I AM the Grinning Idiot!

You know the one I mean. He / she might be a German / Spanish / Italian / African / Russian / Japanese tourist or immigrant and they are asking you for directions or other information they need as they try to function in a foreign land without knowing much of the language. You are, somewhat, patiently trying to tell them what they need to know or maybe you’re just trying to figure out what it is they are asking. You repeat your statements / questions clearly and slowly but the only response you get is a big smile, lots of nodding, and maybe “yes – yes”. After a while, you realize that this person has absolutely no clue what you are saying and you think to yourself, “This person is just a grinning idiot.” THAT’S ME! I have become the grinning idiot! Try as I might (well – OK – I could do more to learn the language), I have just a rudimentary grasp of Gonja and to have any chance to understand what someone is saying, I have to keep saying, “Jande, langa malaga Boen boen” (“Please, say it again slower”). Then I stand there, grinning, trying my best to figure out what they are saying, nodding, and saying the Gonja equivalent of “yes, yes”. The usual outcome is that I walk away bemused, uninformed, feeling totally inept and recommitting myself to REALLY make an effort to learn this language.

After 27 months of this experience, I HOPE I will become much more patient and kind-hearted with others in the same boat when I return to the States. I implore you to do the same. It is no fun being the grinning idiot!

I am also going through another humbling experience; however, this is one I do have some history with. You know how it is when you are first learning a new job or hobby? Well, I have just begun learning how to weave. Figured I should get personally involved in the activity that Daboya is known for. Plus, this way I can weave gifts for my loved ones back home…..who may not love me quite as much when they see the quality of the gift they get!! And for any of you loved ones reading this, don’t consider this a promise. I may find weaving WAY too frustrating to ever get anything actually woven!

At this point, I am on step 1, which is simply walking back and forth with the thread, winding it around posts in a particular (simple) pattern to gather it in a specific configuration from which I will make the yarn. I have watched this process dozens of time. Seven-year old children do it without a second thought. I have already screwed up too many times to count! Even so, as I move on to the steps that take skill, dexterity, and intelligence, I’ll probably wish I was back on step 1. I’ll keep you informed as I progress.

We are transitioning from rainy season to dry season and, although we have still had some rain 3 out of the last 5 days, the clouds are getting much thinner and the heat is being turned up. So it will be getting hotter but the good news is that we're only maybe 5-6 weeks from the start of Harmattan season. The winds come down from the Sahara desert, the dust blots out the sun and it is the coldest time of the year (not to be confused with Minnesota!) and therefore my favorite.

Our temporary Visitors' Centre (they spell it the English way here) is ready and waiting for furniture. We had a successful fund-raising in town (but no bake sales, car washes, or yard sales), bought the necessary boards, nails, and plywood and the carpenter should be building the furniture this week. We're also having curtains, a drape, and a tablecloth woven out of fugu (the local weaving product) and a local signmaker will be doing our sign so we're keeping a lot of the money we raised right here in the community. When we get the sign up, I'll take pics and get at least one (it takes forever!) downloaded to this site.

Ok - that's it for now. Someone said something about baking cookies.............