Culture and Language

I've been here for 9 months now. Last week I caught myself say a very non - English sentence!
I was just nipping out of my office, at the school, to see someone in an office at the hospital, when the secretary asked me if I was on my way home. My reply was “ I”m just coming”. In England I would have said 'I'll be back in a mo...' or 'I”m just nipping out...'. So Uganda is beginning to rub off on me – you'll have to bear with me and my English when I come back!!

Here are some of the other things I've heard!
'You are lost!' often a greeting a received when I've not seen someone for a while. I used to reply 'I've been around!'. But I have now come to realise that they are just saying haven't seen me for a while.
When I'm out and about in trousers (happy to be out of my uniform dress!) I often get complimented 'You are smart!'. At first I wondered if my uniform was scruffy!! But it's just a compliment stating that I'm looking well dressed.

The classic one I received when I came back from my Easter Holiday “you have put on weight”. It really is ingrained here that to put on weight is a good thing – indicates prosperity and being well fed.
These days if I'm trying to arranged a lift to somewhere I now ask them to 'pick me' at ...... For some reason the 'up' is dropped from the statement. I've not worked out why yet!
When ever I get back from being in town or visiting a friend I am told 'Wellb back!' an abbreviation of welcome back!

What I haven't got used to is being told 'well done' when I meet people. I usually reply – what for?? But I am coming to realise that in fact it is just part of a greeting, like saying hello!!! So when I see you, you will now know what I mean, when I say 'I'm just coming'. And you will understand when I tell you to 'pick me' that I am without car and need a lift!

I found this poem in a book and liked it- here it is for you to read!
We and They
by Rudyard Kipling
Father, Mother and Me
Sister and Aunties say
All the people like us are We,
And everyone else is They.
And They live over the sea
While we live over the way.
But – would you believe it? -
They look upon WE
As only a sort of They!
We eat pork and beef
With cow-horn-handled knives.
They who gobble Their rice off a leaf
Are horrified out of Their lives;
While They who live up a tree,
Feast on grubs and clay,
(Isn't it scandalous?) We look upon
As a simply disgusting They!
We eat kitcheny food.
We have doors that latch.
They drink milk or blood
Under an open thatch.
We have Doctors to fee.
They have Wizards to pay.
And (impudent heathen!)
They look upon We
As a quite impossible They!
All good people agree,
And all good people say,
All nice people, like Us, are We
And everyone else is They:
But if you cross over the sea,
Instead of over the way,
You may end by (think of it!)
Looking on WE
As only a sort of They!