In the Peace Corps Volunteers’ latest newsletter ‘‘Nobas di Korpa di Pas’’ there was an article about the things another volunteer has to come to terms with before he leaves. I thought it was a really nice entry so I wanted to share some of it with you and then add on some on my own favorite things about Cape Verde.
‘‘1. I am never going to learn how to sing the Happy Birthday song in Portuguese.
Every time I go to a birthday party I think: I need to know this song. It’s great, so much faster and upbeat than that droll American version!
2. If you go to a club in America, there is no set dance routine.
By no means was I crazy about either zouk or funaná when I first showed up at site, but they have slowly grown on me. We pretty much only dance to zouk up here in the north. Only once or twice have I heard funaná when I’ve been out. So I still can’t dance funaná to save my life, but I can hold my own with zouk. And in all honesty, it’s nice to go to a dance and know what to expect. Compared to Cape Verde, the U.S. is not much of a dancing culture. And maybe it’s because we don’t have any real set dances. I’m not suggesting that we bring zouk back to the U.S., I’m just saying that the next time I go to a club or a concert, that big mass of people moving and grooving individually or with a partner will appear a little bit less graceful than it did before I came to Cape Verde.
3. In America, you can’t just buy half the bag of French fries.
This is one of the strangest, best things about this country. I love the fact that I can walk into my local loja and say “I need some sausage. But I only need half of what comes in the package.” And without hesitation, they will rip open the plastic and give me half. You can even do it with wine. Only want enough to marinade a chicken? No problem. They’ll pop it open and sell you less than an eighth of what comes in the bottle. And the best part is that it doesn’t even get more expensive. If you buy half, you pay half. If you buy a quarter, you pay a quarter. I’m telling you: take advantage of this. It is ludicrous.''
‘‘1. I am never going to learn how to sing the Happy Birthday song in Portuguese.
Every time I go to a birthday party I think: I need to know this song. It’s great, so much faster and upbeat than that droll American version!
2. If you go to a club in America, there is no set dance routine.
By no means was I crazy about either zouk or funaná when I first showed up at site, but they have slowly grown on me. We pretty much only dance to zouk up here in the north. Only once or twice have I heard funaná when I’ve been out. So I still can’t dance funaná to save my life, but I can hold my own with zouk. And in all honesty, it’s nice to go to a dance and know what to expect. Compared to Cape Verde, the U.S. is not much of a dancing culture. And maybe it’s because we don’t have any real set dances. I’m not suggesting that we bring zouk back to the U.S., I’m just saying that the next time I go to a club or a concert, that big mass of people moving and grooving individually or with a partner will appear a little bit less graceful than it did before I came to Cape Verde.
3. In America, you can’t just buy half the bag of French fries.
This is one of the strangest, best things about this country. I love the fact that I can walk into my local loja and say “I need some sausage. But I only need half of what comes in the package.” And without hesitation, they will rip open the plastic and give me half. You can even do it with wine. Only want enough to marinade a chicken? No problem. They’ll pop it open and sell you less than an eighth of what comes in the bottle. And the best part is that it doesn’t even get more expensive. If you buy half, you pay half. If you buy a quarter, you pay a quarter. I’m telling you: take advantage of this. It is ludicrous.''
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