Our English Page

 

 

The Worst

   by Lindsay Redifer

 

As an American in Madagascar, I’m called on to do hundreds of different things. "Teach this! Find that! Translate this! Fund that!"  It’s endless, but it’s my job. I try to do everything I can, but I shy away from giving private lessons and small translating jobs. I know several Malagasy people who make their living in this way and I don’t want to take any work away from them.

 

 

 Nivo, one of my good friends and one such Malagasy woman, came to me with a list the other day. It was extensive and official-looking. She said she needed to translate it to English for some visiting Japanese doctors, and she was stuck.

 

  “What’s this list of,” I asked. “Oh,” she sighed, “these are things that…how to say it? Things that women have complained about from the time they had their babies.” She showed me an example, which translated to, “The midwife assigned to me didn’t care anything about me, even when I was in labor.”

 

 The list went on and on, all the complaints in tiny type. One young girl had her first baby after being humiliated in the waiting room by a nurse who yelled out to everyone in reception, “I’m looking for the girl who’s pregnant but is too young to be having sex. Has anyone seen her?” When I saw that, my jaw hit the floor.

 

  It shouldn’t shock me. Malagasy hospitals are infamous for the bad treatment they give to their patients, local and foreign alike. Another story I heard, this one from M. an American, was about a doctor who didn’t know how to give injections. When a sick foreigner was brought to him, vomiting and stumbling, the doctor proceeded to dig into the student’s arm with a needle. M. pleaded with him to stop, only to have him ignore her. A nurse then threw several documents in M’s face, telling her to go and fill them in if she knew so much. M. said she was so mad she was trembling.

 

  Having grown up in a country where people trust their doctors infinitely, where the hospitals are sparkling white and everyone is kind and patient, it’s still hard for me to accept the realities of healthcare in a third world country. Especially considering that Malagasy people normally avoid confrontation at all costs, being soft-spoken, passive people in any other setting.

 

  What is it that sparks such hostility in the one place where people need a smile and a kind word more than anything? Is it so terrible to be a doctor here? Is the endless line of sick people simply too much for hospital staff to bear? I don’t know. The Japanese doctors Nivo mentioned want to work with these doctors and encourage them to have a more understanding, patient bedside manner. Nivo will be beside them, translating and hearing more horror stories than I care to imagine. My job is difficult, but I think hers borders on impossible.

 

 

 

 

To Work and Study

By Rondro

 

  My name is Rondro, I’m 20 and I’m second year in the Journalism School.

  I’d like to become a famous journalist in my country.

 

 

In my life, I like spend my time to work. When I was 18, I began to work in a                                                                                                                                                society selling portable telephones and I do a demonstration for                                                                                                                                                                     advertisement. This work is part time but I never attend school because I                                                                                                                                                     spend my time at my job.  Sometimes I forget that I’m still a student

 

 

 

One hand, I like working because I get some money to pay my fees , to help                                                                                                                                                 my parents and so on.  

 

One other hand I dislike working because I need to                                                                                                                                                                                         continue my study or the work takes all my time.

 

 

 

 

 

MAJUNGA OR TANA?

by Lucia  

  I know Tana like I know Majunga. Both of them are big cities, but

there is a big difference between them.

 

 

  When I lived in Tana, I saw that there were many more people

than in Majunga. That’s why the security is worse and there is

pollution. Besides, among the people many of them are very poor;

even if we can find many kinds of business. But, in Tana, there are

many schools, universities. And in this town, we can find all the things

we want, except the sea side that makes Majunga so famous.

 

 

  Certainly, Majunga is a very nice city. It’s so calm, not many people

and the weather is always fine. However, the life in general is more

expensive than in Tana. Many of the people don’t have a job because

of the lack of the factory.

 

 

  So, now I can’t choose between Tana and Majunga. Sure there is a

problem with them but it’s my Tana; my Majunga and last, it’s my Madagascar.

 

 

 

An Introduction                                                         

 

 By Iarcyl

 

 

I am very glad to write for us

 

My name is IARCYL. I study in the journalism school at Tsararivotra, Majunga.

 

I want to be  a good journalist  because I enjoy communicating  with  everybody,

especially about relationships. I have lived here since my birth, so I know really

 how Majunga is and what the people in Majunga are like.  Then, I think that

Majunga is the best city in Madagascar!

 

 

Before I put my pen down, I would like to dedicate this poem to all of us.

 

 

              ST. VALENTINE‘S DAY         

 

 

If u seek me, u’ll find me

 If u find me, u‘ll know me

 If u love me, I love you. 

If u know me, u’ll love me                                                                                                          

 

 

 

  It’s the day

 That we waited

 For always

 Impatiently

 

I HOPE  THAT   YOU’LL  BE  HAPPY                                  

 

 

 

 

 

Shopping in Majunga

 

By Olive

 

 

  My name’s Olive and I live in Ambalavola, Majunga (401) .My nationality is Malagasy. My nick name’s Fandrama. I speak Malagasy and a little English. I’m student at Ecole Superieur de Journalisme Saint Francois D’assise. I’m in level two.

 

  For my birthday, I want to buy a pink skirt, sandals, hair holder and earrings. I like the colour pink and the beauty lotion “G § G Teint Uniforme” because, it is clears and ensures a spotless skin. I like to go shopping. If I haven’t got the money I just look and after I choose the beautiful skirt or shirt. I like to just ask the price for the clothes.

 

  I want to buy in the shop at Mahabibo market. I buy a pink skirt, but the pink skirt is too small. The man in the shop says he hasn’t got a bigger size. I’m very sad, because I like the color pink. Sometimes, I haven’t class in the morning and I go shopping. I have got ten hair holders because I like them. I also like accessories and fashions. This is my preoccupation in my life.

 


Page Information

  • 6 months ago [history]
  • View page source
  • You're not logged in
  • Recent comments:
    Anonymous:Everyone did a great job with their English articles. I'm very proud of my students! Editor Lindsay Redifer
  • No tags yet learn more

Wiki Information

Recent PBwiki Blog Posts