Kenya Expat Forum

Kenyan wife

6/26/2021 15:17 EST

I am an american with a Kenyan wife. I will be visiting her parents for the first time in Kenya this Christmas. There is a slight language barrier between me and her parents. I cannot understand their english very well. What should I do to make a good impression? I know the mother is in education and the father works for the government. They live rural with limited plumbing electricity.

dhuebner

6/28/2021 14:30 EST

I am also an American with a Kenyan wife. My recommendation to make a good impression is to learn a little bit of Swahili. Just some basic phrases will impress them. Learn how to greet them, ask them how they are...things like that. Where's the bathroom? I'd like some water. etc. Bonus if you can also speak a little of her native tongue. You'll get used to their accent pretty fast...just ask for them to repeat instead of nodding away without understanding. Life is slow there, especially rural. If you get one thing on your list done per day, you're doing well IMHO. Enjoy! Message me if you want more info.

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