We had a holiday here a few days ago. We had no idea what it was for. We noticed different things happen during the day like boys pounding on little drums and little kids with wigs on and a lot of makeup. We didn’t think much of it except when our friend from school told us some the details she had noticed the next day. She said that the kids go around with drums, they dress up like the opposite gender and play their drums and dance at neighbor’s homes for candy, money or food. Now we understood what we observed the day before. We were also told that the reason for this holiday is to celebrate when a prophet and his followers were being chased by pharaoh and his armies and God helped them cross a sea to escape pharaoh. So now they fast during daylight hours, the day before and the day of the holiday as thanks to god. Don’t a lot of these traditions and stories sound familiar? This is an example of how we are learning culture by observing things that we may not get right away, asking questions when we can communicate them and doing a lot of watching.
One thing I observed just today is a man carrying a cage full of small birds. I think they were finches. We have seen these cages and guys carrying them before, but I never knew what they were for. I was standing outside the grocery store waiting for Melissa when the store manager came out and gave the man with the birds 500CFA (around $1 US). He said 10 (in French) and the man with the birds opened up his cage and grabbed one bird at a time until he let 10 birds go. They flew off when he opened his hand. I am sure there was some cultural significance to it, but I have no idea what it means or why they do it. These are just a few things we have observed lately.
Below are some funny things that have happened while we have been learning a new language and culture.
I have called a forehead, a forest.
I searched all over the grocery store (with the help from multiple people at the same time) for the things that are like small dates but then to realize that the word I was looking for, “raisins” is the same word in French. All I had to do was ask if they had raisins and they would have been able to tell me no they didn’t have them. We all laughed at that one!
I was on the bus and a man asked if I wanted to sit down. I did want to sit down because I had the kids with me. I said thank you and he kept sitting. Saying thank you is their polite way of saying no. Oops!
Shaking your fist at someone is called showing your wrist with closed fingers.
Crossing your legs is called crossing your feet. Also something isn’t between your legs, it is between your feet. These observations are not coming from a complete understanding and we might find that these are the words they use for these specific circumstances only.
So as you can see language learning is very interesting and fun too. We have a lot of laughs. We are so glad that people here are patient with us and laugh with us.
Pat Backus says
So glad we can know what’s going on with you. Loved the singing video. I pray for you guys.
– Pat
colleen says
loved reading this..