True Southern Hospitality

Anna and I went to visit some of our ESL students today, with flyers announcing our upcoming June Activity Day--five hours of practicing conversation while sewing carry-all bags, exercising, and making healthy snacks, and painting on aprons. Albay came out to meet us--she had kindly agreed to join us for those inevitable "lost in translation" moments!

Immediately we ran into Fatuma, on her way to job training with another single mom, Jimoy. Next we visited Bahati's new apartment, where we were given bottled Cokes and Sprites. Everyone's apartment is an interesting surprise--some are barely furnished, others have every inch packed with unmatched pieces--but most are darkened and cooled by rich fabrics draped from ceiling to floor--usually adorned with garlands of open-weave, embroidered and tassled "flags" or shiny foil mardi gras-like decorations hanging from the ceiling.

We moved on to Duniyo's, then Binti's where we were offered bottled waters again. Onward to Waktia's and "other Binti's" where we ran into Halima and the big bag of candy she was passing around to all the neighbor kids. We made our way to the apartment of two ladies who live together--one had just lost her newborn son. Afterwards, we went by grandmother Fatuma's--more bottled water (you really can't say no very easily). Just next door was Mumina with her 12-day old baby girl . . . thankfully she was too tired to offer us anything. And all along the way we met scores of children who are usually at school when we're teaching! Finally, we entered the back-door of Habiba's house, after encountering most of her seven children and a few "strays" asking "Who are YOU??" but Habiba was glad to see us!

Ah, lunch. We had planned to try a nearby African restaurant but Albay had a luscious meal waiting for us in her lovely apartment. We didn't know it, but she had cleaned and cooked before she left her five children to help us for three hours. The children quietly served us or watched from the kitchen as we ate meat-filled Sambus, little red beans and corn cooked in coconut milk w/ "red" seasonings, and (I can't remember the name) little "pillows" that were like a (not-sweet) beignet and drank a delightful tea- creation from clear glass teacups. By now we had taken enough of Albay's time--even though we had missed four or five students who will need to be called . . .

Anna and I decided to make one last stop to see Lula (which means "pearl"), who would never forgive us if she heard we had come around. Lula has hurt her back again and was dragging her leg when she limped to the door with her three preschool children. But out burst her big white smile, inviting us in, making us sit down, lifting a coffee table to place in front of us . . . "No, Lula! We just ate a big lunch!!" Too late, she had already shuffled shortbread cookies onto a plate and was popping the top on some orange sodas. After a little more visiting (interrupted by a "Wizard of Oz" whirlwind of sand in a sudden storm), she pushed a big box of frozen chicken into my arms! "Lula, you don't have to . . ." But she had already tied it up in a plastic bag and ordered me, "Take home to David," I guess she figured with all those visits I wouldn't have time to wring a chicken's neck and cook it in time for dinner! What a blessing and a lesson in true hospitality. A day well spent.