The clan’s morphed, but friends they remain
In April I wrote a post about a set of friends from three expat families who lived in Antananarivo, Madagascar – the first, five boys from South Africa; the second, three boys from Holland; and the third, a girl and two boys from Switzerland. The Dutch family has since moved to central Africa, but it seems as if a pair of French girls – who live in a compound just up the road – may just be added to the mix …
I do hope they are able to become friends – it would be good for the French girls to learn to relate to rough, real South African kids, and it would be good for the boys to experience French girls with all their particular Gallic quirks and foibles. They will never replace the Dutch boys in the other families’ hearts, I’m sure, but then we don’t need to replace friends to make new ones, now do we?
While I was in Madagascar in March earlier this year the South African family bought a new puppy. He too has become a friend to all the children, along with the most-beautiful Malagasy street dog that adopted them.
I tried to capture something of all their characters in all these photos …
The eldest Swiss … Wrestler extraordinaire. (Now what comment am I going to get from her when she sees this, I wonder?)
The middle Swiss child
And their youngest brother. What a character!
Nommer 1. Tiener van die jaar. Die oudste. Die volwasse een.
Number 2. Dubberlicious – with a wicked sense of humour …
Number 3. Unplumbed depths. This child has such character, I can’t begin to describe all his strengths. For one, he’s a wicked head scratcher and has a killer arsenal of farts at his disposal when wrestling.
Number 4. The peace-maker.
Number 5. The actor. “This is my angry look!” (He wasn’t really, but he has an array of well-practised facial expressions).
The dawg Nuke! Friend to all and official face-licker to the youngest Swiss child.
Chai, the former street dog. Although she has completely adopted the family as her own, every so often her former street-life calls and she makes a quick dash out of the gate to explore …
L’aînée des deux sœurs françaises. Une vraie jeune fille.
La plus jeune des deux soeurs françaises. Elle a un caractère!
9 Comments on “The clan’s morphed, but friends they remain”
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They called me weed
I have been blogging here since around April 2011 - my little place on the blogosphere to express myself creatively. As a teenager I used to write a diary - in fact, as a 17-year-old living in Belgium, I wrote religiously every day. Fortunately the Internet didn't exist back then because my ramblings as a teenager were ever-so-slightly dark, cynical and depressing. You won't find much of that here. Also, mostly, I try not to get too deep or philosophical in this forum - I'd like my photography to uplift and inspire, and, where I can, I try to bring a bit of humour into my writing too. I've been fortunate enough to travel extensively and have made many friends across the globe. This is my spot to keep in touch with them.
great post! i can’t wait to show it to my girls tomorrow!
I admit, I am NOT great at posing
Oh, don’t deny it, Jem – you’re a poser!
Sigh…if only special friends could live in 2 places at once, hey Rob?
Beautiful pics as always….
True, too true!
what’s true, that thy’re great? ’cause you’re not supposed to say that about yourself.
Ja, ja… About the friends. But I do think my photos are awesome!
Thanks, Rob, for the great pics of kids and dogs in Mada – we miss them S-O-O-O-O much but these photos bring back happy days of time spent with them in Tana. Look after yourself – Love, Louis and Jean.
Oh, I think I miss them almost as much as you, Jean!