I was a little stir crazy the other day, so I invited myself to transplant bananas with my neighbor. It was, to be fair, the first time I have had the occasion to plant a banana. What it was not was the first time I have ever used a shovel/dug a hole. After about 6” done, my neighbor took a break from digging to express his surprise at my ability to dig a hole. I guess he thought my offer to help was an empty one.
Not much later two of his sons came down the hill on their way to the creek. The sight of me digging a hole occasioned huge smiles and a slow clap as they went by. He took the opportunity to teach me how to call them lazy in Gasy, since I was the one digging a hole as they watched; a change from the normal Vazaha/Gasy routine.
About 18” down his wife came home, and on her way by stopped to say hi. After the usual pleasantries were exchanged and we were back to digging, she was still standing there. Donnee stopped again and asked her in a sort of annoyed way why she was still there (he absolutely does not believe in free time- there is always something that can be done). Her answer? “Oh I’m just watching Elsie dig a hole.” This was a reasonable answer I guess because he didn’t comment just went back to digging while she kept watching.
Digging holes has been added to my list of shocking talents that I hear listed when new people stop by my neighbor’s and he gives an explanation of who/what I am. It’s right up there with fetching water and cooking.
We had a lot of practice growing up in the mud...there is always a hole to be dug so we can sit in it and make a fort:)
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~Rose