• Faux Cap, Southern Madagascar •
Taken around Thanksgiving time, these girls were part of the dear family I lived with during my time in Madagascar. Although they didn’t seem to have a lot, they were always joyful and thankful, and seeing this photo reminds me again that we should not be any different.
Wishing everyone in the States a wonderful Thanksgiving week!
💙
Meet little Mialy, Mia, and their father…known simply as Baba. They—along with 15 other siblings—made up my host family during a time spent in the arid region of southern Madagascar, where I was doing research on the Antandroy communities.
I often think back to this family with bittersweet fondness. When I was there, I was profoundly inspired by their love for life and their appreciation of the simple joys it brings…while endlessly cheered by their wide grins and generous laughter.
But now, when I glance at this photo, their visage seems to reveal a truth much deeper…and my heart aches a little.
Nevertheless, the sound of their laughter will remain with me forever, and I am thankful to have met them…and grateful for the lessons they taught me in treasuring the simple moments in life.
Ambaro, Madagascar
•
Our village specialized in ‘bageda’…sweet potatoes.
After harvesting, we would bring them to the market and trade them for maize.
Although only Hanitra and Puppydoc are pictured above…
…the entire family worked very hard.
•
Through my time spent abroad during the holiday seasons, I noticed something:
That despite our dissimilar lives, cultures, appearances, beliefs…
one thing never changes:
our love and compassion for one another.
Wishing everyone much love this December.
💛
Kumasi, Ghana
•
On my first day of walking to work at the hospital,
I met a group of children who would end up becoming my daily escorts.
This was a moment captured while the vigilant residents
inspected my suspicious-looking digital device.
😉
Ambaro, Madagascar
•
Although this family treasured life and found joy in the simple things…
(Papa with little Mialy)
…it is no lie that each day was still a struggle.
•
Faux Cap, Southern Madagascar
•
When Puppydoc first arrived at her new home,
the villagers were a tad bashful…
…but this issue resolved itself rather quickly.
😀
![Chronic Pain [a poem]](https://i0.wp.com/phoebemd.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/chronic-pain-poem.jpg?fit=932%2C498&ssl=1&resize=40%2C40){kind=small}
![I'm Calming Myself Down [a poem]](https://i0.wp.com/phoebemd.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/mountain-lake-931726_1280.jpg?fit=1152%2C690&ssl=1&resize=40%2C40){kind=small}
![Anxiety & Me [a poem]](https://i0.wp.com/phoebemd.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/pexels-keenan-constance-2865901.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=40%2C40){kind=small}
