(foko) blog club

We were very excited to train the new bloggers at ICE and also introduce them to “senior” bloggers Karenichia, Diana and Patricia. We had hard time this month choosing from the amazingly interesting posts(thanks to ikalamako and sipagasy for their choices and their very intensive commenting)

Law and Dream from AndryDago

http://andrydago.wordpress.com/2008/09/23/law-and-dream/

Vous les vazaha nous les Malgaches (Vazaha and Malagasies) from Pati

http://patiettoi.wordpress.com/2008/08/18/vous-les-vazaha-nous-les-malgaches/
(English translation)
For those of you who do not know, originally the word VAZAHA meant French people, but for others it simply means “foreigners”. But I don’t really want to discuss etymological origins of words here. I will speak of the different kinds of relationships that young Malagasy girls have with young or not so young Vazaha.

On one hand, vazaha are like everyone else, so we may have all sort of feelings towads them: love, friendship, and vice versa. Therefore going out with a vazaha is as normal, natural and human as it comes.

However, dating a vazaha has become for some Malagasy, a matter of pride, not to say a distinctive sign. Again, there is nothing wrong with that but what I want to emphasize here are the different ways that Malagasy girls use to distinguish themselves in that manner.

Because the Internet has now become more acessible, it is one of the most utilized tool to date a vazaha. More precisely, arrange meetings via internet. As you know by now, meetings are not only for articles and chat rooms but also webcams. You might wonder what is wrong with that so I’ll tell you.

Nowadays, it is not only about seeing the other person but also to watch each, see what I mean ? There are special cyber meeting rooms for activities that require a certain degree of privacy so that girls can show their most intimate parts to the one on the other side of the webcam. I do not know whether it’s something we imitated from elsewhere or if it’s a trend born in Madagascar but in any case, the evolution of technology is not only about technology in this country !

And what does it to have to do with vazaha? Well, it’s especially with vazaha that Malagasy girls do it every so often! … To be continued!

Se relever from Lomelle

http://as2coeur.wordpress.com/2008/09/29/se-relever/

To rise again by Lomelle:

Youth demands that one must go through various challenges to mature and understand that life is not just a walk in the park. After traversing my own challenges, I quickly understood that the hours  spent in misery allow us to rebuild ourselves, reassess our priorities and evaluate our lives so far.  Life is made of ups and down but it is staggering to realize how easily we stumble. I think we all went through that. We pain ourselves to build something for a while and then within seconds, everything falls apart.  Enough to drive you  bonkers.

One day, as I was browsing through books, I read a sentence that rung so true to me that I had to share it with you. It picks you up when you are down and keep fighting when you are about to give up. “The greatest of victory is not to never stumble but to rise up everytime we fall.”

So anytime you feel defeated because someone sabotaged you, keep in mind that as long as you keep rising up, you will always be the greatest winner.

To all bloggers, don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

Women at work from Ariniaina

http://ariniaina.wordpress.com/2008/09/29/women-at-work/

My Grandmother [my Mom’s mother] did not work at all, in her life. I mean, she did not earn money. She told me women stayed home. The traditional belief says that the husband makes money and the wife takes care of the house and the kids. So, only men worked.

My Grandmother explained that life was easier and cheaper at that time. Women did not need to earn money. Men could afford all the needs of the family (with 7 sons and 7 daughters ).(read more here)

Tourism in Madagascar from MomaDago

http://momadago.wordpress.com/2008/09/28/tourisme-in-madagascar/

In our country ,you could find many beautiful sources for tourism as you like.For example ,the fauna and flora ,handicraft,or if you like to dive there is an wonderful place like in the south of Madagascar(Tulear),the sea is nice ,it’s blue like the sky,the baech is white and very cool to see the under our ocean.Not far for this area ,in Morondava ,you have the same,in Belo sur Tsiribihina.Apart that ,if you really like the Allee de Baobab ,you could find a wonderful place if you visit this site.But anyway,if you like barbecue,we have all see food that you never regret to tast and enjoy it.However,the weather is always nice to excit you to dive see all around our beautiful country.