Kiswahili

Since we arrived, Dave and I have been doing our best to pick up as much of the language as we can. I don't mind telling you that I am way better at it than he is.

Swahili, or "Kiswahili" as it is called here, it a really cool language with relatively simple grammar. But who needs grammar? I've been approaching it the same way I have approached Spanish and, to a lesser extent, Chinese- just teach me the applicable phrases, please!

My vocabulary is growing everyday. "Karibu!" (Welcome!) "Asante sana!"(Thank you very much!) "Habari!"(Hello!/ How are you?) "Nzurri!" (Fine!) "Kwa heri!" (Goodbye!) "Lala salama!" (Goodnight!) I have also learned to count to 10 in swahili, so that when someone asks me the football score, I can respond with "Sufuir kwa mbili." (Zero to two.) I really knocked the socks off of Fr Kamanzi and our other lunch companions the other day when, upon being offered more juice, I responded with "Maji, tafadali." (Water, please.) Another incredibly handy expression is "Poli poli." (Speak slower.)

I have found that everywhere we go, we encounter enthusiastic teachers. The people we meet seem so delighted that we're making an effort, they don't mind taking the time to help us with pronunciation or teach us a new phrase. And our clumsy attempts at conversation in the language provide the priests here with endless entertainment.

Also, I think I've started to dream in Kiswahili.