“Entay eu zbl zelo ata ezi” said, loudly, in an interjectional tone the twig he was using to brush his teeth with, nearly to fall. It was around seven in the morning as I could see from the digital clock blinking at the minibuses dashboard. Most of Khartoum’s residents were thrown into their beds covered with thick blankets to keep themselves warm from the cold dry wind that terrifyingly blows in February. Like a norm in many societies, no matter how adverse the weather is, there are some devoted people namely the working class who mind their business so much.
January and February are economically beneficial to every Sudanese household, save some electric bill, and endow a tranquil sleep as the hissing sound the ventilation equipments make subsides, but also gives away their stinky scent. Man, woman, boy, girl irrespective of age, social status all alike spray fragrant perfumes, “bit alsudan”, “itr albekhur” to mention but few before slamming their doors behind them for the day earn, or date, cool isn’t it?. However, this habit seem to be cared less for during these two months as only few get up early and make it to the bathing room. They are economic that their “mukeyfs” and “merwehas”, ventilation machines, are at rest throughout these months. Only stay there for the spiders to weave their nets at, and start a good harvest: fair for them insects.
The words were not unfamiliar to me. I was sure that was the language I have a good command at, no wonder it drew my attention the very moment it was uttered. Curiously, even though i had covered my head and ear altogether with a black cotton hat to prevent myself from the whirling cold wind that kept dartilly jumping through the broken window glass at my side, managed to give a closely examining ear to the conversation which was being thrown between a Sudanese and an Eritrean in different languages. Before I heard the full sentence, ” ata entay eu zbl zelo ezi”, I also had heard the Sudanese guy audibly murmuring “yakhi del hamir del wellahi, Allah yenalom” which literally means, these people are donkeys, I swear to Allah, may Allah damn them. I knew it was not directly to me but being Eritrean was enough to not spare me the damnation, I was included in the set. It hurts so much. Few minutes later I felt I had to intervene either to reconcile or interpret.
In short, cultural shock in its simplified form can be construed as the difference in culture that might lead to disagreements or disorientations after changing a familiar cultural setting for some reason. Using a twig to brush teeth, to many if not all, is a common way of taking care of our oral sanitation in Eritrea. Many could have observed that for many Eritreans, or at least for those who use a stick there is no a specific time to brush your teeth at. Any free time, and feeling like brushing is the best time, all you need is slip your hands into your pocket and get your Eveready(did you remember the cat jumping through number nine) tool. Take care you might harm your gum. I am also now imagining how nauseating it could be to kiss your sweetheart after using your Eveready, ugh!!.
The Sudanese people seem to have adopted the use of toothbrush since long time ago. It is almost unexpected, very unusual to see a Sudanese guy brushing his teeth in a bus with a twig. In Fact, it is taken for unbecoming. But I must also admit that some, not many, put the “muswak”, a stick for brushing, in their mouths during the month of “rommaddan”( a month of fasting in the Islamic calendar: hijrya) to divert the attention of the belly calling to be attended, and probably signalling to the brain that they are chewing something to respond to the biology. Some people have modelled this in their Saharan desert journey. It is a trick. It really works.
I, having understood and lived both of the cultures felt that I was the only person to settle the conflict which was about to be fully blown had I not approached in due time. Like most of the fights one witnesses in Khartoum, or like is the norm “maelesh maelesh” I am sorry, it is okay used interchangeably, are the ending buttons even for the worst fight you can think of. After adequately briefing them as to why their conflict arose I was delighted that that norm also worked that day.
I think both were right. Everybody was acting in how his culture brought him up. One unaware of the other. More or less the Sudanese being a host, and that act of not only brushing your teeth in the middle of a bus but also using the stick is disgusting as is bad, couldn’t be accused of intolerance like my fellow could be accused of failing to assimilate. That incident must have been his high time to unlearn his habit. Glad that I am not a dentist because this thing could have given me many days of sleepless nights researching on it. But at that very moment I was hellbent to defend my fellow eritrean even though I felt and knew what he did was not appropriate, and aversive to a Sudanese passenger or a passerby. Because I felt he was only using the incident to warm himself from that unmerciful February’s cold weather. Don’t get me wrong some people are mean to that extent. Before I put a full stop, in case you ask, I am on the Sudanese version when it comes to brushing teeth.
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