Names

One last thing before I go...I thought I'd fill you in on how names work here.

My name is very funny to most people here, because your last name is supposed to be the first name of your father. They can't understand why Grace is my father's name and there are always laughs when I introduce myself. The concept of a surname/family name doesn't exist here, so it's difficult to explain.

If you're a mother, you are called Mama ____(whatever the first name of your first born is). So for example my mom's name would be Mama Ben. That's all everyone would have called her for the rest of her life after I was born. Fathers can be similar only using "Baba" instead of Mama.

Also, you can always just call someone kaka(brother), dada(sister), mama, baba, bibi(grandma), mzee(old man)--even if they are strangers.

For my name, Grace is funny but my first name is hard for them too. I'm not sure why, but many people don't understand Ben, so I oftentimes just say Benjamin. However, now many people just call be "Benja" haha. Oh well, as long as I know they're talking to me!