I have now spent 3 days in my new home. I didn’t fully grasp the idea of how different experiencing Rwanda would be while on my own vs. being with my cohort. It has been a harder adjustment than I imagined. It’s like what marriage counselors or sage old couples always tell someone who is newly married, you have to find your “new normals”. I am trying to find a balance between working in my room, being out in the living room reading, and finding new things to talk about. With my social anxiety, I am constantly worried that I’m putting Mama Barney or Mr. Ngoga out. Pair that with the Rwandan penchant for being overly hospitable and we have some potentially sticky situations in my brain.
HOWEVER, I am following the lead of my host family and praying every day that I don’t make some terrible cultural blunder. During our times together, there are some pretty significant lengths of time passed in silence, but we are finding topics, passions, and small talk little by little to occupy that time. Also, Rwandans don’t always have that need to fill every silence with chatter…I hope. At least that’s what I’ve been telling myself.
HOWEVER, I am following the lead of my host family and praying every day that I don’t make some terrible cultural blunder. During our times together, there are some pretty significant lengths of time passed in silence, but we are finding topics, passions, and small talk little by little to occupy that time. Also, Rwandans don’t always have that need to fill every silence with chatter…I hope. At least that’s what I’ve been telling myself.
The view from my new home.