Saturday, February 14, 2009
Mwenyeji at last?
As I was walking through town this morning, I notice a kid selling necklaces walking towards me. This is normal: souvenir sellers move toward wazungu like iron to a magnet.
'Jambo!' he said.
I don't like being taken for a tourist. I responded rather grumpily, 'Habari za asubuhi?'
'Ah!' he said, his tone changing. 'Where is teacher?'
'Mimi ni teacher'. I am a teacher.
'The other teacher. Peter.'
'He'll be in town in a few hours.'
A short exchange, but a heartening one. After only a few moments, he recognized me! He knows I'm the random white teacher who walks around with the other white teacher--a great improvement over being seen as the random white tourist. I may finally be on my way to becoming a local.
'Jambo!' he said.
I don't like being taken for a tourist. I responded rather grumpily, 'Habari za asubuhi?'
'Ah!' he said, his tone changing. 'Where is teacher?'
'Mimi ni teacher'. I am a teacher.
'The other teacher. Peter.'
'He'll be in town in a few hours.'
A short exchange, but a heartening one. After only a few moments, he recognized me! He knows I'm the random white teacher who walks around with the other white teacher--a great improvement over being seen as the random white tourist. I may finally be on my way to becoming a local.
# posted by Kristen @ 12:57 AM 
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