Funny haha

How it was originally told by Aliou, Zubba's husband and one of my favorite Malians:

Une fois, un ONG a décidé de faire une enquête au tour de monde. La seule question le dans: "S'il vous plaît, qu'est-ce que votre opinion sur la pénurie alimentaire dans la reste de monde?" D'abord, ils ont commencé avec les chinoises. Mais "s'il vous plaît" les chinoises ne comprennent pas. Ensuite, ils ont demandé les pays d'Europe Orientale. Mais les Européens de l'Est ont répondu, "Notre opinion? On n'a pas des opinions. C'est l'état qui commande." Et puit, les membres d'ONG ont posé la question aux Europe Occidentale. Les Européens de l'Ouest ont dit: "La pénurie? On sais pas la pénurie. Ça n'existe pas en Europe." L'ONG a continué avec Afrique. Mais les gens là-bas conaissent pas "alimentaire" veut-dire. Ils ne voient jamais les aliments! Finalement, l'ONG est parti pour les Etats-Unis et a demandé la même question. Mais, les Americans sont confondus par la dernière partie de la question. Ils ont demandé: "La reste de monde? Qu'est-ce c'est?"



My translation:

Once an NGO decided to conduct a survey around the world. The only question on it: "Please, what is your opinion on food insecurity in the rest of the world?" First, they began with the Chinese. But the Chinese don't understand the word "please". Next they asked Eastern Europeans. But they responded, "Our opinion? We have no opinions. It is the state who decides." Then the members of the NGO asked the states of Western Europe. They said: "Insecurity? We don't know insecurity. It doesn't exist in Europe." The NGO proceeded onto Africa. But there people didn't understand what "food" meant. They never see food! Finally, the NGO went to the United States and asked the very same question. But the Americans were confused with the last part of the question. They asked, "The rest of the world? What's that?"



I couldn't believe how frank he was in telling the joke. I was surprised this would be how a Malian sees development. Course, Aliou isn't your average Malian: he is in a monogamous marriage, has lived elsewhere in West Africa, speaks fluent French, and has been known to read French translations of literature such as "The Odyssey." That having said, sadly I don't find the reality of complacency in the West much of a joking matter. I mean, the last large-scale famine only ended in 1985--and since then rebellion and climate change make life hard to live. I guess it's good they can laugh about it.