If you have ever made it to Africa then you probably know very well if you are a Mzungu or not, but some of you may be wondering “hey what is a Mzungu, and how do I know if I am one?” Well, according to Wikipedia: the etymology of the word stems from a contraction of words that mean “one who wanders aimlesly” and was coined to describe European explorers, missionaries, and slave traders who traveled through East African countries in the 18th century. But that is all boring stuff.
The easiest way to tell if you are a Mzungu woud be to look down and see if you have white skin, but the funnest way would be to read this blog. I have been called many things this year, Jesus (Yesu), Moses, Osama Bin Laden, Ugly/Scarey but I think the one that takes the cake is Mzungu. It’s a rite of passage for any foreigner, and a constant reminder that you just don’t fit in. Here are a few things that reminded me of this simple fact.
You might be a Mzungu if your backpack is full of toliet paper and hand sanitizer. (Yes, to your right is a bathroom)
You might be a Mzungu if you look around and question why they forgot to give everyone utensils at a restaurant.
You might be a Mzungu if you wonder why no one is tackling during their football games.You might be a Mzungu if it makes you uncomfortable to hold hands with another old man as you stroll down the road (interdigitation!!!)
You might be a Mzungu if you walk into a coffee house or Internet Cafe and feel like you just arrived at your family reunion. (Stay outside these doors and your guaranteed to see the entire white population of any given city in 3-5 days).
You might be a Mzungu if you wear deodorant. (Ok I know that was a short one, but there is no word picture I could give you to help you understand the severity of this situation)
You might be a Mzungu if you think that pants are the most important part when it comes to a wardrobe.
You might be a Mzungu if it surprises you when a woman begins to breastfeed her child while having a conversation with you. (No picture was added for obvious reasons)
You might be a Mzungu if you think that clapping is considered lively worship. (Church services in Africa would be considered dance parties in America…you are not given a choice!)
You might be a Mzungu if you are always wearing ankle length skirts or zip off pants. (On second thought, that’s just international missionary apparel, they should make a catalog)
You might be a Mzungu if you are surprised that someone wants you to hold their chicken while they get off/on the bus. (This has also been one of the most popular gifts to receive in Africa. I think they just like to laugh at the girls when they scream though.)
You might be a Mzungu if little children mistake you as some plaything that they have only seen on television or in the movies. (I know beards aren’t that popular but you would think they could understand the idea that it’s not suppose to come off!)
Well I couldn’t think of a better way to end my Africa blog series than this, but I want to leave you with one final bonus video. I believe this will revolutionize parenting and possibly put the stroller manufactures out of business. Check it out! And stay tuned for India!!!
