Rwanda Facts (or fictions)

I hear so many different stories and tidbits here that I'm starting to have a hard time determining what's fact and what's fiction.  I get the funniest stories and comments at work (funny to me, that is) and then once the story is over and I double over in laughter, my coworkers kind of just stop and stare at me with this I-know-she-does-not-think-this-is-funny face.  I don't know, maybe it's just me, but most of these stories are hilarious (especially when the person telling them is dead serious).  Anyway, I'll let you decide for yourself...here goes:

Millipedes

Little boys must beware of millipedes.  If they are ever bitten by one, their penis will forever be small; the millipede will run off with its newest prized possession and the boy will be left with a malfunctioning penis and the inability to get a girlfriend.  The little boy will love a looooong and very lonely life.

Sex

This seems to be a very popular topic of discussion at work and every time its brought up, I always get a little uncomfortable and (very immaturely) begin to giggle and laugh.  And every time, my coworkers never fail to ask me, "Why do you laugh?? Are you afraid of sex?"  I just keep giggling and proceed to tell them that in America, sex is not an appropriate topic in the workplace.  People don't just sit around talking about sex while at work.  And then ignoring what I just said, they proceed to say to me (in broken English), "You are afraid of sex.  You have a disease."  I say, "A disease?"  They say, "Yes, to be afraid of sex is a serious disease.  It is a terrible sickness."

And now some not-so-funnies, just interesting:

Coffins

I am slowly but surely finding out that motorcycles can be used for absolutely positively anything in Rwanda.  From carrying large furniture from the carpenter to the buyers home, to transporting 3 adults and a baby all at one time...I thought I had seen and heard it all, but not quite.  The other day, one of my coworkers told me that in the villages, motorcycles are, more or less, the only mode of transportation since it costs too much money to have a car drive allllll the way out here just to transport something from one place to another.  And then he proceeded to tell me that even coffins are transported on motorcycles.  COFFINS!  With dead people INSIDE!!

Weddings and Rain

In America, rain on the day of a person's wedding can be seen as a bad thing, however in Rwanda, when it rains on the day of someone's wedding this is a great thing.  Especially if the rain falls on the brides head!  It's good luck for the couple; the rain means that they will have a very happy and prosperous marriage...since the rain fell on the wedding day, rainfall will be minimal within their life together (figuratively, that is).

Love and Peace Corps,

Dametreea