in congo, one way to success is to invest in toothpaste. if one can somehow finance the investment - that is, the purchase of 12 tubes of crest or colgate, there is money to be made. the young entrepeneur takes said cleansing agent, and offers it for pennies (everything in congo is in dollars) to eager buyers, who extend their toothbrushes for the daily dose that they have just paid for ...
in nigeria, it is possible to get rich off corruption - businessmen in cahoots with crooked government officials scheme to siphon off oil from corporate pipelines. by sending out a flotila of 'fishing boats' manned with skilled divers, one can tap into exxon and mobil's oil flow in smallish quantities, then send the stolen slick into offshore waters, where chinese tankers wait thirstily for the goods.
just about to take off for kenya, finally!!! hoping i make my connection in bruxelles tomorrow, que sera sera!
today turns out to be quite pleasant! a good workout in the gym (inexplicably, every fitness center in rwanda is incredibly well equipped!), a light breakfast, and lounging like a lizard at the pool (yes manda, wearing sunscreen this time!) - no attempt whatsoever to immerse myself in african culture. today, i am an expat!
just to reassure you, people ARE people. some observations from today on rwandans:
*they put ‘floaties’ on their kids when they go into the pool (although how they learn to swim in a landlocked country is beyond me!
*they put up fancy tents here too for weddings (one happening today at my hotel)
*they laugh at the same things westerners do, and boy, do they LOVE to laugh!
*they are diligent and deliberate - in all manners
*they are incredibly clean and proud - spotless dishes, floors, bathrooms, etc. - restaurants too!
*they LOVE clothing - and are fast forward stylish - low slung jeans, pointy shoes, crisp shirts, gold and silver handbags
*the husbands bring cash down to their wives who are sitting by the pools
*the dads are the ones swimming with the kids and ‘teaching’ them
*they have incredible table manners, and they eat their vegetables!
*they can switch back between french, kinyarwanda, english, and swahili with the greatest of ease!
*they are very relaxed - no shrieking parents, hushed tones, and the kids are extremely well behaved
*they are shocked when i relate that i have been married 19 years (to the same woman!) - generally, both men and women finish higher education, work for a few years, and get married in their low to mid ‘30’s
*they enjoy a broad range of ethnic foods in kigali, from great italian, to chinese, to indian!
*they work to live, and don’t live to work
*they mind their own business while still engaging with others
*they are happy that famous westerners are visiting rwanda - ben affleck, jenna bush, bill gates
*they believe (rightly so) that they are an ‘isle’ of civilization and are incredibly unique, compared to their neighbors
*they don’t understand how the genocide happened, and they are not so sure it couldn’t happen again - yikes!
*they have extremely clean nails and hands
*they wear sporty adidas and nike outfits to work out
*they love dancing
*they love ping pong
*they love american music (a foil to native senegalese and congolese music which is popular in other african countries)
*they are fond of their internet access
*the like tall lattés! starbucks, here we come!
*they eat fresh, not frozen
*they despise government corruption, which is NOT endemic in this land
*they don't smoke and they rarely drink
an interesting, if too-long adventure comes to an end - ready for home!!!
amour d’afrique,
h
in nigeria, it is possible to get rich off corruption - businessmen in cahoots with crooked government officials scheme to siphon off oil from corporate pipelines. by sending out a flotila of 'fishing boats' manned with skilled divers, one can tap into exxon and mobil's oil flow in smallish quantities, then send the stolen slick into offshore waters, where chinese tankers wait thirstily for the goods.
just about to take off for kenya, finally!!! hoping i make my connection in bruxelles tomorrow, que sera sera!
today turns out to be quite pleasant! a good workout in the gym (inexplicably, every fitness center in rwanda is incredibly well equipped!), a light breakfast, and lounging like a lizard at the pool (yes manda, wearing sunscreen this time!) - no attempt whatsoever to immerse myself in african culture. today, i am an expat!
just to reassure you, people ARE people. some observations from today on rwandans:
*they put ‘floaties’ on their kids when they go into the pool (although how they learn to swim in a landlocked country is beyond me!
*they put up fancy tents here too for weddings (one happening today at my hotel)
*they laugh at the same things westerners do, and boy, do they LOVE to laugh!
*they are diligent and deliberate - in all manners
*they are incredibly clean and proud - spotless dishes, floors, bathrooms, etc. - restaurants too!
*they LOVE clothing - and are fast forward stylish - low slung jeans, pointy shoes, crisp shirts, gold and silver handbags
*the husbands bring cash down to their wives who are sitting by the pools
*the dads are the ones swimming with the kids and ‘teaching’ them
*they have incredible table manners, and they eat their vegetables!
*they can switch back between french, kinyarwanda, english, and swahili with the greatest of ease!
*they are very relaxed - no shrieking parents, hushed tones, and the kids are extremely well behaved
*they are shocked when i relate that i have been married 19 years (to the same woman!) - generally, both men and women finish higher education, work for a few years, and get married in their low to mid ‘30’s
*they enjoy a broad range of ethnic foods in kigali, from great italian, to chinese, to indian!
*they work to live, and don’t live to work
*they mind their own business while still engaging with others
*they are happy that famous westerners are visiting rwanda - ben affleck, jenna bush, bill gates
*they believe (rightly so) that they are an ‘isle’ of civilization and are incredibly unique, compared to their neighbors
*they don’t understand how the genocide happened, and they are not so sure it couldn’t happen again - yikes!
*they have extremely clean nails and hands
*they wear sporty adidas and nike outfits to work out
*they love dancing
*they love ping pong
*they love american music (a foil to native senegalese and congolese music which is popular in other african countries)
*they are fond of their internet access
*the like tall lattés! starbucks, here we come!
*they eat fresh, not frozen
*they despise government corruption, which is NOT endemic in this land
*they don't smoke and they rarely drink
an interesting, if too-long adventure comes to an end - ready for home!!!
amour d’afrique,
h
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