What happens when you step onto the streets...

If you ever visit Dzivara Sekwa/Seppolandia you will know. Since Seppo has been prominent in this area since 1992, these people are more used to White people, yet that is also the reason why, when you are at Dzivara Sekwa, you will suddenly hear all the kids on the streets shouting "Seppo, Seppo". The explanation is rather simple. For these children "Seppo" means the same thing as "a White person" or the actual Shona term "Murungu". That's why we all are little "Seppos" or "Miss Seppos" or "Seppolins", etc.

The next stunt is even more funny, as these children do know a few sentences in English, such as "How are you?", "I'm fine" and "What's your name?". That means, we have told them our names many times and now they come and greet us sometimes with "Kukka, Kukka" and then they ask "What's your name?" Of course, there must be something they can say, when they come toddling along to shake our hands or embrace us. It is also rather adorable, how we are a sightseeing and every child runs as fast as they can to greet us before we might disappear into thin air, even though they see us approximately eight times a day.

In addition, the adults are very friendly and you often here "Hello", "How are you?" and now that they know that we are trying to learn Shona "Mamuka sei?/Maswera sei?" Usually very embarrassing for me, as they laugh, even if the rare situation happens and I got it right.

The streets themselves are also very different to what we are used, even though I have to admit, that I don't really see the difference anymore: They are covered in red dust and everywhere you can find broken litter on the ground. The houses are definitely smaller and I can't remember seeing anything but one-story houses around here. In front of the houses there are sometimes shared patches of land, where vegetables are grown and in front of that little huts or booths to sell these vegetables, sweets or air-time(= Cards to load up prepaid sim-cards). 

Finally, there is one really big difference to our living style, which will actually be one of the things I will probably miss most in Germany: As the houses obviously don't offer a lot of space, everybody is outside, talking too each other, sharing their lives and being part of the community life.