Taught by Roland and another Gardener.
Although the lesson was on my way to the kitchen to find Jess, and rather unexpected, let me assure you, I did not go in completely ignorant. I know Muzungu means “White Person,” because that’s what the children yell as we walk back. It has a bit of a prettier ring to it than the Harlem equivalent of “snowflake.” Also I know Kich-u-kero, which is the neighborhood I live in. (my roommates will laugh at that one).
So the lesson started with me smiling and saying “Good Morning” but one gardener only speaks Kinyarwanda, although he may speak French come to think of it. Roland speaks some English, I think more than he is comfortable using. But he is very soft spoken, probably in the same way I am when speaking French or Spanish or, now, Kinyarwanda. So we started with the basics, Goodmorning. Hello. And Goodafternoon. I would write them out but as I barely have the pronunciation in the right direction, I have no idea how to spell them.
We then moved on to more complicated words, explained to me with some excellent charade gestures. The first was woman. And the gesture made me blush. Fortunately man was a beard. Grandfather was a stooped over man. Child was shown as short. I also learned, I am Happy. Which I am. So hopefully soon I can repeat these words to you.
and I leave you with this final quote that I found online today:
"Imana yirirwa ahandi igataha mu Rwanda."
"God spends the day elsewhere, but sleeps in Rwanda."
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