Some of you have heard me use the expression “T.I.A” before. I’ve written it in blogs. I say it. My husband and a small group of our friends say it. T.I.A. — This is Africa. It’s our way of shrugging off the myriad of things that seem to happen here in Africa and almost nowhere else in the world!
Last week Niel and I had the chance to see a movie in Johannesburg. We watched Blood Diamond, which, although quite intense, was an excellent movie. Based in Africa, the movie was full of African expressions: Lekker. Eish. Ag! Howzit, China? We smiled as we heard these, knowing that the majority of the audience watching this film around the world won’t understand or appreciate them.
But when we heard, “T.I.A. — This is Africa!”, Niel and I both looked at each other with a funny expression on our face: “We say that!!”
Apparently, we’re not the only ones…
So was this the retry at a quiet evening at home after the wind blew the roof off?
I just watched that movie Wednesday night. I thought about you as I watched. Thought it was very interesting the way that Leo. D.’s character changed his accent when he was talking with the underlings in the resistance army. You are right - very intense movie.
We have an expression that we use here, “Just another day in Bolivia.”
As a missionary in South Africa are you bilingual? Or does English suffice?
Chow
By: @ngie on February 10, 2007
at 9:14 pm
Mmm, those true South African words. But hey, isn’t “lekker” such a LEKKER word to use?!? ;)
By: Melissa on February 10, 2007
at 10:58 pm
Mel - Yes! Lekker is a great word. I use it a lot!!
Ang - No, not an evening at home. Blood Diamond is still in the theaters here (is it on DVD already?!). We were up in Johannesburg dropping one of our staff members off at the airport, so we spent an extra night and watched a movie as well. The way Leo changed his accent: the funny thing is that I do that! When I find I’m not being understood by an African, I turn on what we’ve grown to affectionately call my “African Voice”. I speak as similar to they do as I can - I feel/sound strange, but suddenly I can be understood!!
I’m not totally bilingual. I’m pretty good with Afrikaans, which is my husband’s first language and the main language spoken by the white people in our area. My Sesotho isn’t very good at all (need to work more on it). That’s the language spoken by the tribe we work with. We have Basotho on staff who serve as translators at all ministry events, etc.
By: Alece on February 11, 2007
at 1:34 pm
Funny- TIA made it to the big screen! I’ve been wanting to see this movie… but haven’t quite yet. It sounds good!
By: Amy on February 11, 2007
at 3:44 pm