Walking around Mbingo today, we were greeted with "Ashia," meaning "my sympathies" or "I'm sorry." Noah repeated "Ashia!" excitedly, waving at the children in the nearby school for the deaf and begging us to chase down the goats.
It is a profound statement that life always requires sympathy here in Cameroon. As we hiked up a steep incline overlooking the Mbingo Hospital grounds, we were joined by an elderly woman with a large basket of firewood on her back. Jeff and I were huffing and puffing up the hill (Jeff with Noah on his back and me with Baby Schlaudecker on my front), lamenting our adjustment to the altitude. Jeff commented drily that the woman understood the "unbearable weight" of carrying such a load. She waved "Good afternoon!" and "Ashia!" (presumably because a man was carrying 
the baby) and left us in her dust.
the baby) and left us in her dust.
3 comments:
The Teddy Bears are missing Noah!
Excellent post, Liz. I love the thought of someone expressing apologies to a man for having to carry the baby! Too funny.
YEAH for your walk! I bet she went home and chuckled about a MAN carrying a baby on HIS back. How funny! I hope you are feeling well. Love to you all!
love this post. the hats are fabulous!
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