It is exactly one month since I arrived in the city of
Beira, Mozambique. It seems like a good time to give a quick update about what
exactly I am doing now, and what I hope to be doing in the coming months.
If details have been a bit vague over the past few weeks,
it’s because they are precisely that- vague. Well, maybe not vague so much as
constantly changing or uncertain. What is (mostly) certain for now is that I’ll
be staying in Beira for the next two months and won’t be going out to Machanga
until after Christmas. This turn of events is probably just as well for me;
I’ll be able to continue intensive language study and get to know people in the
city more. I’m hoping to travel a bit in the beginning of December, but will
probably spend Christmas in Beira. Please send Christmas chocolate to the
following address: C.P 27, Beira, Moçambique, c/o Mennonite Central Committee.
Last week, Aziza (who works for MCC in Beira) took me out
shopping, showing me around downtown, and most importantly, the best places to
buy capulanas. I was brave enough to wear one to MCC this past week. I felt the
stares of everyone along the road as I walked to the office, constantly
self-conscious and wondering if I was somehow wearing it wrong… until I
remembered I am always stared anyways. Though, how I am supposed to know then
if I AM actually doing something incorrectly is a mystery to me. What if someone calls out “Oi amiga!”
because I’ve dropped a coin, and not because of the colour of my skin? Would I
even notice?
I had a chance last week to visit my Portuguese teacher’s
English class at the local university. He wanted to show his students that they
really ARE learning to speak English by giving them the opportunity to converse
with a native speaker for the first time. They did very well, and I can
sympathize with how nervous they must have felt speaking with someone else
while the teacher listened. After their lesson, it was my turn to be put to the
test when professor Pinto told me to introduce myself (in Portuguese) to a
couple of his colleagues in the language centre. Thankfully these were also
teachers, and possessed the wonderful skills of patience, clarity of speech,
and the ability to keep the conversation flowing gracefully even when I
couldn’t find the right words.
Learning Portuguese makes up a good part of my week, between
actual lessons two hours every day, copious amounts homework, meeting with a
conversation partner, and of course, communicating with my host family. My
teacher made a comment that to learn a language is to learn a culture. This is
true. Of all the things I have learned, nothing has been more important than
the simple greetings from lesson 1; greeting which are central to friendship,
communication, and respect in this country.
My teacher is also getting a
sample of Canadian culture as I talk about “my family,” “what I did last year,”
and so on. For example he is mystified as to why Canada still has a queen, and
why children will move out of their parent’s house and live alone even before
they are married. My Portuguese failed me as I tried to explain, though I’m not
so sure I would have much better luck trying to form a succinct response in
English either. At one point yesterday as we were discussing traditions, I
found myself trying to explain bagpipes… you can guess how well I managed that
one! I am learning enough now though to be able to participate in some small-talk. The other day I drew a lovely map of Fredericton,
New Brunswick on the chalkboard before class. I was learning about giving
directions and places in the city. Aziza (who doesn’t speak English) started
asking me questions about it. She asked how many people live there. I told her
around 60, 000. She responded with “but now one has left!” meaning me. I
replied in spirit by crossing out 60,000, and writing 59,999. She reminded me
that even in the big city, each and every one matters. You don’t leave one place without entering another. Everyone who comes and
goes as God wills has a purpose- a purpose that starts with knowing people, and
by knowing them, to see them through God’s eyes, and by seeing them through God’s
eyes, to love them with the love of Christ.
With you in spirit; your friend who has left New Brunswick
to enter Mozambique,
Rebecca
