“Oooh, Paatra! You have become fat!” Kuliche exclaimed excitedly as she wrung my hand and showered me with a series of shoulder-bumps/hugs that are traditional in Ethiopian greeting. “Why… thank you!” I responded, forcing a smile from my somewhat startled countenance. I had heard that this was a typical compliment, but having never received it before, I was caught off guard. Paul and I had just returned from a month’s vacation in the U.S., and it was possible that we had gained a couple pounds while feasting on our mothers’ home-cooking. I decided to shrug it off as a good-natured expression of Kuliche’s pleasure at seeing me again. But when a second staff member delightedly shouted the same comment, I became somewhat concerned. “Paatra, you look wonderful! You are so fat!” The third comment was too much. “Paatra! Look at you! Really, it makes me happy to see how fat you are!” Slipping away from my chaplaincy duties, I stole into an exam room that had a weighing scale. With a sigh of relief, I beheld the dial which verified that I had not become a lumbering blubbersome chubster. In fact, I weighed exactly the same as when I had left to go on vacation. I returned to my work with renewed confidence. My admirers did not sincerely think me fat. They were simply “filling my ear with sweet nothings.” I decided to give it a try myself the next day. Tsegaye, who is as skinny as a rail, entered the office and effusively expressed his joy in seeing us returned safely. “Thank you, Tsegaye! I am so happy to see you.” I chirped, “And my, look at how fat you have become!” He chuckled somewhat self-consciously, and left the office beaming. Everyone likes to be complimented.

By Petra