Good morning!

While waiting outside for dinner one night:


Sellu: Binta, good morning!
Me: Peace only. But it is not morning. Good night! [in Pulaar there’s a “good night,” that’s a greeting, not a leave-taking]
Sellu: Peace only. Trouble didn’t wake you?
Me: Peace only.
Sellu: I hope you drank cous porridge?
Me: Yes… this morning I drank cous porridge, but now I did not drink it because it is night.

Sellu laughs, and then addresses the rest of the compound: Did you hear Binta? Binta hears Pulaar now. I asked did she drink cous porridge, she said in the morning she drinks cous porridge but at night she will not drink it. Me too, I hear English now, “come and eat.”

Me: It is your stomach that hears English.