This week has been both busy and productive. While I regret to inform you all that I’ve been unable to schedule time for more profound biblical interpretations, I guess that it was time to get down to business.
Aside from the day-to-day responsibilities, I have had the opportunity to explore the village extensively. As I traveled to different places, I have also begun to recognize certain words whenever I pass by…most notably “Nzungu.”
Fr. Donnie told me that the word Nzungu translated to something along the lines of “A White European.” In addition, he assured me that nothing about the term was derogatory, however, I got the impression that this explanation may not necessarily apply to everyone. First of all, I can’t stand being referred to anything resembling a European (I think this is what Asian people feel like when others automatically label them “Chinese”). The only thing that comes to my mind when I hear Nzungu is that Euro-Weenie, Llama-Faced Forward, Los Angeles Laker Lackey, Pau Gasol (check out all that alliteration…and some people critique this blog for its lack of educational value). Although they’ve probably been calling me it since the day I got here, I do notice that the term is frequently used around me. Most of the time I just brush it off and ignore it altogether. However, that wasn’t the case a couple of nights ago during tennis. As I was playing, I heard a group of older gentlemen pointing at me from far away, repeatedly calling me a Nzungu. Maybe it’s just because I wasn’t playing well at the time, but I fired a ball into the group, and hit the guy that was bugging me (I found out later that he was stumbling back from Happy Hour). Everybody laughed.
I want to make the point that 99% of the people over here treat me with respect. This is the only time where I have even felt a little bit of discomfort. Point is, it doesn’t matter where you go there’s always going to be people that want to get a rise out of you…Sometimes you just need to hit them right back in the face with a tennis ball.
I look forward to seeing what Mother White has to say about the last line of this post, Sean. : )
ReplyDeleteMaura I have been accused of being a free lance editor and that I have somehow missed the whole point of a Blog.
ReplyDeleteBut since you, Maura got me started, first thing Mr. White, I do not see where someone making reference to you being of European decent is in anyway disrespectful. Nor do I see where someone would expect to get a rise from you for making that reference. As for your aggressive non verbal communication, I heard a Tanzanian proverb, that stated ...Sometimes you just need to hit them right back in the face with an Elephant's ball.