I am studying Wolof as a language, and its coming slowly but surely even though I still speak like a three year old. For todays language class, our teachers dropped us off in downtown Thiès and told us to talk to people. No joke. As if I can communicate with people. There were many unsuccesful attempts to communicate and sometimes when it didnt work I just walked away. Here are two excerpts from conversations that I had in Wolof with strangers today.
Creepy old man 1: Do you have a husband?
Me: I dont understand.
COM: Husband? You?
M: Oh! No, no, no! But I have a boyfriend who lives in England.
COM: A boyfriend? So he is not your husband?
M: (sensing trouble) Not yet, no.
COM: How would you like to be my wife?
M: No.
COM: But you need a Senegalese husband....
M: Im sorry sir, but you dont want me. I cant cook fish and rice. I dont even know how.
COM: You cant cook fish and rice?! (looks me up and down suspiciously and leaves)
Creepy Old Man 2: Do you have a husband?
Me: Yes I do. Five. Four live in England and now I have one in Senegal. I like them very much.
COM2 Exit scene
Lesson learned: Never answer men honestly when they ask about marital status.
About Me
- Mandi
- I've signed up to serve as a small enterprise development volunteer with the Peace Corps in Senegal from September 2007 to November 2009. I am slowly but surely figuring out what this means and what my role is as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Senegal.
4 comments:
HILARIOUS in a sad kind of way.
Do I need special postage to send a letter? And do I need to use the special AIRMAIL stationery? I suppose I could ask the post office but asking you is more fun.
no, what i love is that you tell him you can't cook and that turns him off. not the boyfriend, but the lack of rice skills.
BAHHH HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH! if i was a film maker i would make 4 movies about your life! HAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA
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