Similarities in joy of birth and grief at death. Joy of clean water and sorrow at loss. Love and celebration. Sorrow and hunger. Family and community.
Some differences:
Americans go go go and we live by a clock but we need to remember that we are guests and we need to be humble. We are not in charge!!
Greet everyone! Greet first. Shake hands, learn the words. (Yewo, zikomo, nzuri)
Here is people centered. Not time centered. All about relationships, greeting and chatting.
Keep your knees covered. Villages are formal. ('pants' are British for underwear- use the word trousers)
Women hug. Men shake hands with both hands (arms in a four) as a sign of respect. If hands are dirty they will bump forearms. Not much other touching between sexes, lots of hand holding between same sex.
Men and women sit separately. At the wells and at church. (often)
No negative comments- watch your words. The words stupid, silly, foolish will be taken out of context and be insulting.
Before and after meals hands are washed. Food is often eaten with hands though you might be offered utensils. You don't have to finish-someone will eat the leftovers.
Don't make promises that you can't keep. There have been too many broken promises. Even 'I'll think about it' is a promise to help.
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