Names are my Achille's heel. When people greet you or even see you they say your full name, it can happen a few times during a conversation and people tend to notice when you don't repeat their name back to them. The names are foreign sounding and difficult for me to remember, but if I don't people get really offended. Personally, I think people should be more understanding. It's not like the names are Jessica or Kim, it's Kumbayla or Ramatakuleyne (actually, I have no idea how to spell it), and it's hard for me to remember.
During the women's meeting this week I wrote down everyone's name with a description of their clothing.
They are going to expect me to remember, but unless everyone wears the same outfit I'm out of luck.
Whites are 'Toubabs,' something small children and occasionally adults yell out to you when you are walking on the street. I am told this will get old after awhile, but for now I'm relieved when people don't remember my name. It's technically rude though, and when my host dad hears it he says "her name's not Toubab, it's Hawa."
He's my host dad so I can't really stop him. But my closest neighbor came to visit me a couple days ago and when people yelled Toubab at us she said that wasn't her name and her real name is … Finally I told her to knock it off. In a few months asserting individuality will be fine, but in the meantime if people want to stick with general derogatory labels that works for me. If people are supposed to call me by my name it stands to reason I should return the favor. Frankly, I am not up to that yet.