This event is actually an International event co-organized by the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education every year, and which aims to promote the benefits of International education and exchange worldwide.

For its 2009 edition in Madagascar, ICE Club will take part into the celebration of “International Educational Week” . Its presence at such event can be interpreted as a positive sign of openness of education to English club activities.

Nowadays, the global U.S. education policy has two main trends:

• to promote public, as well as private programs which prepare Americans for a global environment ;
• to attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn and exchange experiences in the U.S.

Obviously, the “International Educational Week” follows the second trend.

This event is an excellent opportunity for Malagasy people (especially Malagasy students) to know more about U.S. education and the tremendous advantages it can bring.

Independence day

The “Anjely Mainty” at the lake Anosy by Ariniaina

Madagascar got its Independence on June 26, 1960 right in Winter. Since my childhood I’ve associated this season to this important day. On June 25, everybody goes out to have a lanterns parade. Lamps of different colors come out with “jiro kapoka”, a can in which you put a candle and that usually little boys play with like they were driving bikes. And while you are eating maskita (barbecue) around Mahamasina, for you must fill your belly unless you want to have gas, there’s a chance that your ears get blown by the explosion of “tsipopoka”.
Eventually, the moment everybody’s waiting for comes, the Fireworks start, launched from the “Anjely mainty”, it lights the lake like a huge umbrella of thousands of mini lamps and gives it a incredible merge of colors.

Exams and winter break
Not very exciting for students, this period is the exams’ one. The time to put in question what you’ve learned all through out the school year. Actually, the state makes you sit for official exams.
It’s often the time where you have lots of chocolate and gifts to encourage you, wish you good luck and also where your mom is always on you saying “Are you ready, do you know your lessons, how about maths and sutff”, you know what I mean. Your nervous till the D-day, eager to be through with it and enjoy your more than deserved hollidays. The winter break is called “Grandes vacances” here and it marks the end of the school year.

Circumcision
The circumcision is among our tranditions – may be due to the fact that most of the Malagasy people are christian, and is practiced in winter, it is believed that injuries heal more quickly during this season (I think it may be true). Families queue up very early in the morning at the doctor’s door step. The little boys are wearing “malabary”, it’s a kind of robe made of Malagasy clothe, and most of the time accompanied by their father and uncles. Once the operation is finished they go back home and he will be rewarded with toys and congratulations for his courage and because he’s become a real man. This is an important event in a Malagasy family life that they celebrate with joy and happiness.

Saturday, May 23, 2009, during the weekly meeting of Ice, we discussed: “Should education be free?” For that, the members were divided into two groups: Public School (which is free) Vs. Private school?

Private School: Schools fees are expensive and depend on the quality of the educational tools and activities.

Public School: The school fee is very low and gives chance to everyone to have access to education.

Private School: The students are not numerous and are then, well supervised by the teachers.

Public School: The students may be more numerous but do not need to be supervised, and then already start to manage by themselves. This cannot do anything but good for their future.

Private School: Private schools have the necessary educational tools which can help a lot their students.

Public School: Teachers hired in Public Schools have high degrees to teach. Most of the time, teachers in private schools are people who could not find a sweater job. It may hurt but seen in some private schools.

Private School: Students from private universities are more operational.

Public School: Students from public universities deal more with theories.

Private School: Students in private schools are more serious.

Public School: In general, guys from public schools are naughty.

How about the case of a student who really wants to study in a private college but cannot afford the fees?

Private School: A girl said: “That’s cruel but that’s life.”

Public School: The student should not worry about his/her future carrier, studying in the University of Ankatso or Vontovorona is recognized by the state, companies and other colleges abroad (for further studies)

(Please, feel free to leave your comments to keep on the discussion. Thanks!)

I used to be a teacher for 7 years, and I sincerely felt concern about this topic. The message I really want to leave is this. “Education is like building a house. The roots, the basis need to be strong and well-done. If not, the rest of the wall built later may easily break.” Future parents should think very well before choosing the right school for their kids. In my personal opinion and experience, here in Madagascar, private schools are better for the primary and secondary classes. Though, High school and college in public institutions are more efficient. Luckily, the school programs are the same in public schools and in private ones.

Preschool classes are, I agree expensive, but really important by helping your kids to develop their 5 senses and start to learn to form letters and numbers.

