There are two official languages in Madagascar: French and Malagasy.* Upon arrival, I spoke neither. This created a few minor barriers for me as I attempted to settle into a very foreign land (note sarcasm), but Owen (my sweet nugget of a husband) and I promptly set off to enroll ourselves in Malagasy lessons so that we could communicate with our new community.
*Madagascar was a French colony until they gained their independence on June 26, 1960.
We hired Peta, a warm, kind, and spunky tutor, who worked as the Peace Corps language trainer for over 20 years. We meet with her 3x/week for an hour each session. She teaches through repetition, mimicking her intonation, pictures, and games, which all boils down to a spot-on strategy for informing her infantile-like students of her syllabic-intense native tongue. Owen and I went on a 5-day work trip, which resulted in missing a week of classes with Peta. While she had only been in our lives for approximately one month at the time of the trip, we noted how much we missed her during our time away.
With 8-weeks of Malagasy under our belts, we can now communicate at a very elementary level for which we are most grateful!
“Faly mahafantatra anoa aho!” — I am happy to meet you!
“Salama!” — Hello!
“Fasalamana?” — How are you?
“Misaotra betsaka!” — Thank you very much!
“Rano” — water
“Voky aho” — I am full.
“Azafady!” — Sorry/please/excuse me!
“Sivy ‘amby folo” — 19
“Sakafo” — food
“Alatsinainy” — Monday
“Mampianatra” — to teach
“Mpampianatra” — teacher
“Mitsangatsangana” — to take a walk
“Hoatrinona ny voasary?” — How much for the oranges?
I also enrolled in French lessons at Alliance Française (5-days a week for 2 hours each day) 3-weeks ago, and I just passed my first written and oral exam. Owen and I will continue our Malagasy lessons with Peta for a bit longer, and then we will both focus on strengthening our French.
It has made a WORLD of difference learning these languages, which has resulted in me breaking through [what seemed like] a mile-high language barrier. When I arrived, I was so isolated and unable to communicate with anyone in my new community. I was wholly reliant on Owen who was left hailing and negotiating my taxis, ordering my meals at restaurants, inquiring about enrolling me in French lessons, etc. I went from being an Independent Woman (obviously channeling Queen Bey) to not being able to speak for myself in the most simple situations.
Learning Malagasy cherry-on-top: offering a simple salutation to those that cross your path can be the most satisfying interaction. For the most part, I walk from point A to point B in this city, and I pass hundreds of Malagasy every day. Often the hustle and bustle conditions do not permit a wave or “hello,” but when I am able to greet my fellow passerby, the response I receive is full of pure joy and warmth. If I could bottle up the exuberant smiles and affable “Salama’s!” and have it for mail order for every crank-pot and curmudgeon, I believe we’d live in a happier world. The power of pleasantries!
“Mandrapihaona!” / “A plus tard!” — See you later!
Tenley Abroad 