On Sunday, we head off to spend several days in our house in the village of Dinthi. It’s been more than a year since we visited and we haven’t been able to contact anyone. So it could be a pretty wild visit. We’re bringing tents just in case.
If you were going to a village in Africa for a week, what would you take? And what would you do once you got there?
In 2007, I did a blog series called Dinthi Day. You can browse the series here: Dinthi Day.
No contact because no mobile phones there? Sounds a great place to go cold turkey from Facebook and blogging. But wait – didn’t you blog from there in 2007?
Just two things on the top of my head:
I’d take pictures of those visited (especially of my last visit if I hadn’t been able to give them out yet) as well as pictures of my new whereabouts for showing around.
Outside games for the kids (balls, badminton, whatever).
I’d talk and drink spiced tea with my friends of old (what else do you expect in a village?).
Is this mainly work or also for spending time with your village friends?
Btw, we’re contemplating a visit to our old village for spring next year (by which time we won’t have been there almost four years).
Lingamish is the blog of David Ker, a media access specialist and member of Wycliffe Bible Translators working in Africa with SIL Mozambique. Opinions expressed on this blog are my own and do not represent the organizations with which I work.
No contact because no mobile phones there? Sounds a great place to go cold turkey from Facebook and blogging. But wait – didn’t you blog from there in 2007?
I can blog from anywhere. I won’t have my computer with me but I will have my mobile phone.
Just two things on the top of my head:
I’d take pictures of those visited (especially of my last visit if I hadn’t been able to give them out yet) as well as pictures of my new whereabouts for showing around.
Outside games for the kids (balls, badminton, whatever).
I’d talk and drink spiced tea with my friends of old (what else do you expect in a village?).
Is this mainly work or also for spending time with your village friends?
Btw, we’re contemplating a visit to our old village for spring next year (by which time we won’t have been there almost four years).
Great ideas, Oliver. I’m definitely going to do the photos.
This is the hungry time of year and everyone we meet will either be figuratively or literally starving so it’s tempting to try to bring food…
At this point we’re packing a 180 liter barrel, lots of buckets, flashlights, candles… you get the idea.
Resist the temptation to bring too much, but on the other hand remember that it’s you that chose Africa not the kids.
Take time to talk, and even more to listen.
If it is the hungry season do take food to share, a pig or a goat so everyone can have some?