In many cases in private schools, when a student failed to his/her exam and should not go to upper class, the parents, in order to save money, decide to let their kid pass anyway. I do not advise you this because the reason why the student missed his/her exam means that there is a lack to fill somewhere. And following the upper class will do nothing good but strengthen this lack.

ariniaina

Bollywood night show, is the first of its kind, in Madagascar. It is organized by the AKAMA and will be held today at the Auditorium Ankorondrano.
“All the benefits from this show will be given to the hospital Mère-enfant Tsaralalana” said Shelly Oukabay, the AKAMA’s current president, to the daily Malaza in an interview. “We are starting to rehabilitate a part of the hospital now” she added. 

I’m really curious to see what’s gonna happen there because I’ve seen some Indian movies let’s rather say musicals, they sing and dance a lot in the films. I’m also curious to know if they are going to do it as a bilingual show or just in Indian.

If you are willing to become a ICE member, you have to:
1. pay the ICE annual subscription fee: Ariary 8,000
2. fill the ICE membership form
3. come to every ICE meeting 

The ICE club is not a school and does not provide English language teaching. It is an English Club which makes its members practice their English.

The ICE club is a non-commercial, non-political and non-religious movement. 

The main goal of ICE club is to popularize the use of English language in Madagascar.

Well, how can I start it?

Okay, to start with, a friend of mine commented the first article I wrote about urban transport. He said that it was too “negative”. Now I am trying to find something “positive” but to tell you the truth, it is quite hard. OK, we can admit that it is a good point that they kept the ticket at Ariary 300 even though the price of gas did not stop increasing. Cross your fingers that it would stay like that for a while.

I guess everyone is excited to know their role in the story. Aren’t you?

Driver, you will be well dressed not like before when you could wear whatever you liked. Now you will have to wear a shirt and a tie. Do not worry, none will check your pants so you can keep you pair of jeans and if you feel hot you can have your sandals. Early in the morning you will take the car and your work day will begin. You will meet other “opponents” in their “taxi be” and you will try to be the best. And you will drive fast so they won’t take the customers who should be yours. You will finally get used to traffic jams. You better make sure that the starter works so you can cut the motor off while waiting it’s moving again. You will also learn to send the message “Scooter an!” even to your opponents this time. This “Scooter” means that some policemen on scooter are around so respect the rules for a while and take care. If you are unlucky they will stop the bus, check the car’s papers, take your license and will give you a ticket you will have to pay. The reason of such act? You might have stopped in the wrong bus station or some passengers were standing in the bus or the policemen did not get paid yet and then wanted you to give them some cash.
Late in the evening, tired, you, driver, will bring the bus back to its owner. But before you will count the money you got during the day so you can share the earnings: you will take your part (the little one) and give the rest (the big one) to the owner.

Conductor, you will sometimes forget to take a bath but do not worry we will not shout that loud. You will remember by heart the name of the areas the bus passes by because you repeat it all day long. Prepare your voice for that. We can understand that your work is very tiring as you will shout and stand all the time; so passengers will help you doing your job by passing that “wooden seat”. They will also take the fare of people seating around them and then give it to you. But please, give the change in time so passengers will not forget or yell about it. OK? As you are tired, you will forget all politeness gestures and words. And you will forget that those passengers are your customers, the ones who give you money, your salary.

Passengers, you will be the customers and “Customers are Kings” but you will forget it because you will always be in a hurry. You will not complain about the service offered to you because you are glad the fare is still Ariary 300 and the most important thing for you is to be at office on time or home early. The only thing that may put you on your nerves is when the conductor does not give your change back right away.

Policemen, you will stop those buses while trying to find mistakes the drivers did because you are broke. You will ask the papers of the car because you know that many of them are not regular. And you will behave as if you were the “big boss” so those drivers will not have the right to defend themselves. Then, when you need to go to a special place, you will get in one of those buses and you will pretend to be a nice person.

Government, you will pretend to believe that policemen are doing their job well and since BIANCO has been there, the technical inspection is correctly done. Then, you will try to feel astonished when accidents happen and a lot of people die. Do not look far from your seat guys (no offence), go next to the population and you will see. And maybe the solution you will give will be the appropriate one this time.

tia

When I have to pay the bus fare, buy tissue or some other small items, I use those very nice banknotes of Ar 100. And I always notice the different reactions from people who receive the money from me.

