Number Seven: Telecommunications

As I’m sure you can imagine, Rwanda is much different in this arena than the US, the land of iPhones, Androids, and family share plans.  Interestingly enough, practically everyone has a cell phone, even in the most remote villages.  These phones work on pre-paid airtime.  You buy airtime on a card from a man in a yellow vest on a street corner.  It costs airtime, and thus money, to make calls but not to receive them.  Because of this, there is an interesting phenomenon called “flashing” or “beeping.”  Rwandans realize that we Muzungus can afford airtime and so they call and hang up immediately expecting us to call them back.  They sometimes “flash” you 4 or 5 or 18 times.  Often when you call them back the conversation goes something like this:

Me:  “Hello, [insert name here]!  How are you?

Rwandan:  “I am fine, thank you.  How are you?”

Me:  “Very fine, thank you.”

Rwandan:  “How is your news?”

Me:  “My news is fine.  What is new with you?”

Rwandan:  “Nothing is new.”

Me:  “Okay, good to hear from you!  I will talk to you later.”

Rwandan:  “Greet [insert name here] for me, please.”

Me:  “Okay, I will.  Goodbye!”

Rwandan:  “Goodbye.”

Phone calls merely to greet are very common (“Hello Kelly!  I call you greet you!  Okay, goodbye!”).  It is a beautiful picture of the community we were created to be a part of.  So often in the US, we get so stuck in our routine or caught up with our busy schedules that we rarely think to stop and check in with our loved ones.  In Rwanda, if word spreads that you are sick, you will receive multiple calls just checking on you.  Not “flashes” or “beeps” but true, money-costing calls because you are that important to your friends here.  While the repetitive nature of said conversation can sometimes feel like a nuisance, I will always appreciate the genuine concern of my Rwandan friends.

Oh, and I almost forgot.  Rwandan cell phones have built-in flashlights and three awesome games to choose from when you’re riding the bus or waiting for your food at a restaurant.  Doesn’t get much cooler than that.