After a Few Weeks, It Will Break You

During orientation week, we were debriefed on topics such as culture shock.  I think I tend to hover somewhere between the "honeymoon" and the "frustration" stages.  There was a magnitude 5 earthquake here one night, and it really highlighted the fact that I am very far from home.  One of our favourite dinnertime topics is doomsday situations and what the heck we would actually do in hypothetical situations.  I'm really hoping it doesn't come up.

They say week 6 is where you finally *break*, and start to really give in to the culture you're in.  I'm in the middle of week 5 as I write this.  Here's to jumping in the deep end!

Between the ever-present traffic and people, the dust, the mud, and the smells of garbage, incense, sh*t, small but toxic fires, the most delicious food you'll ever eat, and the bizarre high elevation dreams, you start to feel little bits of yourself give into it every day.  It's finally sinking in that there are certain things I don't have access to here, and certain people I won't see for a very long time (bonus points to friends who come visit).

In the mornings I get up and put on my base layer, if I haven't slept in it, and something nice for teaching.  It seems like it's colder inside than out.  Some days there is no difference between awake and asleep clothes.  We tend to all go to our beds around 7 or 8, after dinner, because it's too cold to hang out in the common areas, unless we go hit the town.  You start to weigh the pros and cons of how dirty your hair is vs. how cold the showering experience is.  I've survived my first round of being sick and am constantly covered in a layer of grime.

The streets are very busy and dangerous.  Crosswalks don't exist here, and you can't walk with headphones in because you need to be able to hear trafffic.  I've been grazed by a few cars so far, but thankfully no injuries yet.  You somehow get used to the mayhem.  And when it's dark, it's DARK.  The power shedding schedule is a bit of a pain at first, but you get the hang of it.  My electric devices are never all at a full charge.  It can be nice to be forced off grid for a bit.

You somehow get used to it all.  The staring, the language barrier, the unwritten cultural rules, the lack of comforts and familiarity.

We've been laughing about all the relatively ridiculous things we complain about in North America.

Here's a list of some things I miss:

• Consistently hot water
• Running water everywhere
• Self-contained showers (so the entire bathroom doesn't get soaking wet)
• Indoor heat (I will be thankful for the cool concrete buildings in warmer seasons)
• Toilets that flush
• "Western", non squat toilets
• The bathroom situation in general
• My princess bed
• Windows that actually close
• Sidewalks
• Not having to be constantly aware of all traffic at all times so you don't get murdered (vehicles, motorcycles especially, drive wherever they need to)
• Mudless streets
• Dustless streets
• Relative quiet
• Friendly, flealess dogs (a few people have looked at me incredulously when I've explained that in Canada we keep dogs as pets indoors and sometimes they even sleep on our beds)
• Good chocolate
• Clean air
• Clean water
• Not having to brush my teeth with bottled water
• Not having to bargain whenever you buy something
• Not struggling to communicate in a very foreign language
• Family and Friends

Here's another list of new things that are awesome:

• Being in the Future (Currently 2071)
• A very strong sense of community
• Living with and meeting other cool people from all over the world
• Trudging through this muddy, confusing, and exciting adventure every day
• Doing work that is hopefully for the greater good
• Dudes on the street that offer you *anything* to buy (I haven't purchased anything)
• Watching the sun set behind the Himalayas on the rooftop
• Crazy taxis that are crazy cheap
• Being so, so appreciative of the little things in life
• Blending into the crowd
• Wearing a mask that makes you look badass
• Insanely cheap food, clothing, and supplies
• Having a cook/housekeeper (it feels weird at first, but homes here are really "households", and it's standard to have someone in charge of the domestic stuff)
• Laundry service!
• Instantly recognizing other tourists and striking up conversation
• Delicious, delicious food.
• Tea! Always.
• All my new friends, big and little

What I've learned:

• A smile can go a long way
• Everyone loves Canadians, and British Columbians are super cool
• You need less than you think
• You can mahango (expensive) yourself out of anything
• It's okay to say no or be less polite
• If someone is talking to you or being nice for more than 30 seconds they probably want money
• There is always a way around,
• And you'll always get there in the end.