Only Here...

After attending church this afternoon, Abby and I decided to splurge and go to our favorite restaurant for dinner. The sermon was on fasting...therefore we feasted. All that talk about fasting for the Lord gave us an appetite.


While we were there we decided and discussed things that only happen here:

ONLY HERE:

When we(westerners) walk into a restaurant/store they turn the music up really loud. Tonight they were playing Michael Jackson. It's always songs we rarely listen to so when we hear them we sing. So, tonight as we were eating, I was singing "Beat It" to Abby. In KFC they always play N'Sync and Backstreet Boys songs and I always feel compelled to sing. It's horrible...I don't/can't sing. I think when we sing it only encourages them to turn the volume up louder.

ONLY HERE:

Are men allowed to use the bathroom anywhere. One day I'm going to count and see how many men I see using the bathroom. It's so gross. Once I was in an auto, and my driver pulled over the use the bathroom. It's so normal here. I'm repulsed every time.

ONLY HERE:

Do men hold hands w/ each other while walking down the street. They hang all over each other. Tonight Abby and saw three grown guys on motorcycle practically bear hugging each other. That's a common scene too, but that definitely wouldn't happen in the U.S. Abby made a good point when she said "three American men couldn't fit on one motorcycle."

ONLY HERE:

When someone cooks, their neighbors start coughing. The other night, Abby and I were at some friend's house and all of a sudden my eyes started watering, my nose started running, and I started coughing. I didn't know what was happening. Thankfully this time I wasn't the only one coughing. The people that were hosting eventually yelled out the window to his neighbor to stop cooking b/c he had guests. Our friends said their neighbor was burning chillies. It was horrible, they were laughing at me b/c I broke out my tissues.

ONLY HERE:

Are you invited into someone's house only to sit in complete silence. I just don't think anyone knows what to say to us and we don't know what to say to them. It's so awkward, but I think it's normal for them. Abby and I start playing I SPY w/ each other...just kidding.

ONLY HERE:

Do you put clothes in the washing machine only for them to come out dirtier. See the pic. below:

ONLY HERE:

Is cleanliness judged my the amount of new creatures you have in your presence.



I could go on forever...but I'm going to stop. I did get hit my a car tonight. It was funny. I walked behind the car b/c I thought it was going to go forward, but it started reversing and sort of pinned me up against a gate. Thank goodness their cars are the size of toys and it was barely rolling. Don't worry Mom...I'm still in one piece.