Lines...

Probably one of the more difficult things to get used to since being here is how waiting in lines(or queues as they call them here).

Waiting in a line here is nothing like it is in the U.S. Pretty much it is a free for all for who can push themselves to the front... which seems completely baffling because in every other area of life Africans tend to be more friendly and courteous than Americans.... However whether it is waiting inline at customs to enter a country or in line for food at the Dining hall, manners don't seem to matter.... A few stories to illustrate my point...

When we were on our Rwanda trip all of us were waiting in line at customs to get our passports stamped... I was almost to the window, in fact, I was the next person in line.... out of nowhere this couple comes up and jumps right in front of me as if it didn't even matter that I was there.... thankfully, they had the wrong papers, so the immigration official made them go fill out the right ones...

The other day at the Dining hall during morning Tea Time, I was in line, kind of, more like in the mob of people, to try to get some donuts to eat with tea. I stood there for probably ten minutes watching people crowd around the canteen window holding money out trying to be the next person to get food, and I trying to bring myself to do it. I was already holding my cup of tea and was in no mood to get bumped into and have tea spilled all over me.... so I was trying to be patient. I was getting closer and there was one guy in front of, after he received his snack, I, trying to be polite, backed out of the way to let him get out and subsequently 4 people stepped in front of me.... yes 4.... needless to say, I had had enough at that point and just walked away.... Thankfully there was another person from USP who had successfully gotten a doughnut before and he graciously went up and fought the crowds and came back victorious...

I don't want you to get the picture that Africans are all rude snobs, because they are not, but this is just one thing that has completely baffled me since being here, and from what others who have been here for longer periods from the U.S. it baffles them too.

So, the next time you're in line somewhere and you're frustrated that it's long, just be thankful that you at least get to keep your spot in line and people don't come out of nowhere to take the spot(s) in front of you with no seeming shame at all....