Potential Challenges
What are some potential challenges I might run into with my project in Madagascar? How will I be flexible? I think the hardest thing for me will be getting a large enough sample size. I need at least 300 survey responses and 50 interviews. This is going to take some serious time management. I’m going to have to learn how to gain quick entry. I think the best way to do this will be by learning Malagasy proverbs. Proverbs are a big part of the culture there. The locals are surprised enough to hear you speak Malagasy instead of French, but if you bust out a colloquial saying like that, they just about die laughing. On top of the novelty, if I pick my proverbs strategically, I can use them fluidly in my conversation to explain why I’m there, what I’m doing, and why they should help me out. Hopefully, this will help me to gain better and quicker access to the people and their culture and earn me more of their trust, which will result in more accurate survey responses.
Abraham Contos 