Language

I have been in the midst of taking Swahili lessons four days a week. Although, many Kenyans speak English there still is a massive language barrier between us and many people here on the coast. Speaking with someone and communicating are two different things! Take for instance yesterday we went out for supper in Old Town as a family for some Swahili food. Amie ordered 2 plates of something in English and the waiter brings one. On the surface they were speaking but they were not communicating. He unfortunately did not understand and Amie did not know that he was not understanding. That is just a little thing and no big deal but when it comes to transportation and getting around with your family it can be a whole other ball game! Tuk Tuk drivers will say they know what you are talking about and where you want to go even if they don't because they want the work. Even knowing a few broken swahili phrases can make a difference in communicating! Also, makes a difference in bartering for the price of the ride too!

Language learning is hard work because you have to mess up and look silly to learn to get things right. Yet, as I have been trying to use the very few phrases I know with our drivers and duka shop owners there is a genuine joy and appreciation from the people here. They want to help you learn. They are happy you want to learn their language. So, in that way it has been opening up so many opportunities for relationships with people even people of different religious beliefs because they want to help me learn swahili. They want to be my "mwalimu" teacher. I have an official language teacher named Juma but in many ways the people of Mombasa have become my teacher and I their "mwanafunzi" student.

So, the learning happens here formally but so much more informally as well. Just walking the streets, riding public transport, and meeting people as we go is an education.