Speaking with your African family???

[Darkchild80 0]

I wanted to know everyone's experiences with talking with their African family on the phone? My hubby was born and raised in Nigeria. I find it difficult talking to my new family. I feel they don't understand me at times and I don't know what to say at times. Please share your experiences to help a sista out!

[NaijaPrincess Need NaijaPrince 0]

I have had the same experience talking with my husband's mother. All she would say is thank you.. thank you very much. I would tell my husband that she does not like me but he says that it is not true. I speak to his dad more so than his mom & he has no problems understanding me or communicating. Of course, my husband is there as a back up.

It may be me over reacting but I don't think she likes me too tough. You know how mamas are over there boys

[Queen Jenn 0]

His father passed away in August, and I only got to speak to him once on the telephone before he died. His mom doesn't speak english very well, so we exchange pleasantries and then he translates.

[*JG* 2]

I talk to Jomo's mother (in Jamaica) only occassionally. Calls are too expensive for me to be taking up the time anyhow. I don't think she particularly likes me all that much.....she accepts me as his wife....and, of course, when she needs some money, she is more then nice.

I get along and chat with all his sisters and brothers.

[Kelechi 0]

I have a hard time communicating with my fiances mom. But I found that I was talking too fast for her. If you slow down and speak a little slower they understand you better well at least this is the case with me. My fiances mom really loves me and all of his siblings and I don't have any problem talking to any of them. Just try slowing down your speech a bit she will understand you better.

[mmarlo 1]

I sent my fiancee's family SMS messages on their cell phones, but I don't call because it's too expensive, and there's not much to say anyway. We talked in person when I visited them in Kenya. I dunno, maybe it will be difference once we're married.

[LovinLiberia 0]

My fiance's mom speaks English very well. We usually call each other back and forth weekly and talk for a while, sometimes even hours at a time. We giggle on the phone like two school girls and even talk about "private female issues". lol. His cousins and aunts and I also communicate regularly and we are all very close.

[southernchic 0]

I speak to my husband's family from time to time. Most of them don't speak English. I don't speak their language except for basic greetings. So they will say hi to me. I say hi to them but I don't try to jump on the phone to say hi, hello, how are you?, okay.........bye.....

It just so hard to really get to know people when you don't speak the same language. My husband will do a little bit of translations but....I don't chat with them much.

[randolady 1]

My fiance's parents don't speak too much English. His dad actually has throat cancer that presses up against his voice box, so I can't even understand when he greets me. It's really frustrating and sad because they're such warm, wonderful people, but the communication just isn't there.

[Darkchild80 0]

I have had the same experience talking with my husband's mother. All she would say is thank you.. thank you very much. I would tell my husband that she does not like me but he says that it is not true. I speak to his dad more so than his mom & he has no problems understanding me or communicating. Of course, my husband is there as a back up.

It may be me over reacting but I don't think she likes me too tough. You know how mamas are over there boys

I have the same experience! My husband's mom says thank you alot and I don't really know what to say to her. I speak more with my husband's dad because he is a bit more fluent in english and he understands me well. It could be a cultural thing! I share your feelings.

[a&o 4]

While I was in Ghana O and I made the rounds to lots of relatives far and wide. There was a whole range of English and French and other languages...mainly my husband's relatives were happy enough to do the greetings and ask about my family. My mother-in-law speaks no English, and when we went to visit her she just smiled and laughed and laughed. Now we just send lots of photos and that's kind of my way of communicating with her.

[boo boo 1]

My husband ALWAYS hands me the phone when he is talking to any of his family and friends..... I always try and keep it brief because we use calling cards...but at the sametime, I make the most of that time....try and get in a laugh or 2 and always let the other party know that it was a pleasure talking to them...and i hope to chat w/ them soon.

My mother inlaw sometimes has a hard time understanding me....but just to hear her voice and talk to her...means alot, I haven't met her yet....but when I do....I look forward to doing girlie things w/ her and making the most of our time together

[forchika 4]

My fiances family speak English fluently. I have no problems understanding them but do occassionally have to ask them to repeat words. I had not kept in constant commnuication with them and felt bad about it because I spend so much time and money calling Fiance. I hope that will get better now that he will be here. I had to make a round of calls today especially as I am expexting him here tomorrow...had to call mum, and had a nice talk with his sister. I look forward to calling everyone again on Thurs and Fri to let them know that he made it safely.

[LovinLiberia 0]

keep us updated on how his arrival went.

[reeses16 8]

I wanted to know everyone's experiences with talking with their African family on the phone? My hubby was born and raised in Nigeria. I find it difficult talking to my new family. I feel they don't understand me at times and I don't know what to say at times. Please share your experiences to help a sista out!

Yeah, it can be difficult at times. Tewodrose lives on his own so I usually only talk to his family at holidays (which there are a ton in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tradition) when he goes to visit. I always greet them in Amharic. But a few days before I call, I will think of a phrase or two that I would like to say. Ask Tewodrose to teach me how to say it in Amharic. Then I WRITE it down phonetically. This way, I have more meaningful conversations, his family knows their culture is important to me, I'm learning more of their language (which is true, but I think I sound like a 2 yr old. My sentence structure kinda sucks, but my vocab is pretty fab), and I'm learning to say helpful phrases that I want to say, not random things from a book.

Hope this helps!

-Dodie