Almost every day, at least once, I find myself explainingsome odd behavior as being a “cultural thing.” Over the past three months, my
team and I have encountered a culture completely different from anything in
America. Here are a few things that everyone needs to know before coming to
East Africa:
1.
Let go of all ideas of personal space. There is
really no room to even move when you are packed into a 
van with 28 Africans,
double the 14 person capacity.
Everyone greets you with a handshake, which is a
weird habit to keep when you meet up with the family from your own squad.
Prepare to meet your food before supper. A goat
may be delivered to your house.
Babies most never wear diapers, so expect to
have a “surprise” wet spot while holding one.
5.
Women carry heavy loads on their heads, even 20
liters of water, or huge bags of fruit.
The staple foods are beans, rice, and cabbage
which are served at least twice a day.
Africans are always digging something: holes,
tunnels, ditches, the garden.
Choirs lip sync, but have the AMAZING dance
routines.
front of the pulpit, or in a line all the way around the room.
10. Watch out for chickens coming into your hut,
hiding behind your pillow, or laying eggs in your pack.
11. People from all over the village will walk for
hours just to greet the “visitors”.
12. Police from the local district may come and
interview you to discover your opinion on their area.
13.
Electricity goes out for at least a few hours a
day.
14.
On morning jogs, be prepared to be followed by
at least ten children or a few random people on the street.
The people here are some of the best in the
world.
