Dumela

acrylic on canvas, 24" X 36"

“Dumela.” A tourists’ guide to Botswana translates this traditional word of greeting as “Hello.” A more correct definition is “I believe”… “I believe in you – you are real.” As a Peace Corps volunteer in the early 1970s, I learned that it was proper to greet everyone you encountered, whether you knew them or not. And when shaking hands, receiving a gift, or even getting change for a purchase, always use two hands. In this way you show undivided attention to the other person – a show of respect. Respect for the other is fundamental to all relationships.