Tips and advice to thrive in Madagascar

First of all one has to come to terms that no matter how long you live here you will never be Malagasy.  I am called the American or by the neighbors my Malagasy name ( and never my American name Alex), so I almost never hear vasaha ca va. I hear Salama  to say hello.
After 14 years my Malagasy wife has taught me the Malagasy way and I have taught her the American way and in some cases we have reversed roles on certain issues.
Yes learning the language of the tribe you live with is important but there are phrases that are steeped in culture which requires a Malagasy lifestyle or birthright  to have a full understanding.
In general we are all people and as long as you are nice and respectful of others then you are at more than halfway there.   It was an easy process for me because I have traveled several times around the world and realize that my way is no better or worse than another way. So I get along with the locals very well- much better than my own tribe who are stiff in their beliefs and are very opinionated , but then again their travels have been within their own comfort zone as in visiting Europe which is much like USA..
In the beginning I did start travel in the overdeveloped world, but was much more comfortable in traveling in the underdeveloped world which is about 80% of the planet.  So when it came time to settle in Madagascar I was well prepared and all I needed to do was to learn the ways of the Malgasy so I could complete my mission as a global citizen and pass this on to my children in Madagascar, whom are by the way more Malagasy than me.