Kimberlee was given the Tonga name “Benzu”, meaning visitor, within the first minutes of meeting friends from my village. She has proven to be a great visitor, easing into life in the village and shining like a rockstar throughout! She has picked up lots of Chitonga words and spews them out like no one’s business.
After only one week in the village she can now teach all of you back home how to:
-Roll out tortilla dough using a Starbucks travel mug
-Carry water on your head
-Make nshima for you and your neighbors
-Sweep your yard with sticks
-Pick ticks off your dog
-Teach you and 40 African children how to do the chicken dance
-Jump on a bench when you fear a rabid dog might bite you (*click here to read the whole story)
-Pay no attention to a heard of cattle walking through your meetings
-Make up totally illegitimate Boggle words
-Pee in a hole while strategically preparing to run from bats
-Allow your cousin to win a few rounds of Rummy so she will still play cards with you
And probably anything else you may need for day-to-day survival.
Except for making a fire. This is one area where Kimberlee will be focusing this next week. Past visitors have struggled as well...Erin and Brittany to name a few. We both laughed for a while at the following conversation that took place while Kimee was attempting fire making:
Kimberlee: “How do you....? Oww!”
Caitlin: “Know when the charcoal is hot?”
Blog readers, word to the wise, to check if charcoal is hot, it is best to place your hand near, but not directly on, the charcoal. I am sure Kimee will ace this within the next week and you will be calling her to your next bonfire in no time. I am sure the blisters will have gone down by the time she is back home.
We have one more week together. Time is going too fast! We have been laughing a lot, talking about everything, and just enjoying all the amazingness of life in Africa. If you play Boggle soon, just know that “amazingness” is a legitimate 10-point word. The word “Dif” however will get you 0 points.
2 comments:
Looks like a great experience. I love the second shot!
amazing pictures and entries. you are creating some unforgettable memories that some may never get teh experience to do themselves. thank you for sharing! :)
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