This blog is all about exchanging ideas between American and Malagasy culture. "Mifanakalo hevitra" as they say in Malagasy. It is something that I have been deeply interested in since I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in the village of Ambatofinandrahana from 2007-2009. After the Peace Corps I finished my graduate work in philosophy and earned a Ph.D. in 2011. Since then I have been teaching philosophy to undergrads, but I never stopped thinking about my friends in Madagascar or the wonderful culture and worldview of the Malagasy people that I learned so much about from talking with my Malagasy students and friends. I had the good fortune to be living in Nashville, TN from 2009 to 2013 while a cohort of some of the brightest college students from Madagascar were studying at Lipscomb University. So, the exchange of ideas continued and I made new Malagasy friends. Fortune shown down on me as I was awarded a Fulbright to return to Madagascar and teach American Studies and work with members of the Anglophone Studies Department and the Philosophy Department at the University of Antananarivo. Beginning in November, I will teach about American culture to students at the university and conduct research on the history of philosophy in Madagascar and how the general worldview of the Malagasy people relates to happiness and the good life. I am very excited and also very humbled by the opportunity to continue the exchange of ideas between these two cultures, and continue to explore the similarities and differences between American and Malagasy ways of thought. I'll record my thoughts on research here, make notes on my teaching, and catalog the adventures that Emily and I and our two small children, Grady and Marcella, will have in Madagascar.
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August 2022
- Aug 25, 2022 Reflections on 2009 Coup (written September 2009) Aug 25, 2022
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October 2018
- Oct 22, 2018 Ny hevitra tsy azo tsy amin’olombelona Oct 22, 2018
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September 2018
- Sep 24, 2018 Your Help is Needed Sep 24, 2018
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December 2017
- Dec 21, 2017 The Philosophy of Malagasy Culture Dec 21, 2017
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November 2017
- Nov 6, 2017 Tena isaorana be dia be ianareo rehetra Nov 6, 2017
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July 2017
- Jul 23, 2017 Izy roa lahy Jul 23, 2017
- Jul 21, 2017 Puzzling Proverbs Jul 21, 2017
- Jul 18, 2017 It's a Wrap! Jul 18, 2017
- Jul 13, 2017 Mpiara-monina Jul 13, 2017
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June 2017
- Jun 21, 2017 Resadresaka (Conversation) Jun 21, 2017
- Jun 10, 2017 What's in a Name? Jun 10, 2017
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May 2017
- May 26, 2017 Mbolatsara (Still good) May 26, 2017
- May 10, 2017 Mandehandeha (To go around) May 10, 2017
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April 2017
- Apr 17, 2017 Simeon Rajaona on the Authentic Malagasy Mind Apr 17, 2017
- Apr 4, 2017 Ny maha-izy azy (That which makes it what it is) Apr 4, 2017
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March 2017
- Mar 20, 2017 Sambatra tokoa izahay (We are blessed) Mar 20, 2017
- Mar 10, 2017 The Calm Before the Storm Mar 10, 2017
- Mar 2, 2017 Vita soa (well done) Mar 2, 2017
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February 2017
- Feb 18, 2017 Ndao hiantsena (Let's go to the market) Feb 18, 2017
- Feb 7, 2017 Tsy maninona (No problem) Feb 7, 2017
- Feb 2, 2017 Malagasy Time Conceptions Feb 2, 2017
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January 2017
- Jan 23, 2017 Philosophy Club Jan 23, 2017
- Jan 16, 2017 The Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis and Shielded Subjects in Malagasy Jan 16, 2017
- Jan 7, 2017 Back to the Country Jan 7, 2017
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December 2016
- Dec 31, 2016 A Pause for Some Things Dec 31, 2016
- Dec 19, 2016 Fianakaviana (Family) Dec 19, 2016
- Dec 9, 2016 Omaly Tsy Miova (No Change from Yesterday) Dec 9, 2016
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November 2016
- Nov 30, 2016 Fotoan-gasy Nov 30, 2016
- Nov 23, 2016 Welcome Ceremony Nov 23, 2016
- Nov 20, 2016 A Special Kind of Kinship Nov 20, 2016
- Nov 16, 2016 Some Surprises Nov 16, 2016
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September 2016
- Sep 22, 2016 Exchanging Ideas: An American Philosopher In Madagascar Sep 22, 2016
Disclaimer
This is not an official U.S. Department of State website. The views and information presented here are solely those of the blogger, and do not represent the Fulbright Program, the Department of State, or any other entity.