Here are some cool facts I’ve learned about Madagascar since I’ve been here. Well I think they are facts anyways… Some are my observations and for others I don’t exactly know the sources, but this is what people tell me anyways or it seems believable.
- It’s the 4th largest island in the world
- There are 22+ million people
- ~90% of the population lives off less than $2 a day
- The language is called Malagasy or Gasy for short and both are also used as adjectives to describe things from Madagascar. (e.g. the people here are the Malagasy people)
- The Malagasy language is Malo-Polynesian in origin.
- Madagascar has a lot of Indonesian influence mixed with African influence. From what I’ve heard it’s very different from mainland Africa, but I wouldn’t really know.
- Part of Madagascar is freezing… even during the hottest time of the year. I know, I’ve been there and I almost froze to death coming from the hottest region in Madagascar.
- Malagasy people are some of the kindest people I have ever met. Their hospitality to strangers and their love and care for their community is incredible.
- They eat more rice per capita than anyone in the world, and I believe it. My 5 year old Malagasy sister can eat more rice than I can!
- Food is not a meal unless it includes rice. This is a fact. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had rice and pasta as a meal, or better yet what I call the carb trifecta of potatoes, pasta, and rice! Potatoes count as the vegetable right?
- There used to be lemurs the size of gorillas… but they are long gone… as well as the giant elephant birds that remind me of Kevin from the Disney movie Up.
- We don’t have any fast food restaurants here…. not even a McDonalds.
- No, sadly the animals don’t talk and it’s not like Madagascar the movie… I almost went home when I was confronted by this reality.