I am continually astonished at the proportion of cultural knowledge we LACK compared to the amount we KNOW, even after more than 6 years in a village. It sure makes me compassionate on those who move to American cities as adults, and have a hard time learning the language, let alone the culture. I think the language is easy compared to the culture! For example, I happened to ask Linda if there is ever a time when women blow conch shells. She said, "Oh, yeah, when they burn nases leaves." I said, "When is that." She said, "You know, when they burn the monapitang leaves that are bad." "When's that?" "Like, when there's a hot thing, and then a cold thing, and then the circumcision ritual is finished." "Huh?" "Well, they burn nases leaves, and whip the moms of the circumcised boys, and blow conch shells, and stamp out the fire. Then the circumcision ritual is done."
It's like, if I didn't know any of that, how much else do I not know?
Picture is of Linda Naug digging a taro hole with a "tap" digging stick.
