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Honoring the Departed: Betsileo Funeral Practices and the Heart of Fihavanana

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  Honoring the Departed: Betsileo Funeral Practices and the Heart of Fihavanana Last June, my family and I stood in one of the quiet hills of Ambohimahasoa, my husband’s hometown, to bid farewell to a loved one. As a Betsileo woman raised in a different region of Madagascar, I knew of our funeral traditions mostly through my father’s stories. But being part of these sacred practices opened my eyes to the profound beauty of our culture and the unbreakable bond of fihavanana —our Malagasy value of community solidarity. To everyone studying Malagasy culture and readers worldwide, I invite you to join me in exploring the Betsileo funeral practices that honor the departed while weaving the living closer together. Milaza Iraka: Spreading the Word with Care When someone passes in a Betsileo community, young men take on the sacred duty of milaza iraka (announcing the news). For one or two days, they travel across villages, sometimes on foot, to inform family, friends, and acquaintances of...
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Madagascar: The Real Eden! Eden usually describes the beauty of the virgin nature and what human beings consider as the unimaginable perfection of the world. Madagascar is one of those places that will bring your soul high up to the point of your wildest dream ever.  Michael Bosho and his visit in Ambohimanga village Madagascar and its beautiful people will welcome you with big smiles and happy faces, along with their willingness to show the beautiful facade of their country. Malagasy people are beautiful inside and outside, and they are happy. They do not always have much, but they are living proves of the saying that "happiness is not about money". If you go to the stunning beach of Andilana in Nosy-Be, beautiful young ladies will come to offer you some services such as hair braiding and the "masonjoany" make-up or to sell some of those exotic necklaces and bracelets that will forever remind you the irresistible attraction of their country. Madagas...
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When I turned 28...

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When I turned 28... Everyone has a number, at least most people do. I do not believe in luck, but, for some reason, I have two numbers that I kind of randomly pick when I am asked what my lucky number is. I had not thought about those figures until a few weeks ago when my husband asked me about them. I told him "4 and 7". I haven't had a proof that they are actually my "lucky" numbers, but I just liked them, probably because I was born on the 14th (which has a 4) of July (the 7th month) or for some other reasons that I do not know. Whatever, I really like those numbers. At that time, my husband answered me: "Well the registration number of that car had a 4, so we'll probably get it". The next day, the car was ours. It might have had nothing to do with the number, but who knows if it did!  Yesterday, I was thinking about my birthday, recalling those "missed" birthdays that I had in the past. I am considering them "missed" ...
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Zavatra 5 nampahatsiahivina ahy tato ho ato

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Fampahatsiahivana ho antsika Kristiana  Betsaka ny boky novakiko tato ho ato. Tsy vitsy ihany koa ny horonan-tsary na horonam-peo nahenoako hevitra vitsivitsy izay efa fantatro hatrizay saingy hadinoko teny ho eny. Betsaka tamin'ireo boky na sary nandalo teo anatrehako no tsy misy resaka an'Andriamanitra saingy tao anatin'ireny dia nahatsapako ny fahalehibiazany manoloana ny zavatra izay heverin'ny olona ho ananany fahefana. Tsy azoko odian-tsy hita koa ny zava-mitranga rehetra nataon'ny Tompo teo amin'ny fiainako - tsara na ratsy - izay nentin'ny Fanahy nampahatsiaro ahy ny herin'Andriamanitra manoloana ny fianantsika olombelona. Indreto ary misy lesona vitsivitsy hozaraiko aminao - lesona izay hoezahiko hotsiahivina hatrany mba handehanako amin'ny lalana tokony halehako.  1. Tsy manana fahafahana mifehy ny ho avy isika Nampianarina ahy fony fahakely ny fahaizana mitsinjo ny vodiandro ho merika. Noho izany dia olona miezaka hatrany aho mba ...
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Our first 7 years!

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I am really in love with him... I am exhausted with this voice telling me from my inside that I have a lot to do. I am literally tired, and my human logic is begging me to bend my head on my desk and take a 5 minute break right now. I am exited to go home in a few minutes and to see my sweet little family. My digestive system is asking me to stand up and grab a cup of water as I am more than thirsty now. But all of that have to wait. They all got to wait because I have to drop some lines to myself and to the person I love the most in this world - my husband.   The following part is private, and therefore, will not be published here. 
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Inona no toetra tokony hananan'ny vehivavy mba hahatsapan'ny vadiny ny lanjany ao an-tokantrano?

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Ahoana no fomba hanajan'ny vadinao anao sy hahatsapany ny lanjanao ao an-tokantrano? Olana sedrain'ny tokantrano maro ny tsy fisian'ny fanajana avy amin'ny an-daniny na an-kilany, olana izay tsy vao izao fa efa niainan'ny taranaka maro talohantsika. Noho ny tantara izay manaporofo ny fahambonian-toeran'ny lehilahy fahiny sy ny toerana nomena ny vehivavy fahagola anefa dia ny vehivavy no iharan'ny olana matetika, eny fa na ankehitriny aza. Ny tsy fanajana dia indraindray tsy tsapan'ilay mpanao azy akory ary, na fanahy iniany aza, dia heveriny fa zavatra mety sy tsara izany mba hahafahany mametraka fa ambony izy ary manana ny maha-izy azy ao amin'ny tokantranony.  Ity lahatsoratra ity dia natao ho an'ireo vehivavy na lehilahy mahatsiaro ho tsy omen-danja loatra ao an-tokantrano ka mikaroka izay fomba hahazoana ny fanajan'ny vady.  1. Manàna ny maha izy azy anao Ataovy fantatr'io olona io fa tsy olonolom-poana ianao ary manana n...
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Ireo zavatra 3 tsy tiako indrindra amin'ny asako

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Ireo zavatra 3 tsy tiako indrindra amin'ny asako Tiako loatra ny asako ary tsy haiko izay fomba hisaorako an'Andriamanitra noho ny nanomezany ahy izany. Toy ny zavatra rehetra anefa dia misy foana ny zavatra kely izay mety tsy ho sarotra saingy tena tsy tiako sy mandreraka ahy ny manao azy. Ireto ary izy ireo :)  1. Mandrangitra pensily hazo Rehefa tonga ao amiko ny mpianatra dia tsy maintsy vononiko mialoha ny fitaovana rehetra hampiasainy. Na ny ankizy kely na ny lehibe dia mila pensily hazo vonona mialoha ny hanombohan'ny kilasy. Tsy fantatro hoe dia nahoana loatra fa io no tsy tiako indrindra amin'ny asako. Fahiny aho raha nandrangitra pensily hazo dia anankiray na roa ihany dia vita fa ankehitriny dia pensily hazo manodidina ny 30 no rangitiko. Manginy fotsiny ireo pensily hazo miloko efa an-jatony izay tsy maintsy rangitiko. Mbola manampy trotraka koa ny haratsin'ilay fandrangitana ampiasaiko ka tsy maintsy mindrana amin'olona aho raha te hahavi...
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