In my experience, Africans are ridiculously perceptive, and have remarkable spatial skills. Alison Barfoot told me long ago that “we drive by millimeters here,” and she wasn’t kidding. I can’t tell you the number of times a car has passed me with what seems to be literally an inch to spare. Cars, taxis, and bodas move with impunity, passing by pedestrians with inches to spare, and no one is concerned. Driving here has certainly increased my spatial skills.
I’ve been on the receiving end of a number of these perceptions over the years: “You’ve reduced!” “You’ve gained!” “You’re whiter than when you left [for the four-month long holiday]!” and my favorite, “You’re smart!” when I wear a new kitenge, or African fabric.
Today though, I had to laugh. I wore a new kitenge to chapel, a fabric that one of the students from Tanzania had brought me. Several people commented on the kitenge, but no one noticed that 1. I wore my hair down (which rarely happens; it’s too hot), and 2. I had cut four inches off my hair.
Perhaps it’s because the women can, and do, change their hair so easily with plaiting and such. Regardless, I was quite amused that no one noticed what was incredibly noticeable to me.
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