Lekkers Assebelief!

Anoshka and No-No (that is really her name!) are my daily visitors. We go through the same little conversation every time they come to visit.

Me: "Ooh gaan dit?" (How are you?)

Anoshka: "Gut Auntie Jessica" (Good Auntie Jessica)

Me: "Waat jy val?" (What do you want)

Anoshka: "Ek val lekkers." (I want sweets/candy)

Me: "Waat jy sy?" (What do you say?)

Anoshka: "Assebelief Auntie Jessica." (Please Auntie Jessica)

I give them some sweets

Me: "Waat jy sy?" (What do you say?)

Anoshka: "Baie Danke Auntie Jessica." (Thank you very much Auntie Jessica)

We go through this every day. I don't always give them sweets but they always ask. Usually they give me a big hug and often I take them into the back to swing for a bit. They like to watch cartoons sometimes if the tv is free. These two are best friends and are only three and four years old. They live seven houses down at the end of our street. They come running to our house all the time without any supervision. They go around our street all the time alone. It was odd for us at first but now it is normal. It is amazing because it is just a given that the whole neighborhood watches them. Any person on the street, even the young kids as well as Linda and me, will take care of them and watch out for them. Gives true meaning to it takes a village to raise a child. I love this aspect of community.