The grocers are the most amazed when I give them the clean and new money. Some of them even ask me why I don’t keep those new banknotes or if I am sure I want to buy things with them. Almost all those grocers admit that they will keep and arrange those new banknotes preciously and won’t use them (unless they have no choice and then will give them as change to their customers).

In buses, when I take the amount of the fare out of my money purse and I’m prepared to give it to the conductor, the people sitting next to me ask me to give them the new banknotes and they pay my fare with some old banknotes they have with them. But if no one sits next to me the conductors will be luckier and receive them. But most of the time I feel disappointed or even more, angry when those conductors take the new banknotes and do not hesitate one second before folding them.

All of this shows that we don’t respect our money. For some selfish people new banknotes shouldn’t be used. They want to keep them for themselves. For other people, money is money; they don’t care if it’s a new or an ugly old banknote.

A friend of mine went on vacation in a province of Madagascar (I can’t remember the exact place, sorry); she told me she couldn’t use the old banknotes she had on her. No sellers or “posiposy” drivers wanted them. They explained that it’s their way to teach people to care more about the money.

That is good example all of us should follow. Okay, I’ll have to admit that the paper used to make our banknotes is not so good. But we shouldn’t try to find someone to blame it on. We should find other solutions. I thought deeply about all of this and this is what I believe would be the good solution. Grocers, conductors, and any other sellers should refuse to take all the dirty and torn old banknotes. But people have to buy their food, have to take a bus… then they will be obliged to take care of the banknotes they have if they want to buy things. And also in return they wouldn’t accept to take a rotten banknote.

It doesn’t seem so difficult to do, right? I just don’t know who would start (me, maybe you).

By the way, I like the “Ariary”. I’m glad we, Malagasy people, have our own money.

tia

(Published in Midi Madagasikara P.16 on January 16th, 2007)

Since 1896, French soldiers invaded the Queen’s Palace and captured Queen Ranavalona and the Prime Minister Rainilahiarivony. Since then, Madagascar was under France’s control. And the lives of Malagasy people of that period dramatically changed. Several new rules and laws were imposed. Men over 18 had to work for the settlers (without getting paid). Thousand of families were separated because of the slavery.

But different men from different parts of Madagascar started to react and created some groups to fight against the colonization. We can quote the Menalamba, the Sadiavahy, the group led by Jean Ralaimongo, the Vy Vato Sakelika, the MDRM (the reason of the commemoration of March 29 th)… Most of the men of each of those groups – the settlers called them rebels – perished in the fights they conducted. The settlers were too strong for them and Malagasy fighters knew it. Though they didn’t back up. Why? Were they completely foolish? Or were they suicidal? We all believe that all of those courageous men did it because of the LOVE OF THEIR (our) COUNTRY. Today, I would personally ask you to commemorate not only the night of March 29 th, 1947 but all the battles that all of those “rebels” took to lead Madagascar to freedom and thus allowing us to celebrate Independence Day: June 26th.

The questions are: Would each one of us be able to fight for our country? Would we be able to die for our country? Is fighting the only thing that defines the patriotism? Or are there other ways to express it? Is patriotism for men or women?

I followed a report on t.v. about some special broadcasts in US and UK which played the role of the police and arrested criminal and paedophile people. Those TV stations ask the help of the viewers by phoning them and giving information about the “wanted” people so the police can arrest them. Can helping the police to arrest criminals, playing the “sheriff” and the “righter of wrongs” be a way to help the country? Is it then an act of patriotism? [ICE members must remember the role play game: ARE YOU A GOOD COP?]

Recently the country has just lived a “window display” of political arguments of what is good and what is not for Madagascar. Is being a politician and joining a political group other ways to express the act of patriotism? Or are they only ways to hide selfishness and the desire to control the nation?

Many Malagasy firms and even some Malagasy craftsmen have improved a lot and offer good quality products. Can we all decide to support them by buying and using more Malagasy products? Don’t you think that it can be a way to increase Madagascar’s economy? Can that decision be another act of patriotism?

Many Malagasy citizens had the opportunity to continue their studies abroad and share their talents and knowledge abroad. Should we be proud of them? Or would we be selfish if we ask them to come back and carry on here?

