3 + 2 = 32
on It began in Africa (Kenya), 15/Apr/2011 13:07, 34 days ago
3+2=32 To understand this you have to adjust your thinking, it’s a reminder that you cannot come to Kenya and always maintain your western point of view or sometimes your mathematical point of view.I try to get my head around this by saying to myself if I combine 3 and 2 in such a manner as to get 32 and, rather than protest its mathematical correctness, accept that future combinations may require the same operation then life becomes a lot easier.It is a similar process required to speak with people who don’t share your oral culture.Kenyans communicate effectively with each other, however a lack of specificity and accuracy in communication from a western perspective is common in many of conversations I have had here.Kenya has a largely oral culture, and many conversations are not always about information sharing but about relationship building. There will be liberal sprinkling of‘the nini’ (thing) which expresses: 'the thing that I can’t quite remember but in the larger context of our conversation you should be able to divine' and also a large helping of ‘sawa sawa’ (which means 'correct, correct)' which is a dangerous phrase for westerners as it should indicate agreement but sometimes just means an acknowledgement.Kenyans love a good chat, and it is a pleasure speaking with Kenyans, it has just taken me a while to understand that three and two can create thirty-two.