I know that culturally there are many differenced between the West and Africa. I think humour is one of them. Many times Lucie and I drop something ‘funny’ into a workshop and it goes down like a lead balloon. Also sarcasm really doesn’t exist either. People take it quite literally.
Anyway, this is an example of differing humour, or maybe not – you might find this very amusing. It is a joke that is doing the rounds at the moment. There are many expanding parts to it but for now I will just give you the first.
How do you get an elephant into a fridge?
Any guesses? Ok You shot him and then chop him up so he fits. (Mmm I can picture you all crying with laughter.) Or the other version is that you open the door and he walks in because it is a really large fridge! Take your pick on the funniest version!
My Malawian counterparts really like this joke and find it funny. But it does get better…. A few minutes later the same person telling the joke announces the following:
There was a big meeting for all of the animals in the world. All attended but one. Which animal did not attend? Ok so you can work this out logically. The Malawians make all sorts of random guesses out of no where.
The answer is quite simple and clever; the elephant because he is in the fridge! At least that part is a little funny??
I will keep you in suspense for the next part of the joke!
Have had quite a quiet few weeks since the Easter break. I visited one of Jonathan’s projects recently. He is working with the community in improving nutritional access and care for children living with HIV. We went and visited the site and spoke with the children and their carers. We spoke to 5 children and of the 5 only one still had one mother alive. The rest of the parents had died from AIDS. It was quite touching to hear their stories and the stories of their carers who are mainly grandparents, perhaps looking after 11 children, or aunties and uncles. This is a funded project from an organisation in Wales so I was taking photos for them and making case studies. At the end I gave the children some toys to take with them such as dollies and toy cars. The children were happy to have the toys as they really don’t have much. The biggest success as always with the children is the balloons!
Apart form that just scrounging and saving my kwachas (pennies) for my trip to Uganda in June. The flights are really expensive and I’d almost be cheaper to fly to London! Oh well you only live once!
Hope all is well and you are surviving the snow!
