Tok Small Small

Words, words, words. It's always exciting to learn new words.

Flashing is a common occurrence in Sierra Leone. Nobody has flashed me yet, but I have already taught Rachel how to Flash. You know, just in case. I also told a patient's father today that I had diagnosed his 5 year old son with Malaria. I had a woman ask me if there was anything that needed Brooking. Rachel was asked, "Whosi de come?"

Waterloo has a very active and organized church. The hospital has a morning worship schedule that is out a month in advance (although no shows are not uncommon). I have expressed concern to some of the leaders that I wanted my first speaking engagements to be small, until I can learn Krio (the local English dialect). I was told that any physician in Sierra Leone is highly respected. Also, any white man is also highly respected. Since I apparently meet both criteria, even if I stood at the pulpit and preached in English using words nobody understood, they would say the sermon was a huge success. Although the thought of unconditional praise without any critique of my thoughts seems appealing, I have not yet taken a speaking engagement.

But I have been thinking more about the 'Gospel.' What is it exactly? Apparently, sometimes a white man speaking incomprehensible words from behind the pulpit is the gospel. Sometimes it is the disciples speaking in tongues at pentecost. Sometimes it's just a kind word or action across racial, ethnic, economic, or religious divides. What I have come to believe is that the gospel always has some form of human connection and not just some 'magic' words. But who knows, maybe me just blabbering behind a pulpit is enough?

To understand flashing, you have to understand how cell phones work in Sierra Leone. Everyone puts money on their account, then you pay by the minute. Only the person making the call has to pay. So when you're low on money, you dial the person you want to speak to. As soon as their contact 'flashes' on the screen you hang up. They have been "flashed" and know to call you back (at their expense).

I thought it was an open and shut case, when I diagnosed this child with malaria. But apparently it wasn't. The father thought about it for 45 minutes while lingering in the lobby. When I walked past again, he called me over again. "I don't understand. What type of malaria did you find in my son? Typhoid? Infection? Plain malaria?" Similar to how in my youth, all sodas were called 'Coke', apparently malaria is a host of infections.

When your best source of running water is the stream, that's where the washing is done. If something needs washed, you 'brook' it.

"Whosi de come?" When this is spoken extremely slowly, you can imagine 'Whose side did come?' Since this culture is much more focused on relationships rather than time or geography, the question would translate as "Where have you been?" But since my culture's language cares more about place than people, we don't often ask from whom we have just come.

Anyways, I wouldn't recommend returning any calls that you are flashed. There are not yet robocallers in Sierra Leone.
And to that I say, "Tel God tanki"