It’s funny the things that become normal in what seems to be such a short amount of time. 18 months compared to a lifespan seems so little, but it’s amazing how quickly one adjusts. I was thinking the other day about everything that I don’t notice any more, and the below are things that I don’t really notice anymore and have become quite…normal!
1. Sitting at a stoplight, and seeing a horse with a cart, dirtbike, 4-wheeler, and car…all at the same stoplight.
2. Drinking soda out of glass bottles.
3. Trucks meandering through the city, with mega-speakers on back, blaring commercials.
4. Latrines
5. Tile floors
6. Only cold water out of faucets
7. The constant swarm of ants, spiders, flies and mosquitoes around the house
8. The propane tank, hooked up to our stove and sitting under the kitchen faucet
9. Basically no wildlife to speak of, except perhaps the occasional parrot
10. No such thing as an appointment at a doctor’s office
11. No prescriptions for pharmacies
12. Seeing people bathe, wash their clothes and pee in the river, all at the same time
13. Feeling shocked when I see blond hair or white skin
14. Using public transportation, such as buses or taxis
15. Getting parasites
16. Taking medication for parasites every 3 months…JUST IN CASE I have parasites
17. Raw meat hanging out in the open, sold for human consumption
18. Getting raw milk from your neighbor and carrying it home in a bucket
19. The cow bell ringing, announcing the coming of the trash truck
20. No glass in the windows, only dampers (hence, the constant line of bugs)
21. The city trucks driving the streets at night, fumigating for mosquitoes
22. No apples, pears, peaches, plums, apricots, grapes, cherries, strawberries or blueberries
23. LOTS of bananas, pineapples, mangoes and other exotic fruits…although I guess the fruits above are now the exotic fruit
small and big details of our life in the U.S. after life overseas
2 comments:
Good Morning, my name is Michael and my Cousin is in Ncaragua right now with the BIC World Ministries from Landisville, PA, I believe.
Her name is Jen and we are trying to see if she made it safely and how we can BLOG with her while she is there.
She is traveling to Piedra Menuda, Nicaragua.
Any help you can give would be great.
Ha ha! Nice! Your list made me think of sooo many similar quirks that have become second nature for me here! One of the most pervasive is a total sense of impending need to be flexible. Events are constantly canceled last minute and visitors drop by unexpectedly. Beyond that I've adapted to hour-long bus commutes to rowing, eating meals at odd hours, birthday parties for young children at midnight, and yes, lots of cold water taps!!!
Post a Comment