Every week I will be sharing my journey in Eastern Congo; this week, I explore Congolese culture by sharing more about my first encounters with the people of Goma.

I don’t know about you, Students Rebuilders, but I am a very curious individual. Just before I travel to a new country, my head is always filled with question: What are people like there? What do they do in the evenings? What do they eat? How do they dress? I am eager to learn about the culture and traditions through my encounters with the local people. This week, I will be sharing with you my first impressions of Congolese culture.

In the last 10 days, my general preconceived notions about Eastern Congo have been dispelled. I was expecting a tense climate in Goma due to the ongoing conflict; I was expecting the people to be somewhat distressed, hardened to the daily challenges of life and - as most people - I was picturing poverty to be transparent in everyone’s eyes. Well, as you might have guessed, Students Rebuilders, my first impressions on the ground have been quite the contrary! I am surprised by how full of contradictions this country is.

Every morning, I wake up to a very bright light though it is filled with a bit of haze from the fog and dirt. On my way to work, I notice the beautiful and chic houses by Lake Kivu while the roads around them seem to be only made of dust. In the mix of smells and unidentified noises, I hear most people warmly calling each other maman and papa; did you know than in Eastern Congo you always call your elders papa or maman – which in French means mum and dad? French being my first language, believe me it makes my life in Goma very interesting – calling all the people I meet mum and dad! The city comes to life as women fill the streets in their colorful dress. Many of these Congolese women, despite living in a challenging environment, walk with pride and remain sophisticated. Curious about this, I did my bit of research and found that Congolese take great pride in their appearance and in the way they dress. There seems to be an unwritten rule which states that the nicer one’s outer appearance, the more respect one will receive. The result? Very colorful outfits, long skirts and delicate hairdos. The fabric - used to create dresses, shirts or the traditional ‘pagne’ – often is made to order for special occasions. However, I found that they have multiple uses - from clothing to headscarves, to baby carriers. They are even used as an accessory that allows you to carry groceries on your head! Despite their use, what stands out is the colors that make the dull roads pop. Back in Belgium, our top color choices tend to be grey, black, blue or any other plain colors (including me!); here it’s like a rainbow, I mean check out the photo above! More than fashion items, these fabrics intertwine with all aspects of daily life and represent the essence of Congolese culture.

It’s been nice discovering the small contradictions of this city through its people- I am sure I will continue to find more surprises and I can’t wait to share those with you. Next week my post will be on what I learn about the city of Goma. Don’t forget- this is not just my journey but yours too! What would you like to know about daily life in Goma, Eastern Congo?

Read Pauline's last blog post here.