Keeping in Touch with People is different in different Cultures
So I left my home and everything needing to be done and
walked over to my American neighbors, just to say “Hi”. I arrived at the door
and said “good morning”. “Oh hi there, do you need anything?” “No”, I said, "I just
wanted to say good morning to you." “Ah,
ok", he said. I stood there outside, felt I was disturbing as he was working on his computer and then said good bye and left.
When I go to an Ivorian home and arrive at their court yard and
say my greetings, they immediately ask me to come in and have a seat. They offer
me a drink and then only ask me how
I am doing and what kind of news I am bringing. I am always answering it’s good
news and I just came to greet you. In Dioula: "Jug man té, forlilo". And we sit and talk a bit and then I ask to leave
and continue my chores.
It’s very important to greet each other without a hurry and
to see if everyone is ok. Also to call close friends on the phone regularly, not for long
conversations, but just to say “hi” and letting them know that you are thinking
of them.
I like that a lot about West Africa!
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