having 2347895 facebook friends is nothing special to Africans

I just want to say a word of thanks for African Connections.

Africans seem to know everyone. Walking along with an African friend, you will notice at times it is hard to keep a fluent conversation because the African your with knows almost every passer by and must say a word of greetings. Over my time being in Africa, you realize that these ‘friends’ are more acquaintances. After my first encounter with people, before they even know my name, they would like my phone number. I have become selective of who I give or take numbers from. People simply like to call and say a “Good morning” or ask a simple “How are you?” then hang up without a warning or goodbye. They do this several times a week and even multiple times during the day. I am thinking it is a way to sustain this ‘relationship’.

Although I have been cautious about taking ones number, I have become ever so thankful for one that I did take. My friend in Machanga had her mother and mother-in-law visit from Maputo (the capital city of Mozambique). 4:00 am I crossed the South Africa – Mozambican boarder, and wondered what I was going to do in the big city I had not know or been to before. I sent a message to these two woman I had numbers for and whom I had only met once. Within minutes I got a response from Katissa, my friends’ mother-in-law, saying she was going to meet me at the bus stop. Sure enough, when I got off the bus I had a friendly Mozambican woman waiting for me. I was the only white one and was not hard to spot out. She took me to her house and since it was still early in the morning she fed me breakfast and called her friends and my friends' mother over to visit as well. I had to get back to Machanga and before she took me to the bus stop she fried me up some ‘bolachas’ (like Tim-bit donuts) and chicken for the road. I could not have asked for a better person to be acquainted with. Throughout the incredibly long (and I mean like 22 hours long) ride, she messaged me and made sure I was doing okay. (To be honest, by the end of that ride I thought I was going to die). When I got to the end of the ride it was midnight and I still had to take a boat over the river to Machanga, but they were not running at this hour. So I called up another friend I had in that district of Mambone. She woke up and came into the villa and picked me up, and I was given space on her floor with her little nephew on a bamboo matt to sleep. Without the help of these people I wonder where I would be.

I still am cautious of who I take numbers from, but thinking strategically, connections can save a life! (And I am sure this is what many people are thinking when they are asking me, a white girl, for my number, even before they know my name).