The internet is down quite often, so although it's 1:00am in Rwanda, I'm taking advantage of having access! (You may notice that my posts are dated pretty frequently, but I'm playing around with the dates so that they reflect the day and time when I'm actually writing them offline. I post when I'm lucky enough to get a signal.)
Just some interesting things...
In Rwanda, when they mean 'yes', they shake their head 'no'. But they mean 'no problem'. So, they really mean 'yes'. But, when they mean 'no', they say "oh ya". Very confusing! Also, when you wave you hand 'goodbye' by bending your fingers down (like you would with a young child), it means 'come here'. This is why so many children have been chasing our van as we drive through the villages! If you rest your hands on your head, it means your parents have died.
Also, they say "sorry" if something uncomfortable is happening to you. I have come back from the market with several heavy bags of rice, and as the hotel security guard helped me to my room, he repeated "sorry" with each step up the stairs. Apparently, he was sorry that I was carrying bags as well.
Also, if a man leaves his family for three months, he will be imprisoned for six months. But, if a woman leaves her family for one and a half months, she will be imprisoned for a year because "the mother is the heart of the family."
Although they are Christian, Rwandans keep somewhat kosher. They will never mix the milk of an animal with the meat of an animal. For example, beef with cow's milk is taboo. So is chicken with egg. But, beef with goat's milk would be somewhat alright. Essentially, it's disrespectful to drink the cow's milk and also eat her child.
The number one thing that children beg for is "agachupa", or 'water bottle'. They know "muzungoes" ('white people') only drink out of bottles, so they ask for the empties to reuse. As we drive down the more remote roads, child chase us screaming "agachupa, agachupa, agachupa".
So, now you know some interesting things about Rwanda!
