Kukumbe

Last night, I had a very long conversation with my host mother about the differences between Namibian weddings and American weddings.  The big differences- the couple starts at the front of the church, instead of the bride making a big entrance, there are usually 15-20 bridesmaids, people cheer, and (this part I’m not quite sure of) your namesake, who is traditionally on your father’s side, gives you a cow when you get married.  I’m not sure how or whether this translates into town-life, but my host family does not own any cows.  Unless their relatives in the village keep them?  This morning Patrina said when I get married, I must invite them. 

Anyway, we had spaghetti for dinner! My host mother put ketchup, what they call tomato sauce, on the table, but I ate it with traditional beef and green pepper sauce.  Together with potatoes and carrots, we could have been in the U.S.  Except, as we were having dinner, Patrina was telling me about different family members’ food preferences; Tourchy loves spaghetti, but Samuel doesn’t like it, or rice, or something else.  All Samuel likes is porridge, meat, cabbage, and kukumbe.  I said I have never heard of kukumbe, and she described it for me.  Innocent said that it was like an apple, except you cook it sometimes, but you can eat it raw.  Patrina said it wasn’t like an apple, it was hard and long like a carrot, but it was green.  I said I would have to try it some time, and I asked how to spell like- with a c or a k? They said c- C U, and I said like cucumber?  Patrina said What?

And then I realized- In Namibian English, the word cucumber would sound to me like kukumbe.  Patrina realized at the same time, and we all had a great laugh. 

I’m listening to my music as I write this- for the first time since the plane.  I’m in a great mood.  Dare I say this might be a turning point?