Eating Advice

Can I mention that I'm obsessing over whether this picture makes me look fat?

I wouldn’t normally be one to talk about comments on my body, but they come so often that it is a notable part of the culture here.  I’m not sure if people feel more comfortable with discussing my looks because I’m a foreigner or if it is just very common to discuss people’s bodies and eating habits.  So far I have heard:

Comments on my eating habits:

You must eat more, are you trying to get skinny? (my plate was very full)

You have a good appetite. (my plate was equally full)

Now I know why you are so thin, you eat so little

You are going to travel, you must eat a lot today. (you can’t exactly stop at McDonalds)

He is tall, he must eat a lot.

Your stomach looks small, did you eat this morning?  (guilty as charged, I had not)

You are sick, you must eat a lot.

Miss Rwanda contestants- very varied body types!

Comments on my body:

You have a nice shape, like Miss Rwanda (Ms. Rwanda is not as stick thin as American celebrities)

I want thighs like you. (literally never been told that before)

I want your butt, I can’t eat more. (I’m constantly jealous of Rwandan women’s nice butts fyi)

You are going to get skinny if you don’t eat more.

Pre-accident, no scars, no asymmetry

 Comments on my overall appearance:

What is on your face?  (referring to my scars, no one has noted that I have a crooked smile though!)

You looked so beautiful (past tense, talking about a picture taken before my accident)

You are smart (this is a common one talking about how I am dressed)

I will clean your shoes for you

You definitely can't be self conscious about your appearance if you are in Rwanda!  There is this obsession with not being too skinny and I think there are a few reasons for this.  The most obvious is that Rwanda is a ‘low-income, food deficit” nation.  Chronic malnutrition stands at 43 percent according to the Comprehensive Food Security and Vulnerability Analysis.  In fact, it is estimated the effects of undernutrition cost the country $820 million annually (11.5% of the GDP), although all the figures I just shared are much improved over just a few years ago.

I see very few overweight people here which is surprising because the human body is constantly trying to store extra fat and most of the middle aged adults I’d seen in the other developing countries were definitely a bit clinically overweight.  In the United States there is gluttony of food and it is healthier to be thinner.  Here it is healthier to have a bit of extra fat.

I still can't decide whether this honesty is refreshing or indelicate.  And in the end, I suppose it doesn't matter, because it will happen no matter what I think of it.