Now, Madagascar is open to technology, to European and US fashion, new music (that are not bad at all). But young people tend to forget Malagasy culture. Shouldn’t we refuse those “new” things to enter here? Or should we just plan more Malagasy cultural activities?

Is learning and practicing languages other than Malagasy necessary? Or are they disrupting my lovely native language? Or should I convince myself with the quotation: “Haiko ny teniko. Ny an’ny hafa koa feheziko”- I know my language. I can also master others’.

Is being racist and hating Vazaha [foreigners] also a way to prove that we love our country?
Many questions came to my mind today. And I’m sure there are other situations related to patriotism that I didn’t even think about. I want to let each one of us to meditate about the real love of the country.

I’m personally convinced that being a patriot is doing every little thing we can do to help Madagascar in its development. With that being said, we don’t necessarily have to protect our country of the world – so we can allow foreigners, technology… And also by being a patriot each one of us becomes a HERO in the eyes of Madagascar.

tia

(Published in Midi Madagasikara P.24 on March 15th, 2007)

Early in the morning, you can see people jogging (Run Forrest, run…). Some of them are athletes. Many are students who are preparing their sports exam at the end of the school year. At the same time you can find other kinds of people. They are wrapped up in their blankets or they are pushing a cart full of vegetables
that they are going to sell later at the market.

You can see the farmers displaying their products on the ground. Women (and why not men) will be glad to buy them because they are new, fresh and cheap.

A few minutes before 8.00 a.m., the streets become crowded. Adults are going to work. Kids are going to school. Those who live near their office or their school travel by foot. Those who do not take either a bus or a cab (taxi) and the others are either in their cars or on their bikes or motorcycles. You can already feel the start of traffic jams.

If you are on vacation, you are lucky. You can go downtown and go window-shopping or if you can afford it you buy interesting clothes or tools you see in those nice shops all the along the streets.

Suddenly, you notice lots of people making a circle. You think there must be an accident. You come nearer to se what’s going on. In the middle of the circle, there is a man almost nude (he is wearing only a little pair of shorts). He marks out lots of lines or drawings on the ground. He tells something about life, the future or the meaning of dreams. He must be a fortune teller. Sometimes you can see people from different churches preaching the Gospel.

You are downtown. You are in a hurry; you need a restroom. Some people (especially men) are used to do their needs on the corner of the streets (“Shame!”). If you can just hold your horses for a little while, maybe you can make it in time to the public restroom where you pay only Ar20 to rent a toilet.

You are hungry or thirsty and decide that you need some food. After eating your biscuits and yoghurt; please do not throw your trash all around the sidewalk. Do not forget the streets are ours. If we do not keep them clean, we are all not clean. Okay, there are not many garbage cans around but you can keep a little plastic bag in your bag to put your trash in and throw it away once you arrive at home.

At noon, it’s not possible for some people to enjoy a nice lunch at home. They do not have enough time because of their activities. But they can go to the restaurants or buy food on the corner of the street where some sellers put pots on a table and propose different meals. Unfortunately for the latter, the customer will have to stand to finish their plate. People say that the food at these stands is cheap and tasty. (I do not know about their hygiene).

Nowadays, there are so many car-foods everywhere, so you can also buy you meals there – they look healthier than the previous choice.

In the evening, the buses are always crowded. If you decide to walk on foot for a while; you can pass by sellers all along the sidewalks. I am amazed to see all the products they are trying to sell. You can find so many different things (clothes, bags, shoes, plates, vegetables, fruits, brushing…). You should admit that these street sellers are helpful when you need to do your shopping. Do not say that to the “Fivondronana”. They do not share the same opinion. Anyway the “Fivondronana” may be right. These sellers should pay taxes and should not block the sidewalks.

When the sun goes down, most of the people have already arrived at their homes and are preparing diner, watching TV or sleeping. Homeless people put up their little plastic or cardboard homes on the sidewalks, under bridges and verandas. They are preparing the night there. Some drunken men have no more strength to reach home, fall down and sleep on the sidewalk too. Burglars are preparing their attacks. Witches are dancing nude near tombs. From my bed, I can hear cars speeding down the streets. Young people are having wild car races.

Talking about the streets, I am sure you have bought this Midi Madagasikara newspaper from a guy on a street.

tia