malaria bites, mandy leriche
posted by Alison Frehlich at 10:51 AM
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