"Where is Easter?"

It is a phrase I have been asked about 50 times and it was just recently (on about the 49th) that I understood what was really being asked. I had many replies to "Where is Easter?". "It's on the weekend."; "It's everywhere."; "It's right here."; "It's wherever you want to make it.". None of these really got the right reaction....most people laughed which isn't uncommon when I talk. People just like to hear Muzungos talk. However, until someone drilled me yesterday I didn't know what it meant. I learned that they wanted to know "Where are you spending Easter?" ahhhhh that makes so much more sense.

"Where is Easter?" isn't the first thing that has been said in English that I didn't understand. Accents aside, they have a whole plethora (yeah that's right I just used the word plethora) of English phrases which I didn't understand.

"Give me a push."
As one of the girls was leaving from the office one day she asked me to "Give her a push" odd request but I obliged and gave her a light shove from behind. Ha ha ha. Turns out what she really wanted was to be escorted from the office to the road so she could catch a ride. I have since given several pushes that were much more effective (and some harder shoves that got more distance too).

"Let me flash him."
Whoa! Easy there...no need to show off the privates here. Turns out it means that you just call someone let it ring once and hang up. This way they know you want to talk to them but you don't have to pay for any airtime. If you receive a call here it doesn't cost you any money! This is also called "beeping".

"Let me hope..."
This is used a lot (and now even by me) and they say it like we would say "I hope it doesn't rain," or "Let me hope it doesn't rain." It sounds funny but I kind of like it.

"How do you make it?"
Ummm usually with sugar??? What the heck are you talking about? This question pops up all the time and at the most random moments (certainly not when you are making something). In all reality they are asking you what the time is. I've never made any of the time and if I did I certainly don't know how I made it but they sure are curious about it.

"I'll pick you."
Awwww thanks I was always picked last for sports! ha ha ha. It is actually used in the same way that we would say "I will pick you up." Same deal just minus the up and really....are picking people up? I generally leave them on the ground.

"She is so stubborn!"
They would usually say this about my favourite people which I would deny and argue with them that they were not stubborn. People would insist though and I later found out that they use the word stubborn to describe someone who likes to joke around and have fun. Naturally I am also now called stubborn.

"Let me make a short call."
The first time this happened was when a friend was over. He and I were looking at pictures on my computer when he said he needed to make a short call. He took off down the hallway and I expected to hear him chatting on the phone. What I heard was unmistakable and certainly not a phone call. He was in fact peeing (and maybe talking on the phone?). Nope he has no phone...a "Short call" is just that....you need to pee.

"Let me make a long call."
I think you are smart enough to figure this one on your own.

Anyway, to answer the question set out at the start..."Where is Easter?"

Easter was everywhere. I was invited by several families and friends to join them on Easter. I think I had over 6 invites. I had plans of attending 4. However....good old African time got in my way and while waiting for someone to join us at the first house....we were put 3.5 hours off schedule....yep I waited for 3.5 hours for someone to show up. In the end I attended 2 and a half Easters and I was very very "Nii Guta" or Satisfied.

In the end it was a really nice day and I got to spend it with some of my closest friends here in Uganda. I was unable to attend church which was disappointing but in reality sitting through 2 hours of local language you don't understand isn't SUPER meaningful anyway. Hope you are all well and that the Easter Bunny gave you enough chocolate. God Bless and keep writing....I am always encouraged to hear from home.