One day while on safari in the Serengeti, we saw a group of small Maasai children walking along the road. My guide, Joseph, stopped the jeep, while telling me how much the children liked talking to foreigners. Immediately, several of them climbed onto the side of the jeep, with big smiles on their faces. One learned over and started touching my arm. Joseph explained they are always fascinated with people, with different skin colouring. I eagerly shook hands with the ones who approached me and said hello in my pigeon Swahili and Maa !!
I asked some questions and Joseph translated the conversation. I had brought some pens with me (a valuable lesson I learnt when travelling in Peru. Children need them for school and often can’t afford them so will ask tourists for them). I was delighted to give them to them and they were grateful to receive them.
I had my guide book on my lap, as I was learning the names of some of the more obscure animals. One of the children leaned across me and started pointing out some of the pictures and giving a running commentary to her friends standing nearby. I pointed to a thompson gazelle and asked if they had seen any recently. This was met with lots of head shaking, when Joseph translated my question ! I asked about a giraffe and got the same reaction. I then decided to play it safe and pointed to the zebra but again got lots of head shaking and looks of confusion.
I asked Joseph, why are they saying this, I have seen lots of them today and can see zebras from the distance right now? Joseph translated this to them and sounded a little irate. The children replied with excited tones. This went on for a few seconds, until Joseph starting laughing and couldn’t contain himself.
He eventually told me that the children said, they had never seen pictures of the animals but of course see the real thing every day !
Out of the mouths of babes indeed !!!!
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