Conversations with Adama: Clothes!

Ado: Are there clothes in America?

Me: Yes, clothes are there.
Ado: And shoes?
Me: Shoes also.
Ado: And skirts?
Me: And skirts also and shirts also.
Ado: And headwraps?
Me: Yes.
Ado: Yes?
Me: Yes.
Ado: But konkorans are not there.
Me: No.

Two-zero

Almost every night I ask Mamadou if he played football that day, even though I know the answer is yes. Then I’ll ask who played and where did they play and who won. And sometimes the players or the location will change, but always his team wins, 2-0.

Exams!

One Saturday, while I was waiting for the computer class to begin, some twelfth grade boys sat at the table with me and I asked how their exams were going.

Student: Heh! That exam made some students to have very serious diarrhea.

Oops.

So apparently, I think, the radio will occasionally list the names of people who have recently passed away, but I didn’t realize that’s what the list of names was about so when I heard, “Neene Galle Jallow” I turned to Neene and said, “Neene! I heard your name on the radio!” and Gaye didn't hear me so I repeated, “The radio, it said ‘Neene Galle Jallow’” and then no one said anything in response and I was left to puzzle in silence why no one seemed to care even though everyone loves to point out that song where “Binta Jallow” is mentioned.

Then, a little later, Neene says to Gaye that So-and-so from Such-and-such village has died and I realize she must have learned that from the radio. But for sure things would’ve been a lot less awkward if Neene had just said, “Binta, that’s not funny, those are the names of dead people.”

Then again, if she’d said that I probably would’ve felt embarrassed and angry and wished that she’d just stayed silent and let me figure it out for myself.

Another word for degree

Student, after accidentally saying 120 dalasi instead of 120 degrees: Dalasi is another word for degree.

Me: Dalasi is another word for degree?
Student: Yes.
Me: So if I want some bread and beans, I can draw a triangle and give it to the women who are selling and they will accept? They will give me bread and beans?

Laughter from the class.

Student: Yes.