Top Ten Adjustments (So Far)

1. No Electricity. This means candles at night and a very early
bedtime. Otherwise it means I can never use my laptop and hoard care
package batteries. When I use my battery powered speakers I think to
myself, "Do I really want to listen to music right now, will I really
appreciate it?" Gone are the days of brainless background tunes.

2. No Running Water. This means I use the bathroom, the latrine in
my neighbors yard, only when I really need to. It also means that I
pull all of my water from a well (also in my neighbors backyard). The
final implication is the "bucket shower" that I am still not really
used to. I am getting good at it but the shower itself is dirty since
the geese and chickens like to hang out in there when it is not in
use. It is a small outdoor wooden room, like a latrine only without
the hole. I will be honest and say I dont bathe every day.

3. No Privacy. Privacy does not exist here. This is probably the
hardest thing to cope with. People knock on my door all day only
stopping at night time. Sometimes I dont answer and I think that may
be even more stressful than the unexpected guest since not answering
may make me seem like a total weirdo.

4. The Kids. In front on my house is a playground of children who
never tire of trying to gain my attention. They peer in my windows
and talk to me at every possible chance. It is more exhausting than
cute. But sometimes, I think they are cute. They are just curious,
I tell myself. And why wouldnt they be? No one like me has ever
lived in their neighborhood.

5. Food. Although lots of veggies and fruits are available here, I
find myself missing restaurants and foods from the US. Namely
fountain drinks and Mexican food.

6. Language. Walking around town with the language skills of a
three year old is quite an adjustment let me assure you.

7. Free Time. I wake up in the morning and think, "What on earth am
I going to do today?" Generally speaking, it is not comforting to
have an open schedule. I would be busier if I could communicate more,
so I guess over time that will happen. For now I answer, "Fry some
potatoes and read another book."

8. Parasy. A couple of days ago I had a swollen blister like thing
under my big toe nail. This is called parasy. It is a bug that lays
eggs in your skin. So, as advised by the doctor, I opened it up and
got the eggs out. It was exactly like a pimple, only in my heart I
knew some little critter had lain eggs and that it was eggs I was
peering at. Gross. And common here, it will happen again.

9. Biking. I am slowly starting to use my peace corps issued bike
and it is quite a work out.

10. Celebrity. I have been on TV three times since I got here.
People recognize me all the time. People know my name. When I walk
down the street I am like a politician on the campaign trail waving
and smiling. And adolescent dreams that remained in my soul about
wanting to be famous or known have been completely wiped out. I am
just not polite enough.