Madagascar: A Life Changing Experience. Antananarivo - National Identity and Social Change Past Review
By Rachel O (Physics., Carleton College) for
SIT Study Abroad: Reviews from Former Locations
I learned a lot about myself and gained a lot of perspective. You always hear about how poor people are in other countries, but actually seeing these people and how they live is life-changing. Bonding with foreigners (particularly those with whom I shared no common language) was incredibly meaningful and I plan on keeping in contact with all of my families as best I can for years to come (and I would love to be able to return to visit).
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
In Madagascar we were affiliated with a university, but all of our classes were separate. We had 2 different language classes and were split into small groups by level to get the most individualized learning as possible. When together as a group we often had guest lecturers who were experts in their fields (oftentimes professors at the local university). We weren't given a lot of homework, but a lot of our learning was done outside of the classroom through living with a local Malagasy family. When we did have work to do outside of the classroom (probably a few times per week), it was graded using a french system (so out of 20 points). |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
All of the program staff were very approachable and dealt with any and all problems in an organized, calm matter. I never felt like there was anything I couldn't talk to the staff about if the need arose. My only issue was that we were the largest group they had ever had and sometimes things were a little unorganized, but with more planning and experience with larger groups, I think that the kinks will get worked out as best they can. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I had 3 different homestays and all of them were organized by the program. I was welcomed into every home with open arms and treated as a daughter. In 2 of the 3 homes I would help cook and do other little things around the house just like all of my host siblings. I never had to buy anything to settle in. In all homes I was given a bed and was able to use whatever of theirs that I needed. My neighborhoods were all safe, but I felt even safer because I was living with a local family. I was also within a 10 minute walk of our program center in my main homestay which was really nice. |
| * Food: |
You will often be served more food than you want/can eat (but most of it will be delicious), but don't worry about it. Eat what you want and then say that you are full. You won't be forced to eat. Also, be ready to eat a lot of rice! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
We were invited to go see a famadihana (a traditional ceremony venerating the ancestors) which was really fascinating to watch and participate in. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Depending on where you are in the country, safety in Madagascar varies wildly. In Tana, it isn't safe to be out at night, but as long as you take a taxi and stay inside places (restaurants, clubs, etc) you should be fine. Outside of Tana many places are safer and you can walk around alone at night and be/feel pretty safe. Health care in Tana and other major cities was readily available and the SIT staff were always willing to help/visit the doctor with students. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | I spent about $350 total over the course of 3 and a half months. Madagascar is a very cheap country to live in (especially if you are good at bartering). |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | None. I spent far less money than I had been anticipating. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 200-level french |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
Almost no one spoke english, at least not fluently, so I needed to use french on a daily basis to really communicate with educated people. I also had to use Malagasy fairly often, particularly while living in a rural village where almost no one spoke any other languages. This was sometimes difficult as I had only been studying the language for about 2 months, but my understanding increased tremendously while living there for almost a month. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I would tell a student to be open to learning about and adapting to the culture. That is the best way to bond with people and form lasting relationships. Students who are open to adapting to a new culture will gain the most from this experience. |
