There are some things I have already gotten used to…
1. Cramming 12-16 people in our 8 passenger van EVERYday
2. Riding in that van for hours on end rarely knowing where we are going or how
long it will take to get there
3. Being hot and sweaty 90% of the time
4. Having to wear long dresses and cover my shoulders every day
5. Being asked to sing (and do the motions) for people we hardly know when we
go to their house for a meal
6. Having random people video us and take our picture even while we are eating
7. Having roaming cows, pigs, dogs, monkeys, donkeys, ox and water buffalo
everywhere
There are some things I might possibly get used to…
1. Eating egg curry every day (probably not… who am I kidding?!)
2. The constant noise of blaring car horns
3. The reaction we get when people pass us
6. Having women wake us up at 7 am by banging on the door calling "aka" or
"sister" until we answer
7. Or waking up to the sound of women beating the water out of their clothes at 6
am doing laundry
8. Crossing the street in the middle of rushing cars, autos, motorcycles, buses and
oxen pulling carts
Then there are some things I'll never get used to
1. People I've never met inviting me into their home just so I can pray for them
2. People being overjoyed to bless me with a meal (and more than I can possibly
eat) even out of their lack
3. Open sewer drains lining both sides of every street and having to cross them to
go into any house.
4. Seeing a little boy have to use the roadside as a public restroom.
5. Trash lining the streets and fields and the horrible smell it brings
6. Trash and animals in the river.
7. Watching a woman wash her clothes in that same river.
Culture shock is an understatement this month… I couldn't have prepared myself for what awaited when I arrived in India. Some differences are funny and bring a smile to my face but some of them leave me speechless.
