Umoja

Nine months in to our overseas life and things are really hotting up on the language front. My Kiswahili comprehension has moved up a notch and I’d say its now passable; one up from merely functional. Next stop conversational!

I realised the change as I sat and watched NTV Jioni (an early evening news bulletin) 2 nights ago. During a story about Senator Barak Obama’s recent trip to Siaya, the studio cut to an interview with his grandmother, Sarah Obama. She regailed the interviewer with details of the meal she had prepared for the returning grandson and finished by adding that he ate very little of it before flying off on a plane.

There is a caveat to this though. Nyanza residents are renowned across Kenya for having relatively poor Kiswahili; certainly not up to the standards of the coastal communities. The day I can understand an interview with a Mombassa city councillor, I’ll know I have this language cracked!

As for the other language learners, things are fairly rocketing along. Lillian has been going for English lessons and is getting the hang of it pole pole. We think we’re going to switch to teaching her at home as her current teacher is not used to teaching someone who has only basic reading skills.

Hannah’s Dholuo continues to amaze Nyanza residents. She is one of a handful of mzungu who seem to have even bothered to try and learn it. I think we coyuld say she’s gtting to an advanced level - she managed to negotiate a deal for some woven chairs withough resorting to Kiswahili once.

Tommy and Omundi have started to communicate in each other’s language and even revert to Kiswahili sometimes. It really is really fascinating. They start off in their respective languages, if that gets no joy, they have a go at the other’s. If that doesn’t get them anywhere, they will switch languages again to Kiswahili. Their grammer is not advanced (or even vaguely correct) but the words are pretty spot on.

Mostly it’s for commands - Omundi chiem (eat)! - Tommy come here! - but Tommy says adwaro (I want) and nataka (I want) alot too and Omundi can ask for things and say plase and thank you.

As you can see from the photograph, we have two new householders, Brian and his mother Adhiambo. Brian is Lillian’s only grandson. He’s been pretty seriously ill and when he was brought here last week, he was down to 7.5 kilos in weight (not good for a 17 month old baby). He’s getting better every day now though, and is eating about 3 times more food than Tommy or Omundi. He’ll be staying here for a while until his weight gets back up and he and his mother have attended a few months of the local feeding clinic.

Some time soon I’ll attempt a post in Kiswahili. Be gentle.