…of some of the things that have caught me off gaurd so far. I keep telling myself that they aren’t weird or anything, just different than what I’m used to, but still, they are some of the things that are keeping me on my toes.
- Toilet paper goes in the trash, not the toilet.
- Uh…yeah. Not weird, just different. But maybe a little weird to my western nose.
- Fried rice at breakfast.
- And soup, and veggies, and rice. And, for now anyway, at the hotel, little bitty pancakes and cereal and toast and fried eggs. Oh, and these cheesecake-ish things that are more like fluff than cheesecake but still really tasty.
- Scooters. Lots and lots and lots of scooters.
- That’s pretty cool, actually. I didn’t think I was going to want one, but now I’m beginning to wonder if I could pass the test that is required to get licensed to drive a scooter legally.
- The sun’s schedule.
- Daylight comes really, really early here, as does the twilight and darkness. By 6:00am, the sun is fully up, and by 7:30 or so, it’s already fairly high in the sky. Then, by about 7:15 or 7:30, it’s already dark. Of course, walking around to find food isn’t difficult, as we’re in a city with plenty of streetlights and signs to light the way, but the sun has gone on. I guess the island is on the eastern end of its time zone?
- How completely unprepared I was to not be able to do so many of the things I’ve always taken for granted.
- I have no idea, really, what restaurants serve unless there’s an illustrated menu. Even then, though, I’m not entirely sure - is that fried thing fish? Chicken? How much is it? Yesterday, Seth and I went in search of food, and much to my disappointment, I found I couldn’t hack it. We even found a shop with food set out with clear prices - all we had to do was point and pay, and they’d make it fresh. The woman working even got her son to tell us a little more about what there was. But it was weird looking - wait, I’m sorry, it was very different that what I’m accustomed to - and I felt pressured, and just sort of buckled. Completely disappointed in myself, I told Seth that I just wanted a diet Coke, and I’d be fine. So, we set off back home, stopping at the 7-11 on the way to pick up some Coke lite for me and some ramen in a cup for him, and I ended up feeling utterly pathetic. Here’s hoping I’ll do better soon.
July 31, 2007 at 8:20 am
What a lot of new stuff to learn! But before you realize, you’ll know just what you want to order and whether it’s fish or chicken. Not to worry.
July 31, 2007 at 9:10 am
On toilets…
Just wait until you run into your first non-western style squat toilet. Ah, the image of concrete with footpads takes me back…
On scooters…
A license? Please. You would be the only “waiguoren” in the country with a license. Just get a scooter and go. I hope you like pinball because once you get on that scooter you’re the ball. Better than being a bumper, which is what you are as a pedestrian.
On the sun’s schedule…
The closer to the equator you go the more the day is split equally in half. 12 hours of sun, 12 hours night. Neat huh? Go to Bali before you come home (it’s on the equator) to experience this wonder first hand but forget your watch.
On food…
Quit being a cry baby and get some grub.
Have you seen the bakeries yet? Don’t do it! Resist! They seduce you with their glazey goodness and in your weakened ‘i’m starving because i’m a wuss’ state you might be enticed to partake in their promise of warm familiar sustenance, but remember they are just baked doppelgangers of the real deal. You’ve been warned…again.
Hope you’re having fun! Remember to smile. Good times.