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On interactions and microfinance borrowers- Julie S.
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Jul 7, 2008 Posted by Caitlin CohenI think it's worth recording the many different kinds of interactions I have with people here.
One big category: communicating with the host fam. I'm staying in a compound that houses about 35 people. Though I haven't yet figured out the exact relations between them all, I'm pretty certain that they're all related somehow. Only a very small percentage of them speak French – the dad (one of them) and two teenage girls. Everyone else speaks strictly Bambara. I'm taking a course in Bambara 3 days/week, but my skills aren't quite where they need to be for easy conversation. I talk to the two girls a lot. Their names are Aisha and Kadya. They explain a lot and teach me words in Bambara. Very helpful.
My interactions with the women of the household are a little different. Both parties are acutely aware of the language barrier, but I feel like there's a mutual desire to "bond" or what have you. We exchange a lot of smiles, greetings, and handshakes. Sometimes they say something complicated to me in Bambara, and I respond with a quizzical look. Then they repeat themselves, maybe a little more slowly, and wave their hand around. It's actually the most frustrating thing ever because the vague hand motions DON'T HELP! I would appreciate something a little more sign language-esque.
Another category of interactions: women on the microfinance committee. They've been taking me around Sourakabougou for the past couple weeks, visiting borrowers. They are all relatively educated (the women on the committee) and can speak French well. It's nice being able to communicate verbally with them, and I learn a lot from our conversations. As Mariam Coulibaly and I passed by a group of kids taunting me with "tubabu, tubabu" chants (tubabu = white person). It's easy for me to assume that the taunts come solely from their desire to embarrass me, but Mariam explained that they're just curious. Of course that makes sense, seeing as we may be the only white people living in Sikoroni right now. I'll try to remember that next time, and not feel so embarrassed.
On a similar note, some borrowers whom I've visited recognize me on the street! So far several of them have called me over to say what's up (or "I ka kεnε", as it were). One of them – Aminata Konaré – runs a mini food stand that sells pasta and beans, and I pass by it quite often. We've established a routine of greeting each other and shaking hands each time. Her food, by the way, tastes great.
Until next time,
Julie