I've been so sleepy this week- residual jetlag, new culture, waking up at 6 am every morning. So this morning I yawned during an orientation session- I 'd been stifling them all morning, and this one I just couldn't keep in. We (myself and the three other apprentices) were being introduced to the HR department at MOHI. The HR woman, Esther, upon seeing my stifled yawn, immediately stopped her presentation and said, "Oh, we haven't even asked if you will take chai! We must get chai!" The session was postponed as a woman was sent to get chai for us. She came back with chai and samosas (small triangular pastries filled with meat- so good!).
All week, in fact, whenever I've happened to yawn, the immediate question posed is always, "Are you hungry?" or "Oh, have you taken lunch?". I've of course responded with, "No, no, I'm just tired." And this has been followed by confused looks all around.
So I've been slowly realizing that there must be some connection between yawning and hunger here. Today I asked Esther, while chai was being fetched for us. It turns out that in Kenya, when you yawn, it is immediately assumed that you're hungry! Why?, I wanted to know. Esther had no idea. It was a funny few minutes as we talked about the cultural assumptions behind yawning.
It brought questions to mind- like, do people actually yawn for different reasons in different cultures, or do the cultural assumptions just vary? And if something as simple as yawning can be interpreted so differently, what else might be? I'm overwhelmed by the reminder that everything I do is sending signals to the people around me, and more often than not is probably being interpreted much differently than I mean it to be. This isn't exactly news (this happens every day even within my own culture), but the knowledge has definitely intensified in this last week.
But today a man named Henry in MOHI's Accounting Dept (we toured it this afternoon), asked me if I had ever been to Kenya before, because he felt that I was Kenyan. I can't imagine a more wonderful compliment. After that, all the questions and insecurities I'd had from the yawning incident just melted away. I am learning more every day how gracious, forgiving and hospitable the people are with whom I've come to live and work.
I hate yawning in front of people! No matter the case, I always feel rude. Thanks for blogging! I'm excited to read more about your journey! And excited for you in general :)
ReplyDeleteIt's so cool to learn about these cultural idiosyncrasies. Yawns are so strange! [At least you know you can get Chai whenever you want, haha. Just kidding]. I'm loving the posts. The one about traffic in Nairobi reminded me of when I first met you and was terrified of your driving. You be careful now, ya hear?
ReplyDeletehaha, yes i thought of that too when i started driving here!
ReplyDeleteand how's this for cultural craziness- i'm watching an asian soap opera right now, dubbed into english, with some kenyans. so strange.
samosas once brought me out of a deep, dark depression. cheers! :-)
ReplyDeleteThrough recent thorough consideration of yawning, I have learned that often times when I yawn, I am not sleepy. I am hungry, which also causes a lack of energy. As I was reading your post, the thought formed that in this country, sleep deprivation is prevalent, and food is plentiful. In Kenya, food is more likely to be scarce, while sleep deprivation is less common. I think the cultural meaning of a yawn is probably linked to this difference.
ReplyDeletekatie- i believe it! they are magical.
ReplyDeleteand corbin- you've inspired me to do a little research myself...although, i just yawned (literally just now!) and i am definitely not hungry. i am definitely sleepy. hmmm.