Tuesday 1 March 2011

Candles and sunglasses


I started learning Swahili this year and am really enjoying it. My friend Slavica and I go, and we have a fab teacher, Jonah, who somehow puts up with our giggles and tangents.

Tonight there was a power cut in the area where our class is, so driving there was a bit of a mission…and in true Hannah form I also struggled to find the place (don’t want to mention how many times I have previously driven there, it doesn’t make me look good). After a few wrong turns and phone calls to Slavica I pulled over to re trace my route. It was then that a car pulled alongside me, beeping and flashing. Then the window went down and I could see an African man motioning to me. I was so scared, believing this was a car jack! Hahahaha brave African Hannah you see?!  It took Slavica to call me to tell me it was her and Jonah, who were out to find me, for me to calm down and follow them! Oh how we laughed and laughed and laughed. In the school we had a lesson by candlelight in true African style. It was so hard to read the board, especially as I had left my glasses at a friend’s house so was trying to make do with my prescription sunnies, which in my defence would have worked fine if there was lighting (I have had to wear them to watch a few rugby games here when I have forgotten my glasses so they are tried and tested for evening wear when needed!) but in a very dim room with just a couple of small candles it was a nightmare! I pulled my desk right to the front too, but to little avail. And today we started on Swahili grammar…..it was hard going! Slavica and I kept remembering the car jacking or sunglasses wearing and so the giggles continued. Poor Jonah, he kept asking what was so funny, and didn’t seem to see how we were still finding the evening’s events so amusing.

I am happy to be home and with electricity, but will leave Swahili study for tomorrow…..

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