Cyclone Ivan: Update

Ivan the Terrible, came, did not even look, ravaged the Big Island, and left. But some fear that he might return. (Malaza of 2008/2/19)

The Express newspaper, refers to Ivan as the Cyclone of Hundreds of Disasters. And another calls Ivan “Ilaifito”, which could be translated as “Seven Days of Rain.”
It seems that at about 6h00 [...]

Cyclone Ivan

UPDATE FOLLOWING SHORTLY! We had a 21 hour power cut due to Ivan the Terrible!
Each year, Madagascar gets “attacked” by a few cyclones. We were lucky during 2006 and 2007. Although there were a few cyclones, they weren’t that “bad.”
Take into consideration that it takes a Vanilla pod 3 years to mature. That means that [...]

More Manja!

A long time ago, I went to Manja! It feels like forever has happened since!
Let me remind you. Manja is a town somewhere in the Central south-western region of Madagascar. In the Toliara province, to be more precise.
Glauco, one of our previous students is now working there. I went to visit him to see what [...]

Flea-ing Poverty!

We have all seen a flea. Most have been bitten by one. But have you ever ‘experienced’ a sand-flea, also known as a jigger? Here in Madagascar they are called, parasy afrikana, that is the African Flea! (In actual fact they come from South America. See: Citation)

The female flee burrows into the skin of a [...]