I pass by this elderly man on the way to work every morning. He’s an mzee – a respected elder – as Tanzanians would say. He always sits on the same bench at the same spot, right after I turn the corner. Sometimes reading the paper; sometimes just staring in space. He usually wears a purple kanga (a traditional (East?) African piece of colourful cloth with lovely designs and sayings) wrapped around his lower body and a white, unbuttoned shirt.
I started greeting him a few days ago.
‘Shikamoo.’ (me: respectful greeting to elders)
‘Marahaba. Hujambo?’ (him: reply to greeting. How are you?)
‘Sijambo (and big smile from me).’ (me: I’m fine.)
‘aoidsxfnaeoidsncodijscamodsi’ (him: some sentence in Kiswahili)
*blank look* (me)
‘You’re looking smart today/you’re a bit late today/etc’ (him: translates in perfect English)
‘Thank you/actually I’m on time today/etc’ (me: answers in English)
And so it goes. It’s so fun. I love how he makes the effort to talk to me even after the greetings are done. I love how he always says it in Kiswahili first and then translates when I need it. I hope this would go on.
I can’t wait until I learn more Kiswahili. Once a week lessons are just not enough!