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| When a job needs doing at the Midgleys, like a car that needs to be moved, one can always count on the Lego to get stuck in ... |
After being back in Tana for around a week now I've been mulling over life here - and how different it is to life in South Africa and, I imagine, anywhere in the first-world ...
... about the madness of the political system and all the recent political decisions and revelations - like the military man who admitted to being paid $10,000 by "national politicians and foreign contributors" to help carry out the coup d'etat in 2009, which brought the current president into power and plunged the country into crisis
... about trying to survive (sometimes unsuccessfully) on around $500 a month
... of the various hilarious methods and modes of transport, and the fact that everything seems to be held together, as cheaply as possible, with a piece of wire and a prayer. (I even heard a story about someone making his own fuses for his car because he wanted to save the few cents it would cost to buy them!)
... about the lack of rain, how the whole population is linked so closely to the land that the rainlessness hurts, and how the topic now seems to open every conversation
... of the beauty of the people and the paysage (landscape)
... about the fact that my old motorbike is now smoking more than a retired, chain-smoking Frenchman in a Malagasy restaurant, and that it could kick the bucket at any time
... of the juicy steaks, and relative safety and lack of crime
... about the litter and mud clogging the streets and the cranky electricity supply and not having running water in my house most days
... of the amazing litchis with their huge pips, and the mangoes and speckled, flawed, real bananas
... about the thumb-sized cockroaches that refuse to go quietly into the night
... of the absolute need for good friends
... about frustrations with school and students and the sluggish Internet from the middle ages
... about the madness of the political system and all the recent political decisions and revelations - like the military man who admitted to being paid $10,000 by "national politicians and foreign contributors" to help carry out the coup d'etat in 2009, which brought the current president into power and plunged the country into crisis
... about trying to survive (sometimes unsuccessfully) on around $500 a month
... of the various hilarious methods and modes of transport, and the fact that everything seems to be held together, as cheaply as possible, with a piece of wire and a prayer. (I even heard a story about someone making his own fuses for his car because he wanted to save the few cents it would cost to buy them!)
... about the lack of rain, how the whole population is linked so closely to the land that the rainlessness hurts, and how the topic now seems to open every conversation
... of the beauty of the people and the paysage (landscape)
... about the fact that my old motorbike is now smoking more than a retired, chain-smoking Frenchman in a Malagasy restaurant, and that it could kick the bucket at any time
... of the juicy steaks, and relative safety and lack of crime
... about the litter and mud clogging the streets and the cranky electricity supply and not having running water in my house most days
... of the amazing litchis with their huge pips, and the mangoes and speckled, flawed, real bananas
... about the thumb-sized cockroaches that refuse to go quietly into the night
... of the absolute need for good friends
... about frustrations with school and students and the sluggish Internet from the middle ages
But most of all, of the fact that I know why I'm here ...
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| One of the little Lego men offered to help with the car, but it was pretty tough for him alone ... |
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| ... and so he called in some friends, one of which wasn't quite up to the task! |
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| Lego |
I wish you tell me ... why
ReplyDeleteWould be another long and breathtaking story...
Pleaaaaase...
Denise
Well, we're glad you're here....Expecially with all your photos that look like Stock Photographs!
ReplyDeleteLoved the photos. My kids definitely need more legos. Knowing your purpose and that you're where God wants you to be makes life worth living!
ReplyDeleteKewl pics Rob! (Agree with Sue they could be from some "pay for our pictures" site) Love your lego M boys!
ReplyDeleteI am with you on the need for good friends. I think you are surrounded by them even though they are 1000s of km away.
Janet
@laughwithusblog One can never have too much Lego! And thanks for the continued following and commenting ...
ReplyDeleteIsn't it ironic that Madagascar doesn't have rain and yet the rest of the world is suffering with floods! Are you enjoying photshopping your pics? G
ReplyDeleteAg, we like your pics. Even the stock ones.
ReplyDeletewe aren't (!snarl!) animals (!growl!)
ReplyDeleteHi Robin!
ReplyDeleteThese little lego men are so strong! haha. Great idea and the photos are just perfect. I will be adding your site to my favourites :)
Thank you for visiting my site and for your comment!!
Emz