The Things You See

My colleague recently posted some pictures and a story of something she has seen in her village - at times the things we see here make us stop and take a second look!

In the words of Lisa: "To be safe in Niger, you need to have a sturdy locked gate, preferably nicely painted, with spikes on top to prevent someone from climbing over ... so that no one can get into your yard!"

Now this sounds completely reasonable ... I mean - we lock our doors in Canada right??  Good theft prevention!

And yet ... oh, the irony!!

The comments from all of her friends gave me great laughter .... until I read one from a mutual friend.  She asked if it was the magical gate to Narnia. 

That made me stop and think ... for in my village area is a gate that I have seen for the last 9 years - I've often thought that I should stop and take its picture.  But now, the time was opportune.  For I think, truly, the magical gate to Narnia is in my village!!

So yesterday, on my way home, I stopped to take its picture.  Unfortunately, it has been a while since I've seen it and it was not quite where I thought it would be ... adding to its mystical quality!!

A Fulani friend was in the truck and she asked me what I was trying to find.  Thus began what became a funny conversation of riddles:

Me: I am trying to find the things that hold a gate but there is no gate.

Biiba:  A gate?

Me: Yes, but no gate.  

Biiba: Oh ... a house!!

Me:  No, not a house.  There is not even a fence.

Her Son:  Oh ... a garden.  You are looking for a garden.

Me:  Not a garden.

Biiba:  A tree??!?

Me: No, not a tree.

I am by this point thinking about how different people and different cultures see different things.  To me, these gate posts in the middle of a field with no gate, no wall, no house - this is peculiar and funny.  Something to remark.  For her - this is slightly common place.  It is in her backyard so to speak ... and often, people start to build as a way to invest their money, but take years to complete the project.

My friends though are anxious to help me find what I am looking for - desperate to understand.

In a last ditch effort to explain, I try again - this time with my hands in the air, looking like football posts in a "touchdown" exclamation!!  

Me: It is cement in the ground that holds a gate, but there is no gate attached.

Finally - her son excitedly starts to understand. He explains to his mom and she knows exactly what I am talking about!!  Yes, she says - you were on the right road ... it is just further forward.  

Turns out that since I last drove past the "Narnia Gate" ... what should have been the first right after her hut was now the second; for a new road has been made by donkey carts and I turned down the wrong one!