My host mother's sister, Wuri, was visiting for a couple of weeks, and we were sitting awkwardly and silently, so I attempted conversation.
Me: Tell me about Senegal.
Wuri: Yes, I'm from Senegal.
Me: I know, tell me about Senegal. Does Senegal have electricity?
Wuri: Yes.
Me: All of Senegal?
Wuri: Yes.
Me: Does Senegal have horses?
Wuri: Yes, Senegal has many horses.
Me: Does Senegal have hyenas?
Wuri: Yes.
Me: Have you ever seen a hyena?
My host mother, Nene, joins the conversation.
Nene: Yes, I have seen a hyena.
Me: You've seen a hyena? I'm scared of hyenas. I think hyenas will eat people.
Nene: Senegal has a national park, it has many animals. It has hyenas, and monkeys, and ngiiru.
Me: I don't know, what is ngiiru?
Nene: Ngiiru is a wild animal [launches into explanation that I don't understand]
Me: Ngiiru has four legs?
Nene: Yes, ngiiru has four legs.
Me: Ngiiru is large or small?
Nene: Ngiiru is LARGE.
Me: Ngiiru eats grass?
Nene: No, ngiiru eats meat. Ngiiru eats [list of animals I do not know]
Wuri: And cows.
Nene: No, ngiiru does not eat cows.
Wuri: It doesn't eat cows?
Nene: No, it doesn't eat cows.
Me: I don't know!
Nene: Wait, if Amadou comes he will tell you.
We wait until Amadou comes.
Me: Nene, I forget, what is the animal I don't know?
Nene: Amadou Boy, come here. Tell Binta what ngiiru is.
Amadou: Ngiiru? It is lion.
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