Good afternoon on this beautiful African hot hot hot
afternoon. We had the privilege of
worshiping again at a beautiful church with 1000 people. God’s love translates very well in many languages
and cultures. Today I believe that Patti
and I were the only white women there.
We had many stares from the little children. We would simply smile and wave at them. I wanted to share some phrases, words and customs
that I have experienced. Our ride home included a "traffic jam of cows!"
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| Traffic Jam! |
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| Auntie Sarah, Cocus and Esther |
·
Muzungu – white person, in Patti’s and mine
case, “almost half-dead looking white women who are desperately wilted by the
heat!” (Literally interpreted, it means someone who wonders around aimlessly! –
I do feel that way here whenever we leave this compound, I have no idea where
we are!)
·
·
“Frienemies” – heard this one in church today –
enemies that you want to become your friends or friends who are no longer your
friends.
·
“To ask for someone’s hand in marriage” – the man
must bring a cow to the women’s family.
·
“Squatty Potty” – I’ll just let you imagine what
this is, but I have mastered it!
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| Squatty Potty - Best Leave it Closed! |
·
“Bow and Arrow” – If you don’t have a wall
around your property, you hire a “guard” to protect it. This is especially true
in the village where you don’t see a lot of walls and of Kyle’s house in
Buwooya. The bow and arrow is the weapon
of choice for a guard. (I really thought Moses was kidding with me on this one,
until we purchased one in the city specifically for the guard!)
·
Biscuit – This is usually a cracker and probably
one of the few treats the children get which is at church on Sundays. I have seen Auntie Sarah make cookies on
Saturday morning, but that is a rare occasion.
·
Table Manners – You wait until all are served.
Everyone says a prayer of unison for thanksgiving over the food. School age children and adults use a
fork. Preschoolers and babies use their
hands but only after their hands are washed in a bowl of water, before and
after. There is NO talking during the
meal and NO one is to ask for seconds.
Everyone takes their trash to the garbage (there is never food left on
the plates – ALL is eaten) and the children rotate washing the dishes.
·
Shoes and Dress – The school age children all
have their own pair of shoes that are stored inside. There are a dozen or more sets of shoes
outside, flipflops, crocs, whatever, mostly mis-matched. The younger kids love to wear them when they
play outside, but they don’t care about sizes or matches. It’s quite a scene. Everyone dresses up for Sunday, so everyone
has beautiful dresses and shoes on for church out of respect. The kids wear uniforms to school and they
hand wash THEIR OWN EVERY afternoon when they get home from school.
·
Beverage/Food
- WATER – There are huge containers of purified water here. Everyone drinks water or African tea – No milk
(except for one of the babies), no soda for the children here. Breakfast is bread and water. Lunch is usually rice and beans. Dinner is usually rice, beans, cabbage, maybe
a meat, plantains. The food here at
RAFIKI is VERY GOOD. All fresh, no
preservatives. We have lots of bananas
and avocados here. Auntie Monica is the
best.
·
Our names -
Everyone has AUNTIE OR UNCLE before their name out of respect (and it
does create a family atmosphere). We
are AUNTIE PATTI ONE, AUNTIE PATTY TWO, UNCLE KYLE. The kids think it’s funny we have the same
name.
·
Reduce the food on your plate – EAT IT UP!!!!!
Time
to rest while everyone has quiet time. The
kids are so excited that we are doing another movie night tonight and Auntie
Patti One brought popcorn, so she made “cone” holders out of construction paper
and popcorn is a real treat for the kids.
They love and appreciate simple things which make me love them even
more. Tomorrow is a visit to “Sonya’s
Baby Home” and Patti says I’m in for a huge treat to see this home specifically
for taking in babies whose mothers have abandoned them or have died of AIDS
(huge problem here).
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