HAVING TEA

I mentioned in ‘Vacation Pictures’ about a story I’d tell someday. This happened while Linda & I were vacationing for 2 weeks in Niamey. We were going to go shopping for cushion material, but first we had to stop at the small shop around the corner to finish buying for the co-op, take the receipts to the office for verification, and then drop off the purchases at the Guest House. While at both the office and at the Guest House we got distracted visiting this person and that person as different ones came in. It was nearly 11:30 when we finally left the guest house and decided to return to the house where we were staying. Then we thought maybe we should try to find Mariama and her sister Ruth, who might be living close to the GH. So we went to check out one area, which is a plot without a house, with squatters or maybe guards of the plot. We walked in and greeted the ladies invited us to sit down. The lady of the hut brought a heavy fluffy blanket for us to sit on and some water to drink. We finally mentioned that we were looking for M & R. Would they happen to know them and where they live? Why of course they did. One of the ladies is the sister of M & R’s uncle’s wife who works for us as a night guard at Galmi. Small world. But first they invited us to have some tea and then they’d take us. So we agreed. The lady left and came back with two French loaves (baguettes) and when she started to make the tea we knew we were in for a long stay before we’d be able to depart. In some ways, looking back, I think somehow we should have really tried to excuse ourselves, but we didn’t. Two rounds of sweet and bitter green tea and 1 ½ hours later (1 p.m.) we all left to go to M & R’s in the truck. It wasn’t too far away, just down around 2 corners.

Mariama and Ruth were so surprised and pleased to see us. I was really excited to see them too, because I didn’t know how we were going to find them. I had been praying that God would bring us together. And He did! They welcomed us into their hut, again sitting on a fluffy heavy blanket, we began another long visit. They other ladies went next door and visited someone then left. Mariama made some lunch –rice and beans with onions and spice. We talked and talked with Ruth; got her caught up on the Galmi news.

We met Mariama’s husband who’s been a musician for the last 3 years. There’s a group of 7 Fulani and 3 Tamajeq singers and players of instruments. They have made a tour in Europe last year and cut a CD with 10 pieces. It’s really a good production. We got to see pictures of them in their traditional dress for singers. He also embroiders, as do M & R, the typical Fulani style. After the lunch of rice and beans, they began making tea. Nibbling on peanuts we began the tea ‘ceremony’. It lasted another 1½ to 2 hours. We had the complete 3 rounds.

I have known Mariama & Ruth for 20 years, since Ruth was born. Their father was our compound guard for those 20 years. He’s now back in Tchinta with his family. His children would often come over to my place on Saturday morning. I’d try to help them with reading and writing skills. Ruth has done well and is completing the 10th grade. That’s quite commendable.