It’s a bit frustrating to have studied French before coming to Madagascar, because most people don’t really speak French, but the ones who do, speak much better than me, and some also speak English better than I speak French. Walking around the capital city, your chance of finding a French speaker is pretty low, but when jogging or biking through the countryside, you are lucky to get more than a basic greeting in French.
People see me running their way in the morning and they want to say something. Okay, some just look away and others laugh, but some want to make a polite greeting. The problem is that many people can’t think of anything else in French except “Merci!” I’m sure they have learned “Bon Jour” and “Salut” but when surprised by a funny white guy early some morning, many can’t think of anything else but “Merci.”
I say this not to belittle their education or brag about my French comprehension skills. It is just an example of how little French is really used here. I recently went to a big workshop attended by senior government officials and many well-educated people. The opening speeches were generally in French, but one people broke-out into groups to get down to business, Malagasy was the preferred language.
I generally answer people in the language they use, and yes, a few people say “Hello” or “Good Morning.” I’m just happy that people are friendly and make an effort. It is nice to be in a generally welcoming environment 
