We have been here just over a month now and it really is feeling more and more like home. At first I felt so out of place. Not so much on campus (besides toting around a baby), but walking back home to our village I felt like I stood out so much being white. Don't get me wrong, I still do stand out, but I am starting to get to know the locals better and that has made all the difference. Our place is farther from campus than where the majority of students live, and I actually really like that. Instead of only dealing with the locals in business settings where there is a large potential to get annoyed, I also get to just shoot the breeze in front of our house with our landlord and neighbors, talk about how much better Shane is getting at walking (holding onto my hand of course), say hi to the lady that passes by every day and stops to chat and give Shane a cookie, etc. It makes me feel like I am part of the community and not just an outsider attending school in their country. And it usually makes for some funny conversation. Our neighbor's grandson had the day off from school today and came outside to play with Shane. Shane laughed spontaneously, Keman tried unsuccessfully to keep Shane from pulling off his shoes, and they walked around and sat in dirt piles together.
And I enjoyed some funny snippets of conversation that went something like this:
Keman: He just wants to walk? Doesn't he know he is supposed to crawl first?
Me: I guess not he gets really mad every time I try to get him to do it.
Keman: Oh. I guess he thinks crawling is for girls.
Keman: Did you hear that Michael Jackson died (ha ha this is kind of a family joke)
Me: Yes I did.
Keman: He was black right? (He says with a really confused look)
Me: Yes, I think he had a skin disease.
Keman: I bet it was all the drugs.
Keman: (Pointing to Shane's neck) What is that? Is that pee pee?
Me: No, it's just drool.
Keman: (As Shane lifted his head up) I like to see his hair.
Me: It used to be black.
Keman: (Shocked) Who dyed it?
And I enjoyed some funny snippets of conversation that went something like this:
6 comments:
i love the conversation!! :) that is so cute.
These are going to be stories you can tell Shane for years and years...whether it is in your blog or elsewhere, be sure to write them down so you don't forget all the wonderful experiences you are having over there:)
That little boy is so funny. I am glad you are enjoying this experience.
this is so so cute- I know I love where we live too- and the old ladies along the way that yell- "hello baby" really do make my day :)
I love that you wrote all of the cute conversations with Keman. Makes me reminisce about the old Bill Cosby show, "Kids Say the Darndest Things." And I totally know what you mean about feeling out of place like a minority. Brian and I wandered to the not-so-touristy part of Chinatown in SF on Friday and I swear we were the ONLY white people around for a block or two. It was weird.
Michael Jackson died?
Post a Comment