On Beninese-isms.
Alright, I can’t believe that I haven’t written about the salutations and conversations in this culture! The following questions/phrases/idioms comprise perfectly acceptable conversations here in Benin but would be a bit ludicrous if I came home saying or asking the same things. First, a little history as to why they ask and say these things…well, the easy explanation is that they evolved from local language. I know that if I was in France and greeted people in the same way I would get some pretty strange looks! Greeting people is very important here and it’s also a sign of respect to your elders, to people of authority, and of course to the white-girl that happens to be sitting with all the Mamas. ;)
So, here are the typical questions EVERY person will ask you EVERYDAY, morning and night:
~How did you wake-up?
~Did you sleep well?
~How’s your health?
~How’s your house?
~How’s your husband? Your kids? (I usually have to reply by saying I don’t have one and DO NOT want one.)
~How’s the fatigue? (Ya know cause they work so hard with their 4 hr breaks)
~How’s the work?
Now, the only response is to say, “It’s good.” Even if its not, you lie and say it is.
The following are the phrases that people will say to you just as they’re passing by…I guess you could call it Beninese small-talk. (These are translated from French so they sound even stranger.):
~Are you there? Yeah, I’m there. [Used especially when you look like you are staring into the distance at absolutely nothing or if you look really tired. I get a kick outta this one.]
~Did you do a little work today? Yeah, just a little. [This phrase comes from not wanting to do ALL the work, since you have to leave some for tomorrow.]
~Come eat with me! [Anytime someone eats near you they will ALWAYS ask you if you want some. A little different from the American’s unwillingness to share food, huh?] You respond by saying Bon appetite! (Good eating!)
~Say hi to the family for me. [Whenever you leave a group of people they will always tell you to say hi to the family for them…they take greeting people very seriously here. They’ll even call you just to see if you woke up well.]
~Good work. [Used whenever it looks like someone is doing work. Even if I am doing Sudoku puzzles people think that I am doing some serious research and say good job. It's great cause I always look like I’m deep in work when really I’m just reading a good book!]
~Good sitting. [People sit, A LOT.]
~Good arrival! [Uh, the same thing as “welcome” and people really will say this every time you approach them and after saying good morning, good evening, etc.]
~Go and come back! [You say this when someone is going somewhere, anywhere. They are really concerned that you’re not going to return after you’ve gone.]
Now, if you can master these phrases in French and/or local language, you’ll be just fine here in Benin!
