One of my closest friends from my university days, Ingrid, joined the first Peace Corps group to go to Madagascar. Practically from the day she left, she was urging me to come and visit her... and it goes without saying that I didn't need much persuasion! So off I went in September of 1995 for a month-long adventure.
Ingrid was living and teaching English in the small town of Fenerive on the north-eastern coast of Madagascar. I understood right away that visitors from afar were not all that common when a complete stranger hailed me in French when I arrived at the bus stop -- "You must be Ingrid's friend..."!
My best memory from Fenerive, however, was meeting the children pictured above. On that particular day, Ingrid and I had spent the afternoon at a little seaside cafe to relax and talk. At around 5:00 pm, as the sun began its descent, we headed back into town. Along the way, we passed a primary school where classes had just ended for the day, releasing a stream of young children in pink uniforms onto the street.
At first I was not even aware of the children's presence... but then all of a sudden I heard rustling and whispering coming from behind us, with occasional use of the Malagasy word "vazaha" (meaning "white person"). I turned around -- and lo and behold, what seemed to be the entire primary school was following us en masse, giggling and pointing at me (the vazaha!). Shopkeepers and other Malagasy adults watched with bemusement as our bizarre little procession made its way into the center of town: the "vazaha" Pied Piper with an ocean of little pink uniforms tagging along!
I was so charmed by the experience that I decided to try to record it on film. While continuing to walk, I pulled out my camera and turned around in order to photograph the children. The result was instantaneous: they all started laughing and calling and cheering and waving their arms in the air!
They followed Ingrid and myself all the way into town, and only then did we go our separate ways. I will never forget the children of Fenerive, who gave me such a warm welcome!
Madagascar
email me
add as friend
Comments for drolkar about Madagascar