I am not very courteous on South Sudanese terms. I’m learning, very very slowly. The usual greeting starts with an outstretched hand, often silently (which is my problem), as they will just wait for me to turn around and notice and return the obligatory moderately-strong hand squeeze/shake. Very nice, very polite, but sometimes I can be a bit thick. . . . so I now have a new culture to be awkward in.
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| Sr. Celestina and I failing to fully embrace this giant mango tree. Regardless, we are fine. |
Then the conversation usually begins with something like “hello, how are you?” And I’ve learned the answer, is undoubtedly “fine.” Not good, not bad, just fine. I’m pretty convinced that whether it’s the best or worst day of someone’s life, they are still fine. Sometimes I just say hello, and someone will respond, “I am fine,” giving the obligatory answer to the unspoken question. Or I will respond as I do in the states, “I’m good, you?” and have gotten in reply, “I am fine, also.” It is the default, the expectation, and I am slowly falling into line. It’s fine without the passive-aggressive undertone it sometimes takes on in English. It’s not just saying you’re fine or good because you don’t feel like saying any more to the person in question for whatever reason. It is just a culturally-appropriate communication.
It’s the same in Arabic and English. A common greeting is, “Kayf, tamaam?” or “How are you, fine?” So everyone in South Sudan is also tamaam. I am not sure about the Bari or other tribal equivalents.
I have been in South Sudan for nearly six weeks and I am fine. I hope you are all fine also.
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