This is a photo of a local soccer match between “Muzungu Nation” and US Embassy.  One of our new friends plays on the Muzungu Nation team. Muzungu is a Swahili word used to describe a person of European origin.  We are referred to as Muzungus daily.  It is not a derogatory term, but one of respect.

 

As our family was walking to the field, several little Rwandan boys crowded around us Muzungus. They were there by themselves to watch a little Saturday “football.” Rebecca and I were walking in front, and Jessica and Ben were behind us. The little boys kept “petting” Ben’s hair like he was a puppy dog, but every time I turned around, their hands shot down to their sides. They didn’t care if Jessica saw them, but they were afraid of “Daddy Muzungu.” Ben didn’t even notice. He was too busy watching “soccer/football” as he calls it.

 

As we continue to adjust to the differences in how things work here, I’ll share a couple of observations. In the last month, I have been asked to “loan” money to more people that I can count.  Initially, I was offended by the request for financial assistance from people whom I was just getting to know; however, I failed to recognize some substantial differences in our cultures.  In many African cultures, requesting financial assistance from someone is a sign of showing respect and closeness to that individual.  This culture is much more relationally-driven than our individualistic American culture.  With our financial wealth in the US, most of us have the ability to rely only on ourselves financially. With a drastically lower level of wealth distribution here, family members, distant relatives and friends support each other financially. When people have few resources and no government assistance, they figure out how to take care of each other. As long as the US Dollar doesn’t continue to weaken against the Rwandan Franc, I might be able to become my own microfinance  institution.  I’m mentally planning a 100% loan loss reserve rate.

 

In the US, we talk a lot about finding “community” and meaningful relationships that last. That’s not a problem for the Rwandans. The continual struggle for financial security here and the suffering that goes along with that help create strong communal bonds that, sadly, we can’t relate to.  The strong individualism that defines the American way doesn’t work here, and for the first time, I’m seeing how much I pursue security, comfort and financial independence without even knowing it. Can we really have a community without dependence on one another? How is dependence fleshed out in our American culture where our individual pursuits seem to always take priority? I don’t have the answers, but it’s got me thinking.