New Norms

So, living here for such a long time, I eventually got used to the funny (to me) things happening around me in my new culture. I eventually didn’t even know what to blog about nor did I continue writing in my diary. Now, with my COS (Close of Service) date coming quickly, I’ve started to notice things with nostalgia that I forgot I used to find weird: • Small children (like 2 years old) riding in front of the adult driving a motorcycle. • Giant spider webs with all sorts of furry and crazy colored spiders, many times a group of 20 spiders or so in a giant network of webs up in the tree branches • Shaming people into treating me fairly by any means necessary. I have literally argued with a conductor (the guy who charges for rides in public transport) in Malawi about how much he was charging me. In the argument I called him a racist as well as a thief. I feel like in the states I could really offend someone • My beers come in half liter bottles • Young children (like, just learning to walk children) wandering freely down the street. Not only wandering, but chewing on plastic bags and/or playing with giant knives. To quote a friend “there is nothing that defines ‘freedom’ like an African child” • An uncanny ability to make kids start crying or shocking crying kids into silence just by my appearance (why is her hair yellow and her skin white!?!?!!!) • Water is a major stressor in my life—how are we going to flush the toilet today? • All of my TV viewing (a major part of my life in the states) is done via downloads and is entirely dependent on other’s abilities to get it for me • I only talk to my family every 2 weeks • This is as close as I’ll get to being famous. Everyone knows who I am, and little children shout my name in the streets, random people want pictures with me, etc. • I can tell my students to do anything and they’ll do it without question. “Hey! Here’s the money, go get me some cookies” and they do it with pleasure. As well as carrying my bags at anytime, offering me a banana, etc. • It is possible to live without running water • I am completely dependent on public transport or the goodwill of people that will give me a ride (I’ve grown to prefer hitchhiking) And all of this happens on the left side of the road. • I walk about 2 miles a day. • I can full on ignore people without giving anything away. Any shout of “hey baby!!” or “Muzungo! (white person!)” and it looks like you’re yelling at a deaf and blind person. If you’re right beside me at a bar or something I literally move my head to avoid any eye contact. • Cranes frequent my yard. Like those big white cranes that you see on Nat Geo • I love the ridiculous questions trainees ask. “Do they have fridges in Africa?” Yes, yes they do. • Meat and dairy products are a luxury usually to be had at large group gatherings or special events (like a birthday) • Public breastfeeding. Even in my classroom…um hm • Livestock on public transport. Chickens, roosters, goats, and once even a pig