A woman from Africa looking confused holding the power cord of a washing machine.

Lavadoras Africanas – African Washing Machines

Elementary Spanish Short Story

 

A woman from Africa looking confused holding the power cord of a washing machine.

Lavadoras Africanas – African Washing Machines

Elementary Spanish Short Story

 

African Washing Machines

by Snappy Spanish | Elementary Spanish

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El grupo de turistas llegó a su lugar campamento en Uganda.

Era un área hermosa con el poderoso Río Nilo pasando justo por las tierras del campamento.

The group of tourists arrived at their camping spot in Uganda.

It was a beautiful area with the mighty Nile River passing right by the camp ground.

Era un campamento muy básico, con solo carpas y un bar, pero la vista lo compensaba.
It was a very basic campsite, with only tents and a bar, but the scenery made up for it.
Después de viajar por más de una semana por varios países en África, uno de los turistas quería lavar su ropa.

“¿Dónde podemos lavar nuestra ropa?” preguntó David al guía del tour.

After traveling for over a week through several countries in Africa, one of the tourists wanted to wash his clothes.

“Where can we wash our clothes?” asked David to the tour guide.

“No hay lavadoras acá,” respondió el guía. “Pero algunas lugareñas ganan dinero por lavar la ropa de los turistas. Puedo organizarlo para usted si quiere. Ellas la lavarán por usted mientras va rafting mañana.”
“There are no washing machines here,” replied the guide. “But some of the locals earn money by washing clothes for tourists. I can arrange it for you if you like. They will wash it for you while you go rafting tomorrow.”
David estaba muy contento de escuchar eso. Él cuida mucho su ropa y siempre le gusta mantenerla limpia, incluso en el medio de África.
David was very happy to hear this. He takes great care of his clothes and always likes them to be clean, even in the middle of Africa.
Un poco después, una mujer llegó y habló con David. Negociaron un precio y ella se llevó la ropa.
A little later, a woman arrived and spoke to David. They negotiated a price and she took the clothes away.
El próximo día el grupo del tour salió temprano para navegar los rápidos grado cinco.

Los rápidos eran gigantescos. En los primeros que encontraron el bote se volteó. Iba a ser un día divertido.

The next day the tour group left early to ride the grade five rapids.

The rapids were huge. In the first ones they encountered the boat flipped. It was going to be a fun day.

Mientras remaban por una sección suave, se encontraron con unos chicos locales que jugaban en el agua del río. Los turistas disfrutaban la vista. Sentían que estaban experimentando algo muy auténtico.
While paddling through a smooth section, they came across local kids playing in the river water.

The tourists enjoyed the sight. They felt they were experiencing something very authentic.

Tristemente para David, ellos vieron algo más que era muy auténtico… no solo estaban los niños jugando, las madres estaban lavando su ropa en el río.
Sadly for David, they saw something else that was very authentic… not only were the kids playing, the mothers were washing their clothes in the river.
Ellas estaban torciendo, restregando y luego golpeando la ropa contra las rocas.

“Oye, ¿no es esa tu camiseta?” le dijo Chris a David.

They were twisting, rubbing and then slapping the clothes against the rocks.

“Hey, isn’t that your shirt?” said Chris to David.

David miró con horror cuando su camiseta favorita era golpeada contra las rocas una y otra vez.

En ese momento David entendió que realmente no habían lavadoras.

David looked on in horror as his favourite shirt was bashed against the rocks over and over again.

At this moment David understood there really weren’t any washing machines.

La gente aún lavaba de forma tradicional en los ríos, así lo han hecho por miles de años.

Cuando el siguiente grupo de rápidos grado cinco llegó, David olvidó las preocupaciones por su ropa y disfrutó la adrenalina.

People still washed the traditional way in the rivers, as they have for thousands of years.

When the next set of grade 5 rapids arrived, David forgot the worries of his clothes and enjoyed the thrills.

En la tarde, el grupo regresó al campamento. Un rato después, la lugareña apareció con la ropa de David.
In the afternoon, the group arrived back at the camp. A short time later, the local lady appeared with David’s clothes.
David se veía preocupado. Revisó la ropa rápidamente. Afortunadamente, toda estaba en buenas condiciones.

Estaba muy tranquilo. ¡Se sentía tan feliz que incluso pagó propina!

David looked worried. He quickly inspected the clothes. Thankfully, they were all in good condition.

He was very relieved. He felt so happy he even paid a tip!

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