One of the differences between cultures I've noticed is an obvious one, even when you come for a short visit to Haiti - the difference in the need for personal space.
When you live in a place where beds, homes, churches, schools and cities are crowded, you get used to being close to other people's bodies.
As a foreigner, it takes some time to be comfortable with it. People will come very close to speak to you, and even when there is ample space, you will have people sit so close that your arms and legs touch.
This morning I went to the daily community health meeting and arrived as everyone else was coming in and sitting down. The room has many benches in it, and I watched six of the nurses and facilitators come in and sit on the same bench, and then a seventh try to squeeze in on the end. I started laughing and pointed out the five empty benches in front of them.
This morning I went to the daily community health meeting and arrived as everyone else was coming in and sitting down. The room has many benches in it, and I watched six of the nurses and facilitators come in and sit on the same bench, and then a seventh try to squeeze in on the end. I started laughing and pointed out the five empty benches in front of them.
I joked that if they were American (or Canadian), they would be sitting one to a bench as far away as possible from each other.
Renaud's good-natured response was “pa konn viv” meaning “they don’t know how to live”.
I'm tending to agree.
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