December 2 posting
We had a rare treat today for the whole day - absolutely perfect weather outside where the sun isn’t burning on our skins and the breeze was often a nice relief for us, too. This late morning, we took a nice long stroll to a local supermarket which we would usually take a bus to get there since it only costs us 10 cent each for a ride. As we took a walk on the top of a mound next to the roadside, Susie got to see a nice view of the river with brick ovens and rural landscape in the background. As we arrived at the supermarket, we splurged pretty much everything that we didn’t even bring enough of cash so we had to cut down a few of products out. We took a bus back home.
Later in the afternoon, we were invited to a deaf couple’s home. Dimby was invited, too, so he tagged us along to their home. They do have a big house compared to the other deaf people’s home. This guy has been working as a carpenter for a public hospital for many years. His wife works as a cook for Norwegian missionary as well as a president for Tana’s deaf club. They have 2 children - their son will be graduating from an university this January and their daughter is in her first year at a college. They do sign well and can interact with deaf people well, too which is a rare sight here in Tana. Even their cousins who are 9 and 11, especially the 9 year old girl, are very receptive to the visual conversations between us and the other deaf friends. Their dad is younger brother of the deaf carpenter. He signs pretty good as I was able to understand most of his funny stories about the carpenter. I can’t seem to remember the carpenter and his wife’s names yet I do remember their signs pretty well. Many Malagasies’ names are at least 10 characters long! Even the carpenter’s mom can sign, but not as well as his younger brother. But her face is really expressive enough for me to understand what she is trying to say to me. I could tell that this family is pretty loving close family. The carpenter have a few siblings living in France and the French embassy even won’t grant the carpenter a leisure visa to France just because he is deaf. He has to go with someone to France. He even got an air ticket to prove that he is returning back. The sad part is that the ticket is non-refundable and his siblings have helped him pay the ticket. I just hope that he’ll get to see a bit of the world out of Madagascar before his time is done here. He is pretty hilarious guy and he actually loves to tease my innocent Susie very much that sometimes she’d blush once in a while by his charming jokes.
Anyway, what else can I write here… oh yes, last week, I’ve finally started painting the walls with some ‘baby’ color backgrounds. I’ve only bought 3 primary colors (blue, red, and yellow if you didn’t know) and black paints. I mixed some colors with white paint that Akama’s wood workshop has and applied to the walls. The head carpenter had actually asked me on how did I create green paint. I was little surprised that he didn’t know how to make green paint out of blue and yellow paints. So he asked me to teach him on creating secondary colors - green, orange, and purple as well as light and dark tones (adding black and white, vice versa) He said that it was difficult to find a green paint that is a reasonable cost to him here in Tana. After finishing painting the background, many staff and students actually came to me asking me what are they for and gave me some compliments. Some staff thought that I was actually done with the painting. I think they are in for a big surprise once the students and I are done with the murals. I could sense that many students are excited about it because some students actually wanted to help me trace the outlines during their free time. I just let them have their own way while I relaxed… Also, last Friday, I had my 5e class sketch some their ideas for their own pieces on the mural walls. Many of their ideas were so common that a 7-8 year old kid could draw. So I just had to push them to the next level by asking them what they have seen on TV at home, or what they have talked with parents/friends before. They could use those ideas on the murals. Some got to draw better than their previous sketches. So I am really looking forward to painting the murals with the students soon!
Well, I have to end right now as it is past my bed time - 9:30 pm as I usually get out of bed by 6 am or earlier. I think that’s because many Malagasies here can’t afford electricity so they usually go to bed like an hour or two after the sunset and try to get up by sunrise so they can be productive during the sunlight. Ok, I’ll stop here right now then… Zzz…..