Adjusting

This past week has been all about getting acquainted in the community. That includes the market and post office as well as my placement sites. The main ones are the church, the school (both primary and secondary), the Toby (healing house), and the nearby hospital. They all have people (members, students and workers) who are eager to learn english. Good thing I`m a professional at ESL and can duplicate myself daily. Just kidding - that`s not true. Although it was a little overwhelming at first, i was taken aback by how many people were/are so eager to learn the language that comes naturally to me. For now, it`s an understatement that this vazah (white person) needs time to adjust and will figure out a schedule... somehow trying to fit everyone in. The school also asked that I teach music. There was no QUESTION that I would LOVE to do that, but I doubt my "qualifications". Sure I can dink around on a piano, pluck a few guitar chords, and can carry a tune, but the only "teaching" experience I have is teaching songs to 3rd graders in Rwanda - which may or may not have been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life. But this isn`t Rwanda. And it`s a whole school year, rather than a couple weeks.

But when I am weak, my God is strong. And when I run out of songs, I`ll make up new ones. I`ve learned to throw my expectations out the window (or put them in a bottle and fill it with water - inside joke with the waferherd). So all I can do is trust that God will provide the energy and strength to not only "do" but "be".

I`ll keep ya posted...

A picture is worth a thousand words... and so is getting mail!

Last night I was "decorating" my apartment by putting up pictures. I wish I would have brought more. If you want to send me a picture of you, or us, or other simple decor, I would love to hang it up! And while you`re at it, if you feel like sending a post card, letter, love note, a blue pen, care package, or pet lioness, I LOVE getting mail!  You can send it to:

Austin Propst (ELCA)

c/o Sarah Adam

BP 880

Isoraka 101

Antananarivo, Madagascar

 

I especially love inspirational quotes and Beyonce. 

 

If you are interested in getting a post card or something, you can send your address to sarah.r.adam@gmail.com and see what happens :)

 

Love ya mean it!

Sarah

Home Sweet Home

The song " Home" by Phillip Phillips has been my anthem while preparing for and and arriving in Madagascar. The chill musicality and simple yet beautiful text helps calm my nerves, especially upon arrival to the busy capitol, Antananarivo, a place I now call home.
And after in country orientation, it began to sink in... this IS my home. For a while anyways.
I was welcomed at the gate of ELoFav womens center by my supervisor, Helena. She is the director of the womens center and lives there with her family. I wish there were accurate words to describe her. Kind, gracious, loving, smart, driven, humble, mysterious, well-traveled, God-fearing, hospitable are just a few adjectives to describe her, but she surprises me every day with how much she has done, who she knows, and where she has been. She is incredible and I am SO blessed to work with her!

The first morning here I was expecting rice for breakfast (it`s a staple here in Mada - literally breakfast, lunch, and dinner). I was wrong, I was so wrong - Helena made WAFFLES! homemade. During the tour of the center I met a girl who didnt speak much english and when I told her I could speak a little french, I realized my simple year of french 4 years ago had failed me - I couldnt understand a THING! Never doing that again! For lunch we had... wait for it... FRENCH FRIES! Helena said she understands that "Americans dont eat rice like the Malagasy. We will eat rice and you will eat french fries." Totally stereotypical... and totally awesome!

That afternoon Tanya and Austin stopped by to drop off some things I had forgotten the day before. They were on their way to the airport to drop off the last of the volunteers, Kate. When they arrived at the gate, I ran to open it and said "TONGA SOA!" (welcome!) Even though it had only been 24 hours, Helena`s hospitality and comfort had me convinced - this was my new home for the year, and I delight in welcoming anyone!


That night at dinner we had the Malagasy staple - rice. As I dished my plate they said "That`s all?? Ah! You are not Malagasy!" I think they`re joking, but they might be serious. So every night at dinner, I scoop just a little bit more rice on my plate and hope they notice. I know I will never be Malagasy, but I can try :)


Hold on, to me as we go
As we roll down this unfamiliar road
And although this wave is stringing us along
 
Just know you’re not alone
Cause I’m going to make this place your home

Settle down, it'll all be clear
Don't pay no mind to the demons
They fill you with fear
The trouble it might drag you down
If you get lost, you can always be found
 
Just know you’re not alone
Cause I’m going to make this place your home

Settle down, it'll all be clear
Don't pay no mind to the demons
They fill you with fear
The trouble it might drag you down
If you get lost, you can always be found
 
Just know you’re not alone
Cause I’m going to make this place your home

Sambatra be aho. I am so blessed.

Sarah

Moramora (moo-ra moo-ra)



The Malagasy say that they have a slow lifestyle. That it is very "moramora" - slow. They sometimes go by "Malagasy time" which could be "meet when the sun is coming up from/going down the mountain." Even in conversation, nothing is rushed. It's quite beautiful actually. Especially coming from us westerners where everything is usually go-go-go.

Then the other day, we all went to a volcanic lake called Lake Tritriva. Aparently the water is where the "mouth" of the volcano used to be. Exploring around this volcanic rock was a challenge for this Minnesotan who hasn't had much hiking experience/opportunity. Especially in choco sandals. But it was a beautiful sight to partake in something so rare.

Lake Tritriva

Along the way, there were some Malagasy children who accompanied us on our walk. There was one particular girl who started walking with me, waiting for me as I dug the rock out from my shoes, and even let me practice Malagasy with her. She was 10 and a sweetheart. As I would stumble down steep slopes of the gravel and sometimes loose my balance, she kept saying "moramora". I knew exactly what she meant. And I would laugh every time because it was so true - I was not used to this and needed to take my time.



