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**This does not reflect the views of Peace Corps, or even my overall impression of Rwandans, it is simply observations about everyday behavior that seems to be contradictory. Please don't look at this as being cynical or angry, just a commentary on my life here...
People speak barely above a whisper talking face to face but on the phone they shout and will listen to the radio at full volume
They will clean their shoes obsessively and their dress is impeccable but sometimes lack olfactory hygiene
Women won't show above the knee but have no qualms about breast feeding anywhere
Use hands to blow their nose, cough into, sneeze into, and .... but they always hold bread or muffins with a napkin (even if the muffin already has a wrapper). Straws are not touched with the hand, rather pulled out and placed in the bottle with the teeth.
They get water from a pump and have to hoard it (not washing hands, etc.) but if there is a car, it will be washed almost every day
During dry season when temperatures are in the 90's, mothers use at least 3 layers to wrap their children on their backs. Also, if there is a newborn, they will be in long sleeves, a blanket, a entire zip-up fake blend blanket, with another blanket on top. During the wet season where day temperatures in the 60's, mothers let their children walk around in shorts and tank tops.
People always talk about having to portray yourself as 'serious' in order to be respected in the work-place. Yet, after an hour impromptu staff meeting in the morning, the nurses then proceed to gather and gossip and chat for another 45 minutes before doing anything productive with patients
