Arsène RAKOTOMAMONJY
This profession is rooted in passion. Walking many kilometers every day, spending hours walking through water, constantly changing climates—sometimes harsh, sometimes mild—managing the group and logistics, ensuring everything goes as smoothly as possible, can create a lot of fatigue. Therefore, it is essential to be passionate to cope with this pace and these challenges.
What I enjoy most is meeting people, sharing, exchanging, and transmitting knowledge, from the global to the specific. For me, to be genuine in this job, passion and skills are necessary, but so is the desire and pleasure of communicating, discovering, and sharing. Seeing my clients amazed by what I show them and teach them is simply a true satisfaction, a kind of inner peace.
Chinese Portrait
If I were a region, I would be…
Vakinankaratra: An area suitable for agriculture, livestock, industry, and all other human activities thanks to the nature of its soil, its mild climate, and abundant water resources. But beyond this heavily populated area, there remains a land of adventures, wild terrains that require commitment from those who want to explore them.
If I were a village, I would be…
Betafo, my hometown: Located between mountains and rice fields, it is the perfect village.
If I were a landscape, I would be…
Vavavato: For its massive rocks, stunning lakes, and a climate that can gently caress you, but be careful, it can also lash at you.
If I were a plant, I would be…
A Pachypodium: For its biological traits of adapting to the environment, its mechanisms of drought resistance. It is capable of adapting and conserving every drop of water.
If I were an endemic animal, I would be…
The Madagascar Golden Orb Weaver (a species of spider): It can make some sensitive people nervous or even hysterical, yet it is gentle, fragile, intelligent, harmless, and even edible.
If I were a month of the year, I would be…
October: My birth month, but also and especially the month that signals the rebirth of life, the renewal of nature, the awakening of one of my favorite animals (the striped tenrec).
If I were a means of transport, I would be…
Feet: Accessible to almost everyone, they can be used in any situation, free, ecological, and economical. Furthermore, using them maintains physical and intellectual fitness.
If I were a piece of clothing or an accessory, I would be…
The one that sees the most hidden part of the one wearing me. Mystery, mystery!
If I were a natural element, I would be…
Fire: Hot, bright, penetrating. It warms but can also burn. It is intelligence.
If I were a travel accessory, I would be…
A Swiss Army knife: Practical, versatile, reliable, precise, capable of handling any situation. Simply indispensable !
If I were food, I would be…
Rice: Multifunctional (in Madagascar), it is the staple food, indispensable for the majority of Malagasy people. Many cannot live without rice. It is so important that it has even become a political issue, and it can even threaten a political regime.
If I were a sound, I would be…
A waterfall: Relaxing, soothing, it can easily cover all kinds of unwanted noises.
If I were a language, I would be…
Malagasy: A rich language, often expressed through images and metaphors; it creates unity among the Malagasy people despite the existence of many different tribes.
If I were a sport, I would be…
Walking: Gentle, effective, it can be practiced every day. You don’t need to be part of a club to do it, yet its benefits are numerous for both physical health and emotional and mental well-being.
If I were a quality, I would be…
Empathy: I enjoy listening to my conversation partner, putting myself in their shoes to better understand them and adapt to the situation.
If I were a flaw, I would be…
Kindness: I like to help others, be useful, and be of service, but sometimes I realize that people take advantage of me—too kind, too naïve.
If I were a Malagasy personality, I would be…
Jean Ralaimongo: A great patriot who fought for equality throughout his life. He has true values. I have immense respect for his courage.