Cultural Differences

Even after nearly 9 months in Uganda I am still astounded by the differences in our cultures. It still stops me in my tracks when someone asks a question or makes a comment that I don't know how to explain. A few of these are:

• Why do you read books if you are not studying? This is not a book culture so it is difficult for most Ugandans to understand that people read for pleasure or to gain knowledge that isn't required for work or school.
• What was the 'bride price' given for your (Danny's) daughter when she married? Generally in Uganda (outside the capitol) it is a number of cows given to the bride's family by the groom's.
• Explaining what the christmas holidays are like in the US and UK, especially all the lights and decorations.
• The fact that not all Western households have a maid (housegirl). There was a surprised reaction when I told someone that nearly all households, even poor ones, have a washer and dryer and that many have dishwashers. The housegirls here live in the house with the family and their meals are provided. But they work 7 days a week doing all types of work - washing clothes (by hand); ironing everything with a charcoal iron; cooking by charcoal or wood; gardening including digging, planting, harvesting and bending over pulling weeds for long hours; chopping wood; slashing the grass; sweeping; taking care of the children; etc. In our area the typical pay for a housegirl is 20,000 shs a month, the equivalent of $12. As spoiled mzungus we spend more than this on our Sunday lunch buffet at the hotel near town.
• Trying to explain that other countries have 4 distinct seasons. Uganda is the same all year round except for more rain at certain times.
• I told someone that Danny does the cooking because he enjoys it and is a better cook than I. I do the cleaning up. I was informed that it would be a source of shame for a Ugandan woman if she did not do all the cooking.
• Attempting to explain a wireless network. I am able to sit in our house and print to the college computer room printer. A staff member I had typed something for was gobsmacked by this.
• Explaining that I was listening to audiobooks on my Ipod.