I have spent a great deal of time with friends talking about men, why are they this way or that, why are good ones so hard to find, why are American men so spoiled, self absorbed, etc. Here are another couple reasons that we American women should thank the Lord everyday for our husbands/boyfriends/prospects even if they don’t take you out on a real date and call the very next day.
Reason Number One:
The other day I was cooking and Rhoda (house nanny) noticed a couple red marks on my arm, “Emily! What is that, are you ok!” Oh that, well you see the children here have pretty severe cases of ring worm on their heads. I have contracted it and yes, I have had fungus growing on my arm. But since I have built up somewhat of an immunity, I often have large red marks where the blood is rushing in to ‘attack’ the recent contact with ring worm. At least I think that is what is happening. A few days later we were discussing with Rhoda the reasons why Americans no longer really spank or hit their children. She was completely shocked by the idea that someone would actually consider taking your children away simply b/c you hit them. And then she said, “what about the wife?” I couldn’t figure out what she meant. The wife and husband are the same, it is not good for either to be caught hitting their children.
Rhoda, “No, I mean what if the wife is misbehaving; it is ok for the man to hit her- right?”
Me: “NO!”
Rhoda: “Are you sure. The other day when I saw the red welts on your arm I was certain that Ned had hit you.”
Me: “NO! NEVER!” We told her that instead, we talk about our differences and then hug…like this.
Rhoda: She thought this was pretty funny. “America-this is a good country.”
Reason Number Two:
Rhoda, Baraka (the watchman who is never watching the gate but always sitting on our porch trying to chat), and I were sitting on the porch- chatting. They wanted to know if Ned had taken a girlfriend since we have been here…um no. Baraka said he likes the color of white skin, he wants to get him one of those, do I have any advice for him? If he went to America could I help him find one? Um no. Baraka, it does not really work that way. Besides, what would your wife and three children think of a white woman moving into your one room place? He didn’t understand the question. I tried as hard as I could to explain that this is not acceptable behavior in The States, at least not publicly. That it is even illegal to take more than one wife at a time. They kept pushing and wanted to know ‘what if’. I said that if Ned found himself a girlfriend the first thing I would do is go in our room and take all of his money, credit cards, etc. Second, I would call a cab and be at the airport in 30 minutes. The idea of ME taking HIS money was just too much, they laughed for 10 minutes. I think they want it to happen just so they can sit on the porch and be the ones to actually witness my leaving. Again, Rhoda thought this was really funny, “America, this is a good country.”
“Hey Rhoda”
“Ya?”
“In America there is a public school system and you don’t have to pay tuition for primary/secondary school if you don’t want to.”
“What!!!!! America- I think this is a good country.
Her monthly salary is $90. She has three children, each need $150 every time they have to pay school fees. The boys are in boarding school, but the 12 year old daughter attends day school. Since Rhoda lives here with us, the girl is at home alone, about an hour away. But it is ok, because it is an apartment sort of place and the neighbors are really close…. She says, “This is not good, but this life.”
Reason Number One:
The other day I was cooking and Rhoda (house nanny) noticed a couple red marks on my arm, “Emily! What is that, are you ok!” Oh that, well you see the children here have pretty severe cases of ring worm on their heads. I have contracted it and yes, I have had fungus growing on my arm. But since I have built up somewhat of an immunity, I often have large red marks where the blood is rushing in to ‘attack’ the recent contact with ring worm. At least I think that is what is happening. A few days later we were discussing with Rhoda the reasons why Americans no longer really spank or hit their children. She was completely shocked by the idea that someone would actually consider taking your children away simply b/c you hit them. And then she said, “what about the wife?” I couldn’t figure out what she meant. The wife and husband are the same, it is not good for either to be caught hitting their children.
Rhoda, “No, I mean what if the wife is misbehaving; it is ok for the man to hit her- right?”
Me: “NO!”
Rhoda: “Are you sure. The other day when I saw the red welts on your arm I was certain that Ned had hit you.”
Me: “NO! NEVER!” We told her that instead, we talk about our differences and then hug…like this.
Rhoda: She thought this was pretty funny. “America-this is a good country.”
Reason Number Two:
Rhoda, Baraka (the watchman who is never watching the gate but always sitting on our porch trying to chat), and I were sitting on the porch- chatting. They wanted to know if Ned had taken a girlfriend since we have been here…um no. Baraka said he likes the color of white skin, he wants to get him one of those, do I have any advice for him? If he went to America could I help him find one? Um no. Baraka, it does not really work that way. Besides, what would your wife and three children think of a white woman moving into your one room place? He didn’t understand the question. I tried as hard as I could to explain that this is not acceptable behavior in The States, at least not publicly. That it is even illegal to take more than one wife at a time. They kept pushing and wanted to know ‘what if’. I said that if Ned found himself a girlfriend the first thing I would do is go in our room and take all of his money, credit cards, etc. Second, I would call a cab and be at the airport in 30 minutes. The idea of ME taking HIS money was just too much, they laughed for 10 minutes. I think they want it to happen just so they can sit on the porch and be the ones to actually witness my leaving. Again, Rhoda thought this was really funny, “America, this is a good country.”
“Hey Rhoda”
“Ya?”
“In America there is a public school system and you don’t have to pay tuition for primary/secondary school if you don’t want to.”
“What!!!!! America- I think this is a good country.
Her monthly salary is $90. She has three children, each need $150 every time they have to pay school fees. The boys are in boarding school, but the 12 year old daughter attends day school. Since Rhoda lives here with us, the girl is at home alone, about an hour away. But it is ok, because it is an apartment sort of place and the neighbors are really close…. She says, “This is not good, but this life.”
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