Susanne in Madagascar: Dutch in Madagascar!

Saturday, July 3, 2010

Dutch in Madagascar!

Is there a better way to get to know your fellow countrymen in a strange country than through football?

I have found three so far, two of whom are in this picture...Wim who works for UNICEF, and Francois, manager of the Carlton hotel in Tana. There are even two Brazilians in Tana, but they left right after the match (wonder why..gna gna)

HUP HOLLAND HUP!

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What's in a Name?

Good question. Well I can tell you what's in a name here in Mada. A LOT. A lot of letters that is. My oh my, I have never seen a country with so many long names. Since I've been here I am breaking my tongue over the names. A random sample: Haingomalala Rajaonnarivelo, Njakatiane Rajaoharinaivo, Iarimalanto Randrianjafy, Hariavola Rabenabatoa, Fanjanirina Randrianarivony or Oniantsa Rakotonanahary. I am not making this up.

Sometimes I wish we had moved to Cambodia, I mean Pol Sem, Lee Sok, Son San...say for yourself.

Southern Hemisphere

Living below the equator, for someone from the Northern hemisphere, actually presents a few surprises. Firstly, the seasons are reversed; it's winter here when it is summer in Europe and the US. Secondly, the moon is not 'standing up' but 'lying down', which can easily been seen at half moon time, and thirdly - apparently - water in the sink or toilet spirals down clockwise and not counter-clockwise. Huh? I tried to look very hard, but no way. One can only peek inside a toilet pot for so long. Maybe one day you can see for yourself...?

Priceless...

There's contradictory information about the visa requirements for Madagascar. The French Guide du Routard reports that a visa can cost up to 60 euro at the airport. The Lonely Planet says 32 USD for a single entry. Well, let me set this record straight: if you stay for 30 days or less, a visa can be obtained upon arrival FOR FREE. Unless you want to donate money to a Madagascar Embassy, don't buy a visa. If you want to stay longer or are going to study or work here, you need a Visa Transformable which can NOT be obtained in Madagascar.
However, the visa we all REALLY need, is the Visa credit card, as Master Cards are hardly accepted here. So in short, an entry visa: priceless. For everything else there is...Visa!

My Favorite Places in Tana