I got to try a "prickly pear cactus" this afternoon. It reminded me a little like a kiwi because it was green, had seeds inside, and had a similar taste to that of a kiwi. Stacy said she's had purple prickly pear cacti before, but not green. She also informed me that they can make you constipated if you eat too many. Eating papaya with a prickly pear cactus counteracts the effects because it does the opposite to your digestive system. Good to know...
Stacy and I helped Nirina, Karilosy's wife, with washing clothes by hand today. The most difficult aspect of this task was wringing the clothes out after rinsing them. It never ceases to amaze me how much work African women do. Sure, mothers and wives in the States have a lot to do, as well, but they also have washing machines, ovens, boxed and canned meals, dish washers, etc. These women here make everything from scratch, wash clothes by hand, wash dishes by hand, and some even have to haul water back and forth daily. So much time is spent simply surviving that they hardly have time to think even of the state of their souls.
But one positive thing I've noticed here in Madagascar (or at least in Betroky), is that the men are a lot more involved in their children's lives and much more helpful to their wives than the men in Uganda were. Stacy says many of the men abuse their wives and are heavy alcoholics, so there are still huge issues Malagasy women have to deal with, but at least the men are more helpful and less lazy. Take Karilosy for example. He helps Nirina cook, wash clothes, and often plays with his children. Another example is Marc's translator (who is Bara). He and his wife came to visit this afternoon and it was the man who carried their one-year-old daughter and played with her and Maria for a bit.
Marc returned from Andriry just in time for dinner tonight. Isaac and Maria were very excited to see their Daddy again after three days.
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