Muli Bwanji?

July 26 2008

Muli Bwanji? Ndili Bweno, Zikomo! (How are you? I am fine, thank you)
Zanga langa ndine Laura. Nanga inu? (My name is Laura, and yours?)
Ine Ndine Waku Canada (I am from Canada)
Kodi asewenza nchito yanji? Ndine wotzipeleka mu YWCA (What do you do for work? I am a volunteer with the YWCA)

Well, as you can tell, I am learning Nyanja! Although English is the primary language of Zambia, there are many other languages spoken, Nyanja bring the most popular. Today was day 2 of our language training and it is going great! Melanie, Heather and I have 2 teachers - Elijah and Golden. They are fabulous! We've only had about 6 hours of learning and we can already carry a very basic conversation! It's very exciting. Today we also did minibus training with Elihah and Golden. I suppose it sounds a bit silly to do bus training, but the bus system here is pretty chaotic and very intimidating. So they took us to each of our places of work, we got on, got off, learned how to negotiate price (in Nyanja of course). It was really fun! So now I am slightly less intimidated and feel pretty good about getting to work on Monday. Mind you, I do have to go through the town's main bus station which is basically about 500 minibuses crammed into a lot, whereby every conductor is screaming out their destinations, honking their horns, and yelling at you to come onto their bus. Again, all part of the adventure! I am sure in no time I will more than used to it. Elijah and Golden are very special people, so kind and welcoming, always smiling. People in Lusaka are generally like this, its very comforting. On the minibuses today, we sparked up conversations with random people, again, in Nyanja. People laugh but Golden told us that that is common and it is not at all that they are making fun but that they are excited that we are learning their language. Nyanja is definitely not a simple language. There are different types of phrasing used for articulating formal (with respect) vs informal talk. For example, if I were referring to my brother informally, I would call him my Bulongo, but formally he would be my Alongo. However, if I were a boy and I was referring to my brother informally he would be my Mubale or formally, my Abale. So not only is there the difference here of informal vs. formal but also if you are referring to same-sex vs. opposite sex. Have I sufficiently confused you?

I am starting to really take to this town! Today was the first day I have truly felt this. It is partially due to the fact that I am finally starting to feeling better, but also learning the language, the bus system, and beginning to talk to the locals in their language!

Tsalani Bwino! (Good bye! - if I am leaving the room I would say this, if I were staying and someone else was leaving, I would say "pitani bwino" to them)