Just minor cultural differences... thats all!

Well, maybe not all that minor! Malaki and I took a nice walk today as it has been simply "wonderful" to get out of the house after being sick and having so much work to do on a daily basis. Just going on a walk here in the mountains of Muramvya could give any one a culture shock if you didn't know what to expect as far as the culture here in Burundi! Not to be improper, although realistic... just going on a walk you could see your share of breasts and its just (normal!). Isai and I were speaking last night on how as Americans, we have become so desensitized as far seeing a woman's breast; as here in Burundi the breast aren't viewed as a sexual enticing body part on a woman as much as the upper thigh would be. No unrated XXX cautions here, they are just simply breasts with no other purpose then to provide milk for the littles! Hints, why the majority of women are almost always wearing long wraps and or skirts to the ankles. Women here are breastfeeding left and right, and there is simply no shame. Sometimes... we are walking down the road and a woman forgets to put her breast back in her shirt after feeding and its just hanging out! Other times, we have even been greeted and hugged with women who have their chest right "out there"! For the more educated locals and those of the city... these circumstances change a bit, although keep in mind I am usually referring to country people in the mountains. Just things that are normal here, far far from what we know in our home country of America!

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A few other interesting things I have learned living in the mountains and having a newborn is when the babies umbilical cord falls off at about 1-2 weeks old the women have a celebration with friends and put the baby on their back for the first time, sometimes even giving the baby a little banana beer. This of course varies on the social status of the woman. One that shocked me recently was that some women that hoe in the field during the day put a pelepele (hot pepper) into the babies but so they won't poop on the momma. A final cultural difference. Its common that we see little kids caring for babies; putting them on their back, burping them and simply caring for them while their momma is working. Not exaggerating... one day I saw a girl about 4 years old caring an infant on her back. Now... the girl looked maybe 2 1/2 years old, but here children are always looking much smaller than their age due to malnutrition.

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I have many Burundian friends who often are suggesting me to take on a few cultural differences. I explain...we are American, Malaki is American, and will by all means be raised in an American culture, but I figure along the way I could also learn some great things from them too! Just trying to give you a glimpse of some things we have had to come to means with living and raising our family in Burundi... of course without being over the edge and maintaining a respect within my wording! Soon, as promised to my dear sister Trey I will do a post on birth and pregnancy here in Burundi. All our love...

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When you dig another out of their troubles, you find a place to bury your own.

~Author Unknown