It's true what they say.... you don't really learn something until you have to apply it. Even with language school last summer, conversing in Kiswahili is still a challenge for me. I live with English speakers, I teach English speaking students, and, even though my pastor speaks 5 languages and uses every accent known to man, I go to an English speaking church. I don't get a chance to USE Kiswahili. So, my language is still very limited. One day, one of our administrative secretaries scolded me because I have lived in Tanzania for two years and still can't hold a descent conversation. She then told me to come in every day for a 5 minute conversation. Now, I have two walimu (teachers) in the main office who refuse to speak to me in English for at least 5 minutes after I enter their space. If they say something I don't understand, (Samehani, sematena pole pole.) (Excuse me, say it again slowly.) They laugh. When I respond in my halting accent, they laugh. If they speak really quickly and then ask me a question and I respond "Sijoui" (I don't know), they laugh.
I get laughed at a lot.
But I am now actually applying what I learned last summer. It's much easier for me to understand what I hear, but recalling the vocabulary is still an ongoing challenge. (At least, I'm not recalling all of my French first like last summer. "Habari yako?" "Comme ci comme ca... oh, je suis desolee... oh, man.")
Oh well... pole pole ndio mwendo. (the slow way is the best way)
