The Malagasy come across as unfailingly polite and incredibly reserved. They aren’t likely to inundate you with small talk or ask personal questions. For many visitors, this reserve may feel like outright snobbery, but locals told me not to take it personally. “Some things are just not acceptable for discussion in polite company,” my driver Roger told to me in French after a couple of Three Horse beers at the hotel. “If you have trouble with your spouse, or you have to borrow money from the bank, these are just not things you would ever speak about in Madagascar. I think it is different in America, the customs yes?”

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