The importance of knowing the local language

We were asked if we wanted ripe bananas and were given some beyond ripe that made for great baking stock. Cindy baked some banana bread and gave some to the local village elder with the children. He returned the favor by sending his daughter with a chicken.

It was a small bird with its legs tied together. So we assumed: dinner, right? I asked her if she would take care of it or if we would “take care” of it–assuming dressing the bird for dinner. Well she said she wanted us to take care of it. So after some failed communication I pulled out a couple knives and she said mayai or “egg”.  Ahhh, she wanted us to “take care” of the bird so it can lay eggs for us. International incident averted.  Too bad too: I really wanted chicken for dinner!

Well i since went to the Gigamart in Kitale and purchased levels 1-3 swahili lesson books. I’m now in first grade. Gotta start somewhere.