My two friends who kept reminding me "mouramoura"

I realized this was a great way to think about adjusting to my life in Madagascar. I can't just expect myself to feel comfortable walking around this Malagasy soil if I'm not familiar with it. There will be steep drops and tree trunks in my way, unexpected rocks in the shoes, all while slipping and sliding, trying to find my grip.

That's kind of how things feel every once in a while - especially when it comes to language class.

During language class with teacher Jacky and our two Norwegian friends/classmates

This is how we feel after language class



My head hurts pretty much after every session - trying to wrap my head around how a word was pronounced or where to place it in the sentence, etc. And I wonder if I'll ever feel comfortable having conversations with the Malagasy, or if I'll only be able to do standard greetings and goodbyes.

But then I remember "moramora". Or in other words "Chill, Sarah!" Just like my body needed/needs time to adjust, the rest of my being needs to follow suit. Sometimes I just need to take a step back and remember how blessed I am to be here. And I know that with time things won't seem so overwhelming. They may be difficult, but I know I'll have a community at the women's center and already have the waferherd as a support system. And of course, there's that God of mine who seems to amaze me every day. Even in a simple sunset. To remind me of His unfailing love and how He will always be my light. That Has a plan for me and I need to continue to trust and rely on Him every moment.



Sunset in Ansirabe. Every sunset is gorgeous!

Even though I was strugglin with that hike, it was a beautiful sight. And while this transition is a challenge, the view will be a amazing.

And tomorrow I'll be arriving to my site in Antananarivo. So many emotions run through my spirit as I think about leaving the waferherd and beginning my own portion of the journey. But I continue to remind myself "moramora" - that I have been called and named and am loved by my creator. And I'm excited to see what He has in store!

Love ya, mean it.

~Sarah



Famadihana (turning of the bones)

One of the things the Malagasy are known for is the tradition of honoring their ancestors. It's a celebration called "Famadihana". They do it about every 3 - 6 years, depending on when the family wants to do it, but it generally takes place around September. Our group didn't have opportunity to see it until this past weekend when we went on a home stay (which deserves a whole blog entry in itself). And even then, we only briefly saw the celebration as we walked through the rice patties to go to church. But we definitely heard it - all through Saturday night! Famadihana is a time to honor ancestors by taking the bones out of the tomb, carrying them around the village, re-wrapping their shrouds, and celebrating their presence in this life.  Family is expected to be present, there was food and drink, and a whole lot of music. It is definitely a party!  I was very impressed with how well the music sounded! There was trumpet, clarinet, drums, and other unidentifiable but beautiful instruments. 

An example of Famadihana (thanks to Google image)

Although the celebration was going on across the rice patties, the acoustics of the countryside made it so that we could hear the music pretty vividly. And you can BET I was having a hay-day! I was very tempted to go over and join them, but I refrained. But it got me thinking... what if the United States celebrated "famadihana"? I immediatly thought of my late beloved maternal grandmother - grandma Philbrook. 

My beautiful Grandmother

 She was an incredible woman who raised 11 children, suffered from arthritis for most of her late life, had a devotion to the Holy Family, and who knew how to love hard. She was the only grandparent I really knew and although it's been seven years since her passing, I still find myself missing her dearly. Thinking about honoring her also made me think "Shoot, if we were to have a Famadihana in honor of grandma, it would be a party! Not only because there's so many people in the family, but us 'Philbrooks' know how to have a good time" :)  

On our way back from church that Sunday, some people were talking about their relationship with their grandmother and I couldn't help from tearing up. And let me tell ya, it's tricky to have blurred vision from tears when trying to walk through rice patties. 

Walking through the rice patties - not a lot of room to move around.

 It's not until someone's gone when you realize you didn't really appreciate them. So Grandma Marge, this blog post is for you. Thank you for all the love you have shown and for giving me a beautiful family. 

We miss you and love you. 

A family song, "Tell Me Why"

Tell me why the stars do shine

Tell me why the ivy twine

Tell me why the ocean's blue

And I will tell you why I love you

Because God made the stars to shine

Because God made the ivy twine

Because God made the ocean blue

Because God made you, that's why I love you

Love ya, mean it Grandma!

~Sarah

The Waferherd

Hannah, Kate, Jane, Lee, Luke, Sarah, Austin and Tanya. These are the names of the incredible people representing YAGM in Madagascar. It's the first year of YAGM program in Mada, so we're all trailblaizers. The coordinators, Austin and Tanya have been so helpful and supportive through this process even though they're new to it as well.

One thing that's become a tradition for us is that every weeknight after dinner, we go to A&T's place for "tea time", story or devotion time and wafers! We devour those things like there's no tomorrow. It's so random that we ALL enjoy them and if we run out it's always "did we get more wafers?? Did we get vanilla??" It's a silly thing, but it's definitly a bonding experience.

It's also interesting that the six volunteers are SO different. We've got so many different life experiences, different personalities, and different ways we rejuvinate and express ourselves. But we all know how to come together in love and support one another. Austin's dad referred to us as the 6-pack, which we thought was awesome, but it didn't include all eight. So we thought of calling ourselves a "herd" like they do in Ice Age - crazy different animals but on a mission together.

Mix it together and it's the WAFERHERD.

I'm so blessed to have these beautiful people around me during orientation. We have another week of language, a home stay, and more cultural expeiences before we go our separate ways. But as we said in our little rap at orientation:
      Fian, Toli, Ambo, Tana, Fart
      Although we all be far far a part
      We'll still be together in our heart
      In Mada... MOVE IT!
(Maybe one of these days, I'll post the whole skit/rap)

Please pray for all of the members of the herd. We are so different and weird, but we're a family.

Love ya, mean it!
~Sarah

 

The Lahi (fellas) during a hike through an old volcano

(Luke, Austin, and Lee)

The Vavi (Ladies) of the herd

(Kate, Me, Hannah, Jane, and Tanya)