Saturday, August 28, 2010

Ugandalish quiz, pt. 2

(If you live or have ever lived in Uganda, please don't answer!)

Here are a few snippets of Ugandan English I've heard this week. See if you can guess what they mean:

1. I was trying to revise my daughter.
a. I was helping my daughter study.
b. I wanted to change my daughter's mind about something.
c. I was helping my daughter move out.

2. Will you give me a push?
a. May I borrow some money?
b. Will you help me start my car?
c. Will you walk partway with me?

3. I need a short call.
a. I need the bathroom.
b. I need to use the phone.
c. I need to talk to you briefly.

Friday, August 13, 2010

Home again, home again, jiggity jig

(Aside: Now, the problem with the title of this entry is one that’s common to missionary types: where, exactly, do I mean when I say “home”? Fortunately the repetition of “home again,” in this instance, can be more than a mere euphonic device – it can allow me to reference two signifieds with a single signifier!)

Okay, enough nerdiness. First, apologies once again for the delay between entries. I’ve fallen out of the habit of blogging, but I hope to get back into it for at least a little while. It tends to go in cycles, I’ve found.

Anyway, I spent the summer at “home” in America, and now I’m “home” in Mbale. I thoroughly enjoyed three months of family, rest, milkshakes, 24-hour grocery stores, driving, air conditioning, and not being called "mzungu," but I'm happy to be back here as well.

I'm having some difficulty uploading photos right now, but hopefully I'll be able to do that soon.