Language

Language acquisition has been a major learning objective for me thus far in my time in Mozambique. The first several months I dedicated to brushing up and “Mozambicifying” the undeniably Brazilian Portuguese I started off with 5 months ago. While I continue to daily refine Portuguese, which is the language we use in our office and project, I am now dedicating more time to Chichewa, the local dialect that is used in many of the villages and communities where we work. Speaking with people in the language with which they are most comfortable is not only a gesture of respect, but also enables me and others to communicate more effectively and thus facilitate the development work and projects in which we participate. Learning a language is certainly a process that requires a fair amount of patience and humility, and I have experienced plenty of help and grace from colleagues and strangers alike.