You find rat tails and mullets fashionable and trendy. 

Riding in a taxi is considered a luxury compared to public transportation.

You constantly speak in broken English…even with teammates and other Americans.

You no longer flinch at the sight of seven geckos on the ceiling but rather are thankful for their presence, knowing they will eat the mosquitoes. 

You would rather use a t-shirt to clean up a spill than precious toilet paper.

Cold weather is 70 degrees.

Air conditioning = Fans

You can set up a water bubble without losing a single drop.

You subconsciously take your shoes off at every threshold.


Four people riding on a moto is no longer impressive.

Sanitation is…wait what is sanitation?

Face masks are no longer assocciated with swine flu but are common everyday attire.

You no longer get excited when you hear the bus has A/C because experience has told you that means the windows roll down…sometimes.

Six month old babes riding on the front of motos is no longer a shock but shows major skills.

Shower heads and flushable toilets are gamechangers.

Your thighs haven’t seen sunlight in 6 months

The only "new release" you've heard is Gangnam Style

You either love rice or hate it. There is no middle ground.

When this is said at the dinner table, “There are only ants on the ground, geckos on the wall, and mosquitoes flying around? This restaurant is so nice! I haven’t seen one rat!”

You've witnessed 354 men peeing on the side of the road…minimum.

You haven’t tasted real coffee in 6 months; Nescafe 3 in 1 all the way!

You’ve given up on single handedly trying to change  the “trash” system. Instead you find yourself joining in by throwing trash in the “piles” found every 5 feet.

A restroom stocked with toilet paper is "really nice".

Socks + Sandals = Embracing Culture 

Seeing kids with pants on is rare.

You no longer say "air conditioning" but instead use the term "air con".

You've become immune to the sound of ANY car horn.

$5 is REALLY expensive.

Shopping for clothes at the market is really difficult since you're 3 times the size of everyone else.

There are two kinds of weather: rainy and hot

$10 for an hour long hot stone massage is REALLY expensive.

You’re ready to turn your car in for a moto or tuk-tuk.