It’s been a month since the last entry and I apologise for that. Could it be that things stopped happening or I stopped noticing? Could I have run out of tales in less than a month? Lol… it was none of that. Tales from Agbonle will only stop when I leave Agbonle at the end of my service year, come July. This is a promise and I’m going to keep it. Question is, will you equally stick around? *winks.
I hope you know that your reading (commenting and sharing) makes it more worthwhile.
So yeah, what happened? Why the unplanned silence? My phone spoilt. No biggie yeah? Just get it fixed! Uhhmmm, not exactly… In a village like mine, with the closest town, being a village in some other place, it was plain impossible finding anyone who could fix the peculiar quirk my phone had. So, I waited till I got home three weeks later. I’m sure you might be wondering what it felt like to live without my mobile device for that long in my village; it wasn’t very easy to be honest. But that’s all story for another day (and please, remind me *smiles).
So, guess what?
My neck hurts a bit.
Yes, it does.
After months of bending and bending to greet and respond to greetings, why wouldnt it.
Thankfully, no prostrating????
I used to think I was a very respectful girl till I got to Agbonle..haha. But those people senior me oo..
In fact, my mother once made fun of me after I made a call to one of my uncles; the call was filled with lots of ‘yes sir’. It was funny but I just don’t know how to be any different. How do I just answer ‘yes’? While momma didn’t disapprove, she thought I sounded funny throughout the call. I guess I overdosed, lol
You see, Yoruba people use greetings as respect-markers. The world renowned greeters!
Oh my! My first week in Agbonle was very hard. My jaws hurt from greeting and I was in constant competition with the Agama lizard with the way I kept nodding and bending my head. What was it with these people?
“See, I’m pro-1Nigeria and I love you people. Shey e never do?”
I was only thinking and talking to myself
The distressing part was that the mothers who were much older than me, would still bend as they greeted Corper. Why shouldn’t I return the gesture? You tell me!
Ahn, I got tired one time and began to dread going outside. I avoided glances and pretended I didn’t see some people just to ease my neck and jaw.
I am Igbo and yes, I know some other tribes accuse us of being disrespectful. I know I’m not jare. Really, I have great admiration for these people. There’s a greeting for every activity and time!
Now, I do as much greeting as my neck and jaw allows me…
The respect I have for them is in my heart and expressed by the love with which I teach their children.
Surely, that should be enough. Yeah?
Tell me your thoughts please, illd sure love to know.
Meanwhile, you just visited my blog and read to the end, here you have it: Eku reading!
And yes, for you, ardent reader of LHB, there are two surprise packages this year end and I’m so excited ????.
1. There’lld be a second note to the ones I love. “Lessons from Abba” is the caption of this one. Remember the first?
2. There’ll be thank-you gifts, a little appreciation treasure hunt on here. I’m so excited????
Stay tuned.
*wink*
I love you!
Remember that you’re light…keep shining!
PS: I’m on my December break and home has been great joy. Family over everything, you know?
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