I'm sure I've mentioned before how Malagasies have ridiculously long and largely-unpronounceable names (to westerners, anyway), which is why people are mostly just called by their first names. Even dignitaries are referred to by their first name or by a nickname. So, the deposed president is plain old Marc and the current one TGV (after the French high speed train). I'm Mr Robin, or, more often than not, "Meester Robeen", "Meester Rabbit" or just "Meester, Meester" ...
I was paging through our class lists the other day and came across these two doozies; both girls in Grade 7: Onintsoa Ramananandroniaina and (wait for it) Meva Jessica Andriamalalanoroharintsoa. Try saying those quickly when one hasn't slept well the previous night. So, clearly, they are just Ony and Jessica to me ...
I've spoken about the "-lyn" girls at the school - four Malagasy sisters of Chinese descent who share a three-letter surname, and the last syllable of their first names. Here they are:
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| Ailyn, Grade 5 |
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| Lilyn, Grade 3 |
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| Katelyn, Grade 2 |
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| Evelyn, Preschool |
What beautiful girls! Loving your blog Rob, read every single one. JD
ReplyDeletealways said Lyn was the best name to have
ReplyDeletethose long names are just one of them many reasons why canada is not as exciting as mada. meeting scott and allison and elizabeth and bobby just isn't as noteworthy!
ReplyDeleteYes, it's true, we do laugh a lot here ... and it is awfully fun writing about real life, which we so often hide ourselves away from in the first world! These girls are beautiful, and have such diverse characters ...
ReplyDeleteRhonda, I was looking at pics of Winnipeg, and couldn't find any non-white people. Ha ha ha ... Talk about culture shock.
A GREAT thanks to VVS in Madagascar and specially all the South Africa Teachers for their Good work
ReplyDeleteLyn`s Father
I`m Proud the way VVS has teach my Girls and its really Important at that age and we can compare with Kids from Lycee or others International school where the Family value is not teach anymore.Cheers for all Malagasy and South African Teachers in VVS and long live VVS.
ReplyDeleteLyn`s Mother