Sambatra is
a huge circumcision celebration here in Madagascar. It only happens every three years, so I was
very fortunate to be in Madagascar
and living in the Sudest when it was going on.
I attended only the second to last weekend, but the festival itself last
the whole month of October. Circumcision
is an important event in Malagasy culture and all circumcisions are accompanied
with a party. Although most circumcision
celebrations are just with family and friends, Sambatra brings together people
from all over the region for one joint celebration; as well as people from all
over Madagascar
to witness it. The actual cultural
celebrations do not last all day, but are only for a few hours each day. These celebrations also differ each day. The fist day that I was there I witnessed a
The Dying Lemur
Today after
doing my laundry I was laying around reading when I heard a bunch of kids in my
backyard. Curious to what they were
doing, mostly out of boredom, I got up and walked to my backdoor. Upon seeing me, one of the kids held up his
hand in a motion for me to stay where I was and then ran around the corner of
my house. He shortly reappeared with a
small fury animal in his hand. As he
approached I was unsure of what it might be; a mouse or a squirrel I thought
possibly. When he got to the bottom of
my steps he laid it on the ground and I could finally see what it truly
Parasy….
I am a real
Madagascar Volunteer now. Today I was
able to check off another international ailment. Today I found out I had Parasy. Although not a disease, I am still counting
it. Parasy is a sand flea that burrows
under the dead skin on your feet and lays an egg sack. It causes a pressure feeling that is slightly
painful. It is easily removed though and
then you must just wait for the wound to heal.
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