Saturday, March 6, 2010

Tyler Swain Madagascar Day 32

Feb. 28, Madagascar Day 32 (1 mo. since arrival)


This has by far been the most interesting day I've had in awhile. I woke up to the familiar sounds of the zebu mooing and pigs snorting only to find out an old man in the village had passed away in the night. Everyone when to visit and pay their respects, his body simply laying on the floor in the corner of the room with everyone crowding around and praying. Maybe I missed the crying, but the feeling in the room was of reverence, not sadness. We left and went to church. There are 2 in the village: Protestant & Catholic. My host mom is Catholic so we went there. The service was so much fun, and we sang a lot. It lasted around 2 hours, and then we left & went back home. I've gotten frustrated here in the village because, with the children--what seems like hundreds of them--constantly grouping up and staring at me (and running away when I try to approach them to play), I can't assimilate very well.


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