Kushangaza Zaidi (more amazing stuff)

Someone commented on how much they like it when i write posts like this, so i have been wracking my brain trying to come up with some more. here is what i thought of:

1. Names. Names are very funny here. First of all everyone is given an english name, and a tribal name. They will also take their father's tribal name and put it as their last name, but that only identifies people in the immediate family. They don't have any kind of last names that are carried from generation to generation. This was sooo confusing at first. How do you identify people in your family? But as i have said earlier, families are very close, so hopefully you know all of your family and don't accidentally marry your cousin. Second when the missionaries came they couldn't pronounce their names, so they made everyone take english names. but this was back a few hundred years ago, so they names they took were these weird old european names, which they still use today. Such as Boniface, Linnet, Uticus, Dorcas, Wisper, lots of Mariams' and so on. Yes, i did say Dorcas. The first time someone told me i really thought they were teasing, and i laughed, but no, it was their name. 
2. White people. Some people that visit here, i just really don't understand what they were expecting. Do they know that they are coming to Africa, which is a developing country, and also a completely different culture? Maybe they just don't do any research before they come. One thing that bothers all groups that come here is the african time. Everything here runs late. that is just how it is, and will always be. When you do even just a little bit of research about africa, they will always warn visitors about this. Bugs also really bother visitors. I never have had that fear of bugs or spiders, but living here would cure you of that. Most of the really big bugs are harmless, they are types of beetles. But people also freak out about this. Again what were you expecting? This country isn't paved over like most of the cities that people come from in the states. 
3. In the tribal language that is spoken where i live, there is no word for "you're welcome." So instead you just say, "thank you" in response to "thank you."
4. Everyone dances and everyone sings. I love this so much. you don't have to be good at either one of these, and most people aren't, but you can get up there and boogie with the best of them. Many people lead singing in church who maybe aren't they best, but everyone joins in and has a good time. It makes life so much more fun.
5. Often times if you go to a bar, and someone is a bit drunk, that person will just stand up and start dancing right where they are. The first time i saw this i couldn't stop laughing! they looked so funny, but this happens all the time. People aren't as critical of each other here. 
6. They don't have birthday parties. Last night i went to a surprise 80th birthday party, and he said that was the first birthday party he had ever had. 

Well that is all i could think of for now. i hope you have enjoyed! love to you all!

suz