One of our original blog posts stated five differences we encountered upon arrival in our new country. Here are five more:
Food is normally washed and prepared outside the restaurant on the front sidewalk:
Extremely large loads are carried on bicycles and tricycles.
Umbrellas are very often used to keep the sun off.
Brooms are handmade by sweepers who try hard to keep the dirt and dust off our streets.
Dental procedures are performed at the front door/window of the clinic and hospital beds are in plain view of people passing by. While our “individualist” culture appreciates privacy, we presume that the local “collectivist” culture is attracted to busy and open medical providers:
Some differences are good and some are bad. Most are just different! One time a friend asked me what I miss back in the States. I told her I’d reply some day in a blog. So here goes: Without question, we miss family and friends the most! Other than that, my list seems trivial. But in case you’re interested, here are few other thoughts:
Central heat and air conditioning, a dryer (especially on rainy days), a dishwasher, a real oven that I don’t have to constantly watch, drinkable water from the faucet, not having to sanitize fruits and vegetables, a garbage disposal, toilet paper readily available in public places (and the ability to flush it), closets to store things, easily being able to send and receive paper mail, shelves of cereals at Wal-Mart, Arnold 12-Grain bread, Cool Whip, sour cream, Breyer’s Ice Cream, margarine or butter with lines on the wrapper for measuring, a full size refrigerator and freezer, a clothes washer big enough to wash an entire set of sheets, clothes that don’t smell like smoke after hanging them out, not having to put on slippers when entering the house or different slippers for going on the porch, carpets, not having to sweep up dust almost every day, shopping without salespeople watching my every move, faster internet, having and driving a car, being able to shop on my own, being able to read directions on instruction manuals, etc., understanding people… That’s a start!….
[By the way, sometime in the future, I hope to write what I miss about China!]
Enjoyed your latest blog. Makes me REALLY appreciate what I have!
the load on that trike is just insane. wow.
I was just thinking the same thing, Timothy! I also love how clean all of those potatoes are going to be just sitting on the ground outside the restaurant. I’m glad you wrote about what your missing from the States-it helps me with my grocery list 😉
Timothy, Most of that load is styrofoam, collected by trash pickers, staged at a local junk dealer, then transported by trike to a recycler. Based on the height of some of these loads, I can only guess that each driver has found the “tipping point” by trial and error, then backs off just a little.
Laurie, we try not to think about such things, especially when the cook’s toddler with split pants is standing nearby. But just to maintain our beefed-up immune systems, please don’t wash your pots and plates while we’re visiting…
Wow! Maybe its just because I’m leaving for semi-American life in a few days, but I REALLY, REALLY, relate to every one of these and have found myself thinking longingly for them a lot recently. ! I’m sorry to say that 3 full time years and 10 short term trips later, I still haven’t managed to let myself forget how nice the conveniences I grew up with are.
Although I could greatly expand your list, I’ll just add 1 thing: A WESTERN BATHROOM…complete with a toilet where you can sit instead of squat, toilet paper that can be flushed, a sink with hot water and soap, paper towels to dry my hands, doors that lock (as a rule instead of an exception), a non-sewer smell, and a BATHTUB!
Angie, since we’ve been blessed with a “sittie,” you can come to our apartment and use it whenever you need a bit of Western comfort. I believe that “squatties” have some advantages, however: you don’t need to worry about cleaning the seat in a public restroom and hotel maids save a lot of money on those little paper “sanitized” wrappers!