Sure, you think you’re all that because you grew up in a developed country that didn’t go to war, that is not completely corrupt, that has good roads, a working government, a history with plenty of culture, that was never colonised and then some.

What could you possibly learn in the DRC, you may ask? Well, a lot.

Here’s my list :

• You can learn to smile and be brave. You think your life is hard? Try waking up everyday at 4am to get into an old broken down bus for 2 hours and then walk or get on a speeding motorcycle without any protection for 30 min to your office? And without AC as well! If a Kinois can smile and do that every day, surely you can get through your day.
• Love of nature and the Congo river. Stand for a minute looking at the Congo river. It calms you down. Do it often, and you will feel a change inside you.
• In Kinshasa, the traffic and chaos around you teaches you to look inside you and find peace and calmness, and not let the outside world damage your peace.
• Living in fear of change and injustice. In Kinshasa, your world can change in an instant. A beggar becomes a millionnaire, a millionnaire becomes a beggar. It has happened and can still happen. So be careful how you treat everyone…
• Do you have a big family? Well imagine your whole family needing money or help everyday because you have a good job. Someone died or lost their job? You have a lot more, so give them some. In the DRC, they help each other or else you’re seen as selfish.
• Parents and grandparents don’t get sent to old age homes. They live with their kids until the end. Families stick together or so it seems. In the west, everyone lives alone.
• Homes are open in Congo. There is always room at the table for a friend or a family member.
• Their kids are their wealth. Not their bank accounts, jobs or status. Have as many kids as you can because they are the key to your success, is what I have heard.
• Get married and start a family as soon as possible, don’t be single and don’t live alone. “When are you getting married?” is a common question asked to single people here.
• There is no personal space. Work and personal time are mixed. Colleagues can easily become friends, and very quickly!
• Your church and God are very important. They give you hope in a hard place where opportunities are rare.
• Roll with the punches. If life gives you lemons, the Congolese will teach you to make Sprite. Things don’t always go to plan, so get out of the traffic, find a terrasse and have a cold beer (or a warm one!) with a new friend.
• Nothing dies in Congo. Even an old broken car or truck in the US or Europe can run for 10 more years here. “One man’s garbage is another man’s treasure” as they say. All the taxis here are old Mercedes Benz Sprinters that have no breaks, but their engines still run fine!
• You think you work hard? Try pushing a garbage trolley through the city in 35 degree weather without water or food? Look at them. You go to the gym but you’re still fat. They push those carts all day, everyday, and still look fitter than your favourite Hollywood super star.
• Everyone is easy going here. Mostly. In western countries, there are a million rules and places to be and things to do. Here, we have time, lots of time. Except when we are driving.
• Negotiations are part of life. Elsewhere, a price is price. Here, there is no price. The highest price is the correct price. Especially if you can afford it.
• Opportunities are everywhere. Every one is looking for one. Maybe you are their opportunity to a free lunch! Watch out!
• Most people are very helpful and chatty. Ask for help, you’ll most likely get it!
• Smiling is always better than a frown or a complaint.
• Learn to greet everyone, even the ones you don’t like.
• Be patient and understanding. Don’t get angry. Listen.
• God is important. The Bible or the Coran. That is the source of their strength, learn to understand it. You will learn a lot about them.
• Family is everything.
• Even in hard times and misery, you can find a reason to smile and dance, ask anyone in DRC, they will show you.
• There’s an artist in everyone, even you.
• Congolese music touches your soul. Especially the old stuff (Tshala Muana, Franco, OK Jazz, Tabu Ley Rochereau: see my post Music in the DRC).

What have you learned in the DRC?