phrases from a different culture.... offensive? you decide

On coming back from vacation:

Co-worker: "sistah - you have gone on leave and you look (fill cheeks with air and blow your face up here) like you have gained weight" - said with a big smile

Me: "Eh! I have just stood on the scale this morning and the scale tells me that I have lost 2 kg. No?"

Co-worker: "No. It may be but you look as if you are fatter"

Me: "Is it not rude to call someone fat in Rwanda?"

Co-worker: big big smile...."it depends, some people like it, some do not"



On speaking about another patient (this interaction has happened in many different ways more than once)

Student: "I am taking care of that patient"

Me: "what patient? What bed is the patient in?"

Student: "I do not know it is the very dark patient"

Me: ".....what is the difference between very dark and dark?"

Student: "Me, I am light skinned, she (pointing at a fellow student) is dark."

Me: " oh......I see (even though I don't) and me?"

student: "you are Mzungu"


On talking about people while they are present:

Co-workers speaking with each other - "kinyarwandan kinyarwandan, kinyarwandan, kinyarwandan....jessica....kinyarwandan, kinyarwandan, kinyarwandan"

Me: "what are you saying?"

co-workers: "nothing"

(because I know all of you miss my fat face) ;)