Stuffing Your Face in Public

Is it like when you see your doctor smoking?

This is the only question comparison that makes sense to me at this point. I was talking to my coworker a few days ago. She was lamenting over witnessing a fellow nurse eating an amandozi (fried dough) in public, on the side of the main road. This hits the general rule or no eating or drinking in public. I have never fully understood this cultural rule so I thought I'd push the issue now since she brought it up.

All I got out of her was that people would no longer respect her as a nurse if they had seen her eating in public. Was it because she was eating unhealthy food? Unlikely, since it encompasses all food and drink. The only exceptions are when you on a long bus ride or at an outdoor cafe. Otherwise, it's a no-no.

The discussion moved onto how the person eating in public would probably litter afterward and that would look bad too. Even if litter was taken out of the equation, she just kept shaking her head in disgust over this woman's actions.

I tried to explain how everyone in the US eats in public, all the time, and we don't knock people's work credentials for doing it.

But come to think of it, think of how much less snacking you would do if you weren't allowed to eat out in the open. Rwandans may be on to something.

Still trying to get to the bottom of this one…another cultural mystery goes unsolved…until next time.