Talking to my dad the other day I told him some things I missed about home, it was nothing you can fit in a care package so I thought it'd make a good blog entry. After nearly 5 months away
1) I will never again mock the fact that there is literally a Starbucks or other coffee shop on every corner of American streets. I miss having coffee prepared for me even if I have to pay for it! It's not even an option here in the village fahgettaboutit but even in town centers you may be lucky to find one place that serves it and there's a good chance they will run out they day you are running on fumes!
2) ive said this one a lot before but it's worth repeating, running water. For showers, washing dishes, and hands. It's probably silly but I feel the water pressure actually adds to the cleaning.
3) restaurants - it's the epitome of irony that where it takes the most energy to make food there is the least caloric food made available. Having one meal at Applebee's here would provide the calories they need to make the other two meals of the day, collecting and chopping firewood, blowing on burning embers until fire roars, for a bowl of soup or a heap of fufu it all requires more calories than will be consumed. At least it feels like it.
4) refrigeration - going off the last one - you can't even save the food for more than a day after all the work to start the fire and cook. If you want something like meat well you either invite the neighbors or bargain for the smallest portion worth buying.
5) affordable postpaid cell plans- the prepaid units are expensive, environmentally wasteful and just plain inconvenient!
6) diversity - I've mentioned this in previous posts but I really miss being able to talk with or see people from all over the world on a daily basis, without looking for some "ex pat" community hangout in a city hours away.
7) physical freedom - I can't hold the hand of a guy friend let alone give them a hug. I can't ask someone to massage my shoulders. I can't even say out loud what I really feel half the time. It's as if displaying any negativity is a sign of the devil. No wonder nothing gets fixed how can it when you don't recognize problems? It has to be an international priority to get in the mind if a Malawian.
8) not sleeping under a mosquito net! It's just annoying tucking and returning every time u want to get up or lay down!
9) cars and driving laws- yes our traffic is a nightmare but imagine commutes on bicycles or foot as the only option! while the option to ride or walk is nice to have like major cities on the east coast have public bike share programs and trains that can give you a pleasurable walk from the station to your office. It's not the same as going weeks without even seeing a car! And when you do ride in one knowing you'll be comfortable and not packed like a sardine (except maybe that morning commute hour on the DC metro) =)
10) last but not least indoor toilets with actual toilet seats! Yep topping off the list something's just shouldn't have to be done in places where insects are buzzing and crawling. Some things require a certain degree of comfort. Enough said.
