Isando! Isando!

from Elliott
We needed to repair the fence surrounding the water tap so Thamsanqa Madikizela, our caretaker, and I gathered the tools and materials necessary for the job. While the work would not be particularly difficult, Thamsanqa speaks very little English and I know 'kancinci Xhosa' - a small amount of Xhosa. The communication barrier can be frustrating but we started the project.

He is typically very serious and rarely smiles at us. It wasn't until that we learned his first name - everyone else calls him by his surname. When Katherine asked his name, he said it straight faced. The 'q' requires a distinctive click sound. She tried to say it to him and got close enough that he grinned from ear to ear.

Thamsanqa began the project showing me how it was done. At one point early one he said in a very determined voice, "Isando. Isando" I had know idea what he was saying so he started pointing at the pile of tools. I started pointing from one to the other waiting to get an affirmative nod. Finally, I got it. "Hammer, Hammer." I repeated the words in Xhosa just to let him know I was trying to learn. He smiled.

Then the next miracle happened - he handed me the hammer while he held the nail. TRUST! This is a major breakthrough! The day went well with me picking up new words along the way.

A couple of days later he was working on a project and needed a tool. He came to me and said, "Hammer" I responded with a shrug, I don't have a "hammer", but I do have an "isando". He laughed!

We are making progress...one Xhosa word at a time! It does confirm for me though people feel valued when we call them by name and learn even a small amount of their heart language.