Looking for friends from the Amporaha camp in Nosy Be

I posted a message here that still hasn’t gotten a reply. No big deal, I guess you’re all just sticking to your own little group. Happy holidays anyway...

Best wishes for 2011 in the coming year, and lots of happiness ahead for trips to Madagascar... for friends of the BA180 flight and the Amporaha camp in Nosy...

Thanks for the kind wishes, and in return, please accept ours. Warm regards, A Y

To everyone, I wish you a very happy New Year 2011. I hope this new year will allow us to see each other again—it would be really great. Especially since we don’t even need to take a plane for it; I’ve found a place much closer. Though I can’t promise warmth and sunshine, we’ll have it in our hearts when we reunite. So to all the old-timers from the Ivato BA and Nosy-Be crew, I wish you nothing but happiness and hope to see you soon. Kisses to all

Marie-jo

Francis and friends from the Forum,

Thanks for your New Year’s wishes. I wish you, your family, and all the friends from the Nosy Be forum a HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011.

A former Ivato attendee (1969/1971)

Jean Marie

I was there from '69 to '72 at L'ESCA... I got to know the Raynals, Hamels, Boisverts, Jean and his pipe, and all the others well. Mr. Hodemont and Mrs. Micoin in French class.... After that, it was the French high school after finishing school at BA 181 and correspondence courses from the CNTE in Vanves.

Do you remember Désiré, the former wrestler/bus driver, with that military green Chausson bus that took us to ESCA? And then the CMAI on weekends...

By the way, if anyone has photos of the CMAI, I’d be very interested for the Lake Ambohibao page on Facebook—you’re all welcome there.

For info, I’m in touch with the (grown-up) kids of the Laviero, Hebraud, Thomazo families, and a few others.

See you soon

hello to all friends from the Amporaha camp, I want to wish you all my best wishes for this new year and lots of meet-ups under the tropical sun. I hope this year will be the one for me to relive the unforgettable memories of that part of my life😎 see you soon Yves

Hello everyone,

Wishing you health, love, and happiness for 2011... Travels, reunions, memories... Building the future

Warm regards, Zoma

Another year where I wish everyone the very best, perhaps with a trip to the Big Island to relive our memories and to Nosy-Be to refresh those amazing moments.

You mentioned ESCA; I don’t recall the name of the high school run by the religious order where I taught physics to final-year students in 1962, recommended by my sports department head, who himself taught gym classes since we were free to leave the base after 1 p.m. More memories...?

My first hello in 2011 to the forum’s cyber readers. Yes! I knew all the names mentioned. "Huns Renals" was the Headmaster back in our day—the terror of ESCA. Mrs. Micouin was my best French teacher ever +++. I went to accompany her to her final resting place last year, and I’m still in touch with her son, Roland Micouin. And from time to time, I chat with Romain Bruno Légaré, the former director of ESCA. He splits his time between Quebec and Madagascar and is currently in Ambatolampy. He’s 85... but still in relatively good shape.

That’s the news from 2011. I think we must’ve known each other or met back then at ESCA or the B.A. See you soon. P.Rome 😉

Hi carthago47, Thanks for your wishes—we had a great holiday season too. Wishing you a happy and fulfilling retirement in Madagascar!

In response to your post: « I sent a message on this thread but still haven’t gotten a reply, » I’m sorry, but I don’t see any message that requires a response in your two previous posts. However, regarding « I think you stay closed off in a clique, » why closed off?... And for clique: It’s not entirely untrue because the theme of our forum on VF is: Looking for friends from Amporaha camp in Nosy-Be and BA181 from Ivato... As someone who was in the air force, you must understand that... the family spirit! Yes, we *are* a family—quite a big one, but a real family nonetheless!

Best regards, lenosybeen

Hey everyone!

Francis, I had the same reaction as you regarding carthago47’s post. After scrolling through several pages of the forum, I didn’t find any message from our friend asking for a specific answer on a particular point. That said, I understand his reaction. It’s true that sometimes we might give the impression of being in our own little bubble, but I think that’s just how it is for anyone who’s shared a common experience that still sticks with them even 40 years later (50 years for me...). Anyway, sorry about that, carthago47.

