Don’t want to change the world | Only want to stop pretending

Once upon a time, somewhere. I used to link to blogs that should be noticed because of their Real touch on Malagasy way of life. Life you get to know while waiting for the bus at 6 in morning when you just had enough time to get coffee and menakely. Did someone read those posts? I sincerly don’t know, don’t care – maybe because I still don’t know what this blog of mine is about – but I found new ideas for this category and my little tiny brain went on its way to develop a fun game. Of course all my good friends out there were invited to take part and , surprisingly, they joined me (very quickly) in describing “Madagascar…50 years after”. Our way to share between generations on how we lived back then when life was good, how we wish the country should have turned and ,why not?, what do we want tomorrow to look like. If you happen to have 10 minutes on hands, please join us by starting the conversation among your friends and relatives especially those who had lived independance days in 1960, 1972 revolution, hard life in 1980 or streets in 1991….it won’t take you more than 10 minutes, 3 questions …I will be patiently waiting for you!!!

Who are you?

Let’s just say that I’m someone still finding my way. Or should I say,
endlessly on the quest of my destiny.
(I know, disappointing…u didn’t really think i was gonna give you
something here since u’re gonna post this on your blog, did u? come
on, u know me better than that)

What have been your best memories of life in Madagascar so far?

* socially,
hummmmm
i’ve always been a bit of an outcast at school. I was always among
the youngest kids but for some reason I easily connect to older
people. It’s not like I had any choices anyway. It’s swim or drown
kind of situation. Of course some of them pushed me around but I think
I did okay. The best moment would be either me coming very early in
the morning to play soccer every day even during the winter or me
hanging out with my gansta friends a la fac. Ankatso.

personally,
best moment would be me and my cousins (yes, we’re awesome together)
at my grand-ma’s in the village during “fararano”. Around her house
there are lots of fruit trees. Mangos and grapes and guyava and
“khaki” and “pibasy” all happen to bear fruits during this time. At
the bottom of these fruit plantation, on the “lohasaha”, the rice
plants when they are ripe they all look yellow. So from her house you
have this magic view of rice from below and eucaliptus trees
mimoza’s (who have yellow flowers too) from above with the amazingly
good mixed smell of fruits. It’s like heaven. Trust me, you would
wanna be there, and just fall in love with nature and ambanivohitra.
The best part is of course, you finding your way around her, trying to
steal the fruits. You know, old people, they’re very “masiaka” and
full of non-sense… There is also the celebration of “santa-bary”,
it’s like a small inauguration or house-coming of the rice. Like you
cook and eat for the first time from the year’s harvests. Food would
be good and people would be happy… memories I’ll cherish forever…
totally sounds gay but you asked for it hahaha i’m hoping u’re not
publishing all of this.

economically,
I can tell you right now. There is none. I never got the shoes I liked
or anything. And if I had a chance to get some of it, I had to wait
for my birthday. I understood the meaning of how hard life could be
when I was very young already. My mom and I went to “Prisunic” (or
champion, don’t remember anymore) and she told me to pick the yoghurt
that I wanted. So I asked: which one is better? She said the
“strawberry” tastes better but the “nature” (no flavour) is cheaper.
And I asked: what would you pick? she replied: when you are not rich,
you go for the cheaper price since they are both the same product but
one less fancy… and so I picked the no flavour one. Back then, I was
just thinking that I should back my mom up, i love her, but now when
I think about it, I’m very proud of myself haha.
For the country and the malagasy people i think it’s deteriorating
year after year. Although, I was born in the 80’s which kinda sucked
more than the 90’s, besides the “flottement” of the MGF. So if I had
to pick, I would say 96-97 is the best moment economically for us…

politically,
euhhhhhhhh whaaaat? are you talking to me??
don’t tell anyone but i never did my citizen duties. As in, i never
voted… so yeah, i’m not the best person to tell the best moment in
this area.
I will say this though, I liked it more when people valued more
elections. Like in 96-97-98. You know, some politicians played it
dirty and all of that but still, people fought for their ideas and
parties peacefully. No matter how disgusting and untrustworthy were
the politicians they never tried to pretend they come for change and
act in the interest of the people just to serve their “evil” agenda.
Nobody pretended, we knew they were evil already so we knew what we
were dealing with… just to tell you how sad am I in what is
happening now where people are trying to seek for the good and
well-being of people while clearly they don’t give a damn about it…

How do you see our country in 50 years??

well, I’m optimistic. I know, most of us don’t really see big things
happening anytime soon but I believe in us. You know 50 years is a
long time and the best is yet to come. It is not conceivable to me, my
mind doesn’t and cannot accept that we will never have our
“anjara-masoandro”. Yes, it’s gonna be hard and it’s gonna take a
while but I never lose hope. This is my country, if i give up, if I
don’t do my best, if i don’t take care of it, who will??
U know, our ancestor tried their best, our grand parents, parents
tried. And then we came, and then it just stops there? i mean, really?

What are you willing/planning to do to have a better life or to reach your goals in life?

well, it depends on the goals we’re talking about. I have short and
long term goals (don’t ask!). But essentially, it involves smart
choices on unforeseen things and hard work and a bit of luck on the
rest. So far, I suck at all of them. well, it’s a work in progress.
What can I say, c’est la vie!!
yes, we have different philosophy of life and how things should be
approached. In my universe (ie me and my neurones), GSC is crap (no
offense). There is no such thing as free lunch. If you want something,
you gotta work for it. The sooner the malagasy people understand this,
the better our society will be. Giving and sharing and caring should
be applied only under special circumstances.
Of course, the government should work for an equal opportunity and
total “fairness” for everyone. Otherwise, it’s just pointless to fight
for something you lost no matter what you do already… I’m not sure
we’re having good governance yet but yeah, we’ll get there someday. In
the mean time, I do what I gotta do and take what I have to… daily
routine as part of being a man hahaha.

The end.