The Big Men of Zambia, and their bigger women

The elevator I have stepped into is small, and two more people get on.  One is a woman larger even than I am — I, who am often complimented on my “African shape” — and a man taller, more broadly set, and heavier than both of us.

“You have to get off,” he jokes to the woman.  “It won’t carry.”  He chuckles.

“Me, I have no weight,” she counters, with a smile.  The doors crawl toward each other.

“Look, even the doors won’t close,” he laughs.

“Maybe it’s you,” I offer.  I have seen, in only a few days here, that Zambians are straightforward folks, with a good sense of humor, but I am uncomfortable with my dare.  I usually wait more than 48 hours to participate in a new place.

“No, no, no,” he insists, with a bigger smile.  “I’m smaller than she.”  Everyone laughs, seeing this isn’t true, but he persists.

“Women,” he says, “are always big.  You know.”

 

2 Comments

  • clara says:

    I break a sweat just reading this; my experience is that in the developing world, elevators are also still developing. I may miss the rich cultural encounters, but I climb stairs whenever possible under about 10 stories in the developing world!

    • Jina Moore says:

      Ha! I was with a helper at the time and could never admit fear, but I had a similar feeling today heading to a 12th floor, alone, especially as the doors scraped between floor 8 and 9…

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