from Shelby's e-mail:
First let me explain that my family is full of B names. There’s Babu (my dad) Bobby (me) Bibi (Vinny) Baby (Shazzar) and Bambo (Jambo). Mama and Jo-she are here too, but don’t get a B name. And we call him Buka so he’s even a B.
Sometimes he calls me Babida which sounds just like Barbie Doll…it’s so funny!
Lulu (Brook – the one that actually does start with B doesn’t in his language.)
Kobe (Aunt Barb – Stivini used to call her Mama Kobe instead of Mama Yakobo so now Luka calls her Kobe which means turtle – maybe you knew that.)
Babepi (That has two meanings, either Jafeti the guy who works for us, or chapati)
Dani, Mama Ailin, Jeni, and Eliah all have their real names – but Mama Hekima and Mama Ailin are called Mama Ailin.
Gari (car)
Pi-piki (motercycle)
Dee-ay (help or let me help he means to say saidie)
Dow plees (down please)
Ap plees (up please)
No plees (no please)
Tari (finished he means tayari)
Chai (he will just chant that over and over when you give him some chai)
Kate (mkate)
Wawa (water)
Bye!
Lolo (pillow)
Lia (when shaz cries)
Lala (when anyone lays down)
Tende (twende when he wants to go anywhere)
Tatu or two (if he wants to jump off something or have you swing him when your walking)
Mema (for usiku mwema when our workers go home or we are leaving somewhere)
He says ona all the time.
And my personal favorite is Pombe (he means tuombe/let’s pray)
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Luka is staying with Paul and Katrina for a while! Here is where you can find news, stories, and photos of the little guy.
Hi, I'm Luka!
About Luka (updated regularly)
- after being scolded, points a finger at the scolder and says "NO!"
- "conducts" by waving two arms rhythmically when music is playing
- LOVES the movie theater
- says "tickle tickle tickle" while flexing fingers
- knows how to unbutton shirts
- would always rather be outside
- likes to sing "lay-la-lay-laaa" over and over
- covers his mouth with his hands when something cracks him up
- smacks himself on the forehead when something REALLY cracks him up
- tried chopsticks for the first time
- relaxes by sticking two fingers of his left hand in his mouth, while playing with one of his ears with his right hand
- has a newly bald head
- only poops a couple of times a day now
- is diagnosed as anemic, and is now taking iron supplements daily (which turns his poop a lovely shade of olive green)
- holds the phone (or anything phone-like) to the back of his ear and says, "'llllow?"
- is now a little afraid of dogs, since one nipped at him
- LOVES baths
- likes to pretend to feed people
- makes the Scooby-Doo sound, which I can't spell
- falls asleep (or at least lies down and stays quiet) on command
- crawls like a maniac
- likes to poke sleeping people in the eye
- will walk himself around a table for a bite of banana bread
- when prompted with "busu" (kiss), will lean forward with his mouth wide open to receive the kiss, laughing hysterically
- when someone tells him to say "Shikamoo" (a sign of respect to older people), he places his hand over the person's head (appropriate) and responds "Marahaba" (which is NOT appropriate, since it is the older person who should be saying "Marahaba.")
Why "Ruka Luka?"
Tanzanians often use the "l" and "r" sounds interchangeably, so lots of people here call Luka "Ruka."
Ruka is also Swahili for "jump." One of the reasons we have Luka with us is to give him the special attention he needs to catch up on physical development. We hope that in the near future, Luka will be able to walk and hopefully even JUMP!
Ruka is also Swahili for "jump." One of the reasons we have Luka with us is to give him the special attention he needs to catch up on physical development. We hope that in the near future, Luka will be able to walk and hopefully even JUMP!