This Is Africa

The missionaries here have an acronym that can only really be understood once you join them, TIA, this is Africa!  My flight today from the capital city, Antananarivo, to Tessa’s city, Toliara, was supposed to leave at 3:30 pm.  We did not board until 4:15.  We tried to leave at 4:45 but, after driving out a bit had to turn around and head back because of some mechanical issue.  We got off and returned to waiting in long rows of hard wooden chairs.  TIA.  While on the plane I had been seated in between an elderly Malagasy man and a man that could have been a French version of Bono, complete with a soul patch, gauges, and shades. Whenever they made an announcement over the PA they first said it in Malagasy - the elderly man responded - then in French - Bono responded  - and finally in English.  I would try to respond but since I couldn’t really understand their heavily accented English I had to just try and mimic what everyone around me was doing.  Luckily cursing sounds about the same in French as it does in English, so Bono was quick to let me know that things were not going well.  Once back in the terminal they announced that it would be another hour and a half and we were free to go to the restaurant and get a bit to eat.  I saw everyone moving but had not understood the announcement, par usual.  I had overheard some English coming from two guys and a girl, probably in their 20’s so I gathered my courage and walked over to the girl, asking if she knew what was going on.  She said she had no idea but “the guys have gone to find out.”  They returned and explained and I said thanks, walked away, and sat down, not planning to go eat.  Tessa would feed me when I go there and I had a granola bar until then.  As they were leaving one of the guys, or we will call him one of the blokes since they were British, came over and asked if I wanted to “join them for beer or something.”  I immediately retreated into American-girl-traveling-alone mode and declined.  I should have accepted, not for the beer, but a bottle of water and the company of some other English speakers would have been nice, and once I said no regretted it.  I realized that there would not have been any danger in it, I wouldn’t have even left the airport.  I might have even had the chance to share Christ with these nice British folks.  I am starting to learn to roll with the punches that Africa sends and welcome the opportunities that they bring.  Of course I will still be plenty careful and not accept the obviously dangerous opportunities that it sends my way, but yeah, just take the chance to experience.  

Later, once they came back from eating I did talk to them a bit, they were coming to Toliara to study and do some sort of smart sounding PHD work.  It was a relief to speak English, more of one than I would expect.  After that we got back on the plane and from there everything ran smoothly.  I can certainly see that language barriers are going to make for some interesting stories.  At the end of flight they passed around these little chocolate candies.  Bono unwrapped it, tasted it and spite it out.  I looked at him questioning and he gave me a look that clearly said “It’s gross, don’t taste it!”  I smiled an “Ok.”  I ate it anyway but that is immaterial, the point was that French Bono and I had a full conversation without talking.  I am really excited about seeing this happen over and over again, and learning new ways to talk to people.  This will be an adventure, This Is Africa!!