In Another's Words

The past month has flown by. It’s hard to imagine that November has already come and almost gone.

Scott and I closed out October with the 2nd annual reverse trick-or-treating escapade. Going house to house to pass out candy was even more fun this year than last since we know the people in our town better. When people saw us coming, they ran to get the rest of their family members. “Scott and Melissa are coming with candy!” And miraculously, 365 days after having last heard the phrase, many people remembered the words “trick-or-treat.” Well, they remembered a distorted version, at least. Nya Juninha, 70-something, said “tuck-a-tuck-a-tuck.” To which we replied, “Great! Have some candy!” Scott went dressed as Bob Marley, and I was a butterfly. Reverse trick-or-treating is a blast. I highly recommend it.

Our baby goats, Howie and Saul, are now 4 weeks old. By day, they are excellent jumpers and very playful. At night they sleep in our bathroom to give their mother’s milk a chance to replenish. (This is how Cape Verdeans do it- we’re just following orders.) We awake before 7 each day to the sounds of baa-ing and the pitter patter of little hooves on the concrete floor.

Work with the National Park team, English for Tourism group, environmental education for grade-schoolers and a day with a scouting group have kept us busy. (The Scout’s, by the way, extend their invitation to any American troops who would like to pay a visit and go camping with them. Knot tying knows no language barriers.)

Of course, the most noteworthy event of the last month was Ken and Judy’s visit to Cape Verde. Between helping with chores around the house, taking day-hikes to neighboring communities, and traveling to a couple of towns across the island, I think mom and dad managed to stay sufficiently busy. Now that Scott and I have adjusted to the language, customs, physical inconveniences, and long up-hill walks that are part of life in our town, we have a hard time thinking of much around here being abnormal. I was interested to hear from my parents what their perspectives on the country and community were.

When asked to give their impressions or to list things that they found surprising about their experience in Santo Antao, Cape Verde, here were their responses:

“The people are very sociable, hardworking, caring, and boisterous.”

“They farm in unimaginable ways.” (aka: on near vertical terrain.)

“I don’t know what I thought people wore, but I just never imagined them dressing the same way that we would in America.”

“We take for granted how good we have it in America.”

“I was struck by the sense of community – people sharing, helping each other out, spending so much time together.”

“I didn’t realize that you [Scott and Melissa] knew everyone across the entire island.” (editor’s correction: They all know us. We know many of them. Sometimes we’re forced to fake it.)

“I know you told me it would be here, but I hadn’t expected to find bottled water and good ‘ole Coca-Cola.”

“I was really impressed by the honesty of the driver who returned money to you.” (A van driver gave us incorrect change without us noticing. The next day he saw us in another town and stopped to make things right. Most people here are unbelievably kind in this way.)

“I didn’t know there were so many foods that taste like potato.” (Referring to inhame, manioc, and bread fruit)

“I hope people here don’t base their impression of white people’s hair on the way that mine has looked since I’ve been here.” (Fear not, mom, there are always the German tourists whom you can count on to look goofier than you do.)

Our neighbors were very glad to have met my mom and dad and to match their faces with the photos they’ve seen. Everyone told my parents how very young they looked- thus quickly endearing themselves to my folks. Neighbors enjoyed watching mom and dad carry water from the spring, attempt to pound corn, play a traditional board game, and stroll around town. The only complaint was that their visit was too short. “Surely a couple of months would have been more appropriate,” they say.

However brief, it was nice for Scott and I to get to share a little bit of our experience here with loved ones from home, and we were impressed and appreciative of their willingness to go with the flow- it’s not easy to feel 100% out of control.

Shots from the highlight reel:

Howie and Saul

Look! It's Bob Marley and a giant butterfly. Why do Bob's dreads smell like old socks?

Judy and Ken take Ribeira de Paul

Shelling beans at a neighbor's house. Antonio, in the white pullover, is one of our best friends.

Pitching in to water the garden