An ordinary dinner

Our housekeeper (yes, it’s a strange concept for me too), Rachel, invited my roommate and I for dinner over at her place one evening last week. I was thrilled to go, even though I had to pull an all-nighter afterwards to finish revising my essay.

We took the daladala (local bus) to the station where she lives – not very far from our place, but in a distinctly different neighbourhood. She came out to meet us at the bus stop. We walked down her street and I could see that she was walking differently: somehow more proud; probably because we, as ‘important foreign guests,’ were with her. It’s strange. I really don’t like the extra attention and privileges I get because of how I look. Yet, it’s so easy for us to make Rachel happy, just by walking down the street.

We arrive at her place. She’s a single mom with a daughter and a son. I’m not sure if the women living around her were also single moms, but I didn’t see a single man in that compound. Maybe it was too early for the men to come home.

She invited us to sit down. She had three large, over-stuffed, couches crammed into a very full room. I see the same set up in most of the homes I visit. I figured since sitting and socializing is such an important activity, it’s important to have huge couches even if they don’t really fit into your house.

Then she started serving us drinks (water, soda, and juice). And small plates of what I assume are appetizers. Then, wait for it, chipsi mayai! Wow freshly made chipsi mayai is soooo good it’s unbelievable.

There wasn’t much space, so setting up the place with so many plates of food required some skill. Rachel had her sister’s daughter over (because she had to leave for the night and couldn’t leave her young daughter alone) and was clearly teaching her how to host guests. I’m glad I came with Leslie; guests are general left alone when the hosts are preparing food and drinks, unlike at home where the host is in charge of making the guests are entertained.

We all had dinner together. Lots of chatting…including why Rachel’s daughter doesn’t want to live in China (because there are many wars and floods), why Rachel’s daughter wanted to work in a large factory as a tailor and why Rachel wanted her to have her own small shop, why I would cut my hair short, our tribal/family names, why Obama’s photo is on absolutely everything, how west coast North America is, …. And just so many things I fail to retrieve from my memory. It’s quite amazing actually. Not only did I manage to pick up the key points most of the time, it was just nice. Experiences like these are probably THE reason I came.