Plastic

I'm tired and don't have anything too meaningful to contribute, but it's my blog after all and I think I'd be doing my few followers an injustice if I didn't mention that plastic bags are illegal in Rwanda. I found this out because I was going to see Maclean's friend's new baby with her and we had a gift and I offered a beautiful plastic bag to put it in and she informed me that we would be stopped and arrested. When Rwanda says no plastic bags, they mean no plastic bags. It's not like the state of Massachusetts saying no texting while driving and me texting at red lights and totally getting away with it. I'm sure one of the 10 policemen carrying shot guns we met on our 15 minute walk would have stopped us. I would hope he would take pity on the poor mzungu, but in Rwanda, rules are rules. 
Given the context that this country has come out of, I understand the need for rules, but sometimes they are kind of silly. Like for instance, the Ministry of Health gave Gihembe a kajillion mosquito nets and apparently all refugees in the country are supposed to be using them. The refugees are using them to keep bugs away from their cooking areas instead of over their beds. Which would be a problem except for the fact that Byumba is too cold for mosquitos with malaria to live. So, honestly, I don't understand what the point is in forcing these refugees to use their mosquito nets correctly. Not that anyone asked me, but come on- there are enough other things to try to get them to do that actually matter to work on something that doesn't matter.
Anyway, in closing, some of the rules are pretty neat. Like on some Saturdays, everyone in the country has to participate in acts of community service like cleaning a park or something. I think that's pretty cool.
Well, I guess I better go find somewhere to hide my ziplock bags. More to come soon. And the baby was really cute by the way. She is almost two weeks old and has no name yet so I suggested Nora totally joking around and the mom was like, yes, that is a beautiful name and I think was seriously considering it. I think I talked her out of it though.