So, right now, and probably for the next couple weeks, I think the motto for myself is "Ndank Ndank", it's a wolof saying that basically means "slowly, slowly it will come". PATIENCE. So everything has been wonderful and exciting but moving in with the family has required some patience. But, let's see, I think today is my 4th day there, and things are already getting better. There are on average about 15 people in the house, I think that's how many actually live there, but I still don't know for sure. I"ve learned that in Senegal there is not much explaining. People come in and out and you have to take your own initiative to figure out who they are or how they are related. Often, you will never find out how they are related, it's usually safe to just say they're a cousin. Which works fine, cause i kinda do that at home with my own family.
It's funny because greetings are soo important here, but formal introductions, not so much. It's realy nice with the greetings thing though. Everyone is very careful to remember your name and say it to you in the nicest way when they see you. It's so funny, my sister will just randomely look over at me and say "Awa" (my senegalese name) "Awa, Awa Camara" (Camara is my last name). It sounds so sweet when they say it. It's like honey pouring smoothly out of a bowl, or like someone warmly embracing you. Maybe it's just my family, they are really sweet, but a friend of mine says that her family often says her name like that too.
My computer is about to die. It's hard to keep up on everything going on here, because so much happens each day that I want to tell, but I'll put up more later.
Ba beneen yoon (until next time)
No comments:
Post a Comment