Marvin Matheis came to Kigali five months ago, “to see the real life in Rwanda, exchange thoughts with its citizens and profit from another way of living and totally different attitudes compared to European ones.” Currently volunteering for the environmental NGO, ARECO-Rwanda Nziza, he shared his perspectives about Rwanda with MOSES OPOBOWhat makes Rwanda as a country tick? Reasonable Politicians, a lot of street police, people who carry their food in paper envelopes and do not eat on the street, very well cleaned shoes, big mountains of food on the plates which prevent you from continuing work for at least two hours, people standing tidy in a queue to wait for a bus in Nyabugogo bus station, and good streets.Are you a part of the local culture? Yes, very luckily I am. I would even describe my home as a meeting point of locals because there are sometimes so many people coming and going. This lifestyle of just visiting each other is totally different from the strict “European visiting rules”, but I enjoy it most of the time. I relax with my friends, cook African or European food together, play basketball with them, listen to music and try to sing Rwandan songs, or just exchange ideas (most of the time about girls). When I walk through Kacyiru Akabagari on Saturdays, wearing short sports trousers and a vest to buy some Ikivuguto I always meet people I know.Talk about motors and commuter taxis I use both means of transport, because I have no car and think anyway that travelling by taxi or motor is better for environment. What I do not like about the motorcyclists is that they are always trying to catch my attention if I pass by, although I think I am confident enough to get a motorbike myself. All in all, I am convinced that the transport system is very efficient here. Unfortunately night taxis are missing.
