After arriving to Baba and Mama’s home, I was quickly welcomed into the family. I feel like I at home. Really I do! Washing utensils is what I do best. Right, Christian? LOL. I often see my brother Paul washing laundry, dishes, mopping or helping with cooking and I surprisingly say, “You do that?” Paul responds, “There is no one inferior or superior in this house. We all help one another out.” I help with dishes, laundry, setting the table, whatever I’m asked or not asked to do because I’m apart of the family. I love it!
On New Years Eve while I was writing in my journal, Mama came into the room, “Sandra. I have something for you to see.” Excitedly, I followed her to the kitchen. And then… I saw it. She held a skinny lifeless chicken in her hands picking its feathers. Then she said those words I’m so used to hearing in Africa, “I am preparing this for you.” She had been raising the children with anticipation of my coming and she wanted to do something special for me. I said, “Oh you shouldn’t have.” We shared a life and then I took photos of the featherless chicken. Sadly when it was served on New Years Day for lunch I didn’t even enjoy it because I was knocked out sleep and left to rest. (smile) There’s nothing like Chicken!
Eunice preparing greens Diana preparing maize.
Jo and Don playing games on my kindle. 
Cutting greens with Eunice.
Baba overseeing!
Since being here they have received 4 surprise visitors. Mama said she feel so blessed. She said that her grandmother (who raised her) always told her that if people show up when you have a guest in your home you are blessed!
I feel like I’m in the Radford home here. This has been a great family to study. While there are so many similarities between this family and mine, there are some cultural difference that I’ll write about in later blogs.
KEEP READING
