Language Study

Habari za kutwa How is your Day?

That is one of the many greetings here in Bukoba. It is hard to believe that Crystal and I have been in Africa for five days (though it may be longer before we can get on the Internet again), since I am sitting in my room at Bwana (Mister) Sweya's House. Today we officially started six days of language acquisition. This is six days where we learn how to learn a language, using Swahili as the second language, so that after the six days, we can continue learning Swahili in a focused, self-directed way. The first day of this training had us becoming familiar with the tools/books we will be using and what is expected. We were also introduced to our language helper. What is different with this method of study compared to 'normal' school is we are not allowed to write out the words we are learning. Its focus is on listening to the people around you and training your ears to pull out different words. It is a slower pace of study to start, but as you get accustomed to the sounds, it is much faster. Also, we were challenged on our purpose of learning another language in this way. If our purpose to learn a language is just to learn a language, then chances are that we will not master it. But if it is about loving people, then communicating with them is the best way to love them. Your chances of learning the language are much better. Language is about relationships, and about how we interact in those relationships. The best way to learn a language is to be in relationships and that is the main focus of this style of language learning.

My language coach's name is Paolro (paul) Pambe (my Swahili spelling is a little off). He is the choir master and has lived in Bukoba for 3 years. Crystal gets to continue to build her relationship with Mama Sweya and is very excited to do so.

On a completely selfish view, I am the only one on the team that has had the chance to go swimming!! On Monday Crystal and I were invited to go swimming, but because Mama Sweya chose not to swim (actually, can't swim), Crystal chose not to either. The rest of the team members have not been so blessed. The best part of this story is not the actual swimming, though it was very refreshing. The Sweyas took us for a tour of Bukoba and the hills surrounding it! WOW! We had a great view of Lake Victoria which is supposedly 400 miles across and free like the sea when you cannot see land on the other side! Too bad we forgot our camera. Since they want us to teach them how to swim, I am sure we will be back there and this time, whenever that time, is we will bring our camera, though we may have to make our own trek!

Continue to pray that our language study goes well and that we are able to build good relationships with some people that we meet as we begin interacting with more people from the church, and within the community!!