Cause: Casually ask Bruno about whether or not people run in Mahajunga.
Effect: Bruno decides you both will go running every day at 5:00 AM.
Extended Effects: You can’t walk because you’re so sore. / You kind of hate Bruno a little bit.
Cause: You get up in the middle of the night and go outside to pee.
Effect: The entire family wakes up as well because the house is tiny and goes to look for you with flashlights.
Extended Effect: Bruno becomes concerned that you’re mal au ventre and demands the status of your digestive system after every bathroom visit.
Cause: You buy a bottle of wine from the grocery store but then realize you have no cups with which to drink it.
Effect: You search through all your belongings looking for something that you serve the purpose of a cup. Instead you drink 1.5 liters of water in 30 minutes so you can use the bottle for drinking.
Extended Effect: You feel a little bit like an alcoholic and you’re too full from water to enjoy the wine.
Cause: You’re in Mahajunga.
Effect: You sweat through all of your clothing at all hours of the day.
Extended Effect: You’re the filthiest you’ve ever been in your life.
Cause: Bruno likes American music.
Effect: Céline Dion comes on the stereo. You feel the need belt the song.
Extended Effect: The entire family thinks you’re a lunatic.
Cause: You have yet to snap into academic mode during your study abroad program.
Effect: You’re put in remedial classes and turn in horrible papers.
Extended Effect: Not much, just a lot of self-loathing.
Cause: Philadelphia sports teams come close to championships but lose a lot.
Effect: I’ve seen Sixers, Eagles and Phillies paraphernalia, but no other team, while in Madagascar.
Extended Effect: I just think it’s funny.
Cause: In Malagasy culture, the people eat rice with every meal.
Effect: I eat rice with every meal because I’m trying to respect the culture.
Extended Effect: I think I will manage to return to the US both nutritionally deprived and fatter, which is almost an impressive feat.
Celine Dion is Canadian.
ReplyDeleteThe sports team observation is awesome. Every Super Bowl they talk about how all the clothing of the losing team gets sent to some South American or African village...and now you are there...