Okay, I’m back from Nosy Be and I already want to go back. Go figure... Unfortunately, I didn’t get the chance to visit Amporaha—we only stayed for 4 days, and since it was New Year’s Day, we were a bit... occupied. I tried taking photos to make it look like I’d been there, but I’m giving up on that scam. You’re all way too sharp.

Once again, best wishes to everyone!

BRUNO

See you next year!

In response to your post: “I sent a message on this post but still haven’t gotten a reply,” I’m sorry, but I don’t see any message that requires a response to your two previous posts. No worries—when someone says hello to me, I reply, and it’s not written anywhere that I shouldn’t… See you later, bye…

Hello everyone, Bruno, ... lucky guy! 😊 I see you also had the chance to enjoy great weather in the photos! Andilana Beach where we swam and had an afternoon snack around 4:30 PM before heading to Mont Passot to take sunset photos and return to Amporaha for those who were lucky enough to do the island tour. Photo 3 with the THB—was that at Andilana at Loulou’s place? I’ve been diving back into our site a bit (I know, I come from the *mora-mora* land): http://www.ivato-nosybe.com/musiques.html. Feel free to check it out anyway, and be kind about the sound quality—remember, it was live from my room above the restaurant! I still have 2 or 3 more tracks on the way... oh, the *mora-mora* life! To everyone, thank you for your wishes, and I hope you have a happy and wonderful 2011. Francis, the Nosy Bé local

Hello, hi, and happy New Year! Actually, those photos aren’t from Amporaha—I think I recognize Andilana Beach and one of the tables at "Chez LouLou"! It’s great to see them; they bring back good memories too.

Best,

Claude

Hello everyone, I’m reaching out to wish all the friends from Amporaha camp my best wishes for health, happiness, and prosperity. To Francis, I hope 2011 brings you the support you need for your ASSO, ... For my part, I’m hoping and doing my best to return to Madagascar soon, under the circumstances you know, and maybe a trip to Rodrigues Island—even farther than Mauritius!! Wow, long live adventure and meeting people at the ends of the earth...... I hope to hear from Yannick, to whom I also wish all the best for 2011, along with memories of a weekend spent on that remote island... and in the company of friends from the village... Francis, pass on my warmest memories to the whole little village family from that unforgettable weekend, hoping to return in 2011!!!

Best wishes to all and Happy New Year

Philippe

Hi Bruno, I hope you're doing well since the last time we were supposed to meet in Saint-Pierre, Réunion. We're heading back there in May for 3 weeks. I sent you an email. Best regards,

Jean Marie a former from Nosy Be

Hi Francis, how are you? Can you stop teasing us with your sunshine while we’re enduring a harsh and dreadful winter (at least in Paris!)?

So, when am I coming? This summer... how’s that? I don’t want anything at the start of the year... Except for the Lamumu conventions! Because I wish all the happiness and success every day and every month of the year to those I love... I don’t wait for New Year’s to do that.

How long are you staying? Dinner with my favorite little Grevisses soon?

I changed my phone after being in distress (ORANGE!) for over a month—I’ll tell you all about it privately in your personal inbox...

Kisses, MUMU

Hello everyone, I’ve been a bit absent from VoyageForum lately for various reasons, the main one being the time spent working on our site: ivato-nosybe.com. Take a quick look! Honestly, I thought building a website would be easier than this. The time it takes is just unbelievable!!! I’ve got to say, I’m much happier and more comfortable in my pirogue and in my *case*...!!!!!! Can’t wait for May! Have a great day, Francis, the Nosy Be local

Good evening everyone, Yikes! May has come and gone, and still no flight ticket in sight! So, I definitely won’t be in Nosy-Be this summer. In response to the emails from Jean-Pierre, Lyse, Michel... No, I’m not in Madagascar! Never mind, let’s meet there in November-December. And why not for the association’s anniversary?

Still, I’ll be by the sea this summer: Île d’Oléron (for sure) and maybe Brittany afterward, with my 7 little "zafys" in tow if I can find a spot near the sea to park a caravan and pitch 2 tents. A shout-out to my Breton friends—if you know a nice little place (like in the photo, preferably—I’m not picky...), let me know! Have a great evening, Best, Francis, the Nosy-Be local