So much has happened over the past 2 weeks! We started our literacy classes last Wednesday! They are going really well. We basically started from scratch with most of the kids. We had to show them how to hold the paper and some we had to show how to hold a pencil. It’s just not something they have grown up with. We’re basically teaching them a whole new concept, with words and letters, but they are catching on quickly! They recognize the letters and the sounds; we are having to spend more time with writing. They are doing really well, I’m proud of the progress they are making! We started making sheets ahead of time where the kids could trace the letters to help them know how to write them. It made a huge difference, especially for the ones who weren’t understanding at all how to write the letters. We also have an adult class. We meet with them all together once a week, then we meet with each one individually throughout the week. Since they work, farm, or take care of their family/house, it works out better to meet with them when they have individual time to study. The hardest part is not having the full range of vocabulary we are used to in order to teach. We can’t tell them to draw a circle then place a straight line on the left of the circle to make a “b” because we don’t know the words for circle or line. Instead, we have to tell them “care banda”, which means together, otherwise their “b’s” look like “lo”. All in all, they are all making progress! One of our adults (our relief guard one night a week) is really eager to learn. He wants to be able to read Dad’s book and share it from village to village. It’s exciting to watch him learn because he catches on quickly, then just wants to learn more! I love it! Monday night, after the kids’ class, he brought a chicken for us for dinner. He had asked if we wanted to by a chicken from him and he would “fix” it up. We kind of thought he would bring the chicken already dead… Nope, he didn’t! Lol He brought the chicken live and slit its throat, then plucked off the feathers. They like to eat parts of the chicken I would never dream of eating… like the head, the neck, and innards. The kids roasted the head and the organs and enjoyed it! We just ate the main part of the chicken, where all the meat was Lol
One thing I forgot to mention in my last blog was the baby that was born 2 weeks ago! One of our friends had her baby, and we got to see her right after she was born. I knew African babies were born white, but I didn’t realize they were extremely white like a white baby! The crazy thing was that as we were watching her and holding her, she changed from white to black before our very eyes! It was the coolest thing to watch! They also handle babies a lot different than we do. They are a bit rougher with them, and it’s taking some getting used to. Also, for some reason, culturally they do not say anything positive about a newborn baby. They say that it is not good, or ugly, or other such things. When they ask us if we think the baby is bad, we say that she is good. It’s hard not to “ooh” and “awe” at the babies. The other day we went to our friend’s house for literacy class. The baby and its mother live with our friend. While I was going through the reading lesson with our friend, Crystal held the baby for that whole hour. After we finished with the class, I held the baby for awhile. About 15 minutes later, I felt a liquid, warm feeling on my leg… They don’t have diapers, so I ended up getting peed on by the baby! I laughed though, and I still think it’s funny. Our friend told me to push the baby away since it peed on me. Because of the way they tease, she said, “I ga kar,” which is like saying, “I punish.” So she moved the baby over from my lap to the ground (she was still laying on her blanket). When the baby started crying I said, “Ay sambu, ay sambu (I take, I take)!” And then I took her back, wetness and all! The difference in the way we view children is the major culture shock for me.
I also got a proposal in a different language this time! We were walking home the other night, and thankfully our guard was walking with us. This older man came up and greeted us, then he said something to me. I wasn’t quite sure what he said because I didn’t understand the words, but I figured what he was probably saying. Our guard said the guy wanted to marry me, but I said, “Huh-uh, I ga koy (Nope, I am leaving)!” And I continued walking… We’re at a point now where we just laugh when we get proposals. Craziness, but funny.
The other day, Crystal called me from my numay because there was a scorpion in the house! I thought she said there was a snake... Now, I have tried to mentally prepare myself for having a snake in the house, but I really don't want to have to deal with snakes in the house. I googled the mambas and I don't like them... But then when I realized she said scorpion, I was a little relieved, but I don't like scorpions any better Lol So we walk into the house and I grabbed the 10 inch knife we have to cut veggies. She showed me the scorpion; it was about 5 inches long! Not as long as it could be, but longer than I wanted it to be! I put my hiking boots on so I could crunch it under my shoes wothout getting stung; and I had the knife in my hand just in case... When I got to it, it was upside down and not moving. I thought it might be dead, but I smashed it anyway. The tail came of, and it was gooey, so I figured it hadn't been dead too long. So I swept it up and threw it in a corner outside. So I figured I smashed an already dead scorpion. However, when i told my Dad about it, he said that just 'cause a scorpion doesn't move or is upside down doesn't mean it's dead. They like to play opossum, and if they end up upside down, they have a hard time gettin back up. So, it's possible that I actually killed a scorpion... Ewe Lol
We are doing a lot better in understanding the language and different dialect! We are also able to joke around with people in Zarma. A lot of times we are pretty sure we understand what they are saying, but we go ahead and ask our supervisors to be sure, and then we realize we really did hear them correctly! It’s awesome; I love learning another language. It makes a tremendous difference in the way people react to you when you are talking to them in their heart language. And as long as you are trying, they are patient with you and try to help you understand. We also spent 2 days without our supervisors being around. They had to leave for a couple days because they were sick. We led two classes on our own, and sat with our brothers and sisters and read some stories for them in Zarma. Things are progressing in our own lives and work, and in the lives of the people around us. It is so amazing to watch!
We are almost at the half-way mark of our time here. Sometimes it feels like we have been here forever, but it also feels like we just got here. There are plenty of things left to do here; some to be done while we are here, and the rest to be done after we have left. But things are coming about like they are supposed to and we are making great relationships with people. In December it’ll be nice to be able to look back and see the difference from when we started to when we left. I’m excited for what is ahead and can’t wait to see what is in store!
