Ki Kati (Hello)

Speaking like a local helps you assimilate into your new community. In Seattle, you need to be able to pronounce all the names of our local cities and landmarks. (Want to know how to spot a PNW visitor? Ask them to say “Puyallup.”) In Kampala, knowing a few words and phrases in Luganda is a sure way to make friends quickly.

Sadly, I am still working to overcome deep scars earned at Oak Hills Elementary School when I was 12. Every student was given a Language Aptitude Test prior to junior high to help determine whether one should enroll in Spanish, French or German. Of the 60 students tested, I was one of 3 that was advised, “Don’t bother with a second-language. You have no aptitude. Why don’t you enroll in Home-Ec?” That verdict haunts me to this day.

On the other hand, Scott is VERY committed to mastering Luganda. He learned just a few Swahili words and phrases when we lived in Kenya but, as it turns out, those phrases are really only helpful in (i) Kenya and (ii) Ugandan prisons. Who knew that most East African criminals (Scott here – the correct term is alleged criminals) speak Kishwahili? But out and about here in Uganda, even a few words in Luganda are welcome.

When we meet any Ugandan, Scott fearlessly blurts out his handful of new words. Waiters, taxi drivers, security guards, little kids, goats grazing along the road, police officers, etc. If Scott thinks you are Ugandan, he will bust out his Luganda. No matter how brief the encounter, it elicits giggles, smiles or laughs. Every time. The security guard at the grocery store, who is invisible to most who pass by, engages with Scott, smiles and often then responds in Luganda, “So you speak Luganda?” To which Scott responds “katono” or “a little.”

Scott’s colleague, Patrick, is committed to teaching Scott some Luganda each day. Scott has created a file on his phone to keep track of his expanding word bank.

This week, we visited one of the furniture vendors who is working on a project for our apartment. John followed us out to our car, determined to help Scott with his language skills. He stood with us for several minutes and made sure that Scott wrote down every new word/phrase with exact spelling and phonetic pronunciations.

Then jackpot – we visited the local craft market on Saturday with Anna (who is visiting for a couple of weeks and doing SMU classes on-line). There’s been very little business for these artisans as tourism is almost non-existent with COVID. So that left more time to talk. Scott found some children’s books about learning Luganda. He purchased two.

Anna and Scott sat through lunch and thoroughly amused Lilly, our waitress, with their study of these new resources. We asked why she was laughing. She shrugged her shoulders. I asked, “If 100 ‘wazungu’ (white people) came here, how many will try to speak some Luganda?” She quickly responded, “Maybe 3?”

Perhaps I can redeem my 6th grade self by being one of Lilly’s 3.