My teammate and I have consistently used the phrase
“This is the new normal” and the other phrase we use quite a bit, complete with
a smirk, is “My, look how far we've come!”
Would you like some examples of our new normal??!
* Going to the latrine with more than 10 cockroaches in it.
*Before, if I saw one, I would run away* Well, sometimes you just can't run…
* Walking around in gum boots in the rainy season. After returning from the latrine, Melinda
warned me, “It’s kinda wonky to squat with the gum boots on.” Soon it was my
turn to use the gum boots, and when I returned to the room, I said “Yes, it was
a bit wonky. Agreed. BUT, they are much bigger than my flip flop, so I can kill
more bugs when I step!!” It’s the little things in life that bring us joy…
* Since January my teammate and I have been living in a small
room with most of our possessions. And we are just so hospitable, that we also allow
mice to live with us.
* I purchased a stool which has proven to act as a great table
(we put a bucket cover over it to be the ‘top’) and we sit on the floor on our
mats (one of which the stupid mouse ate a big hole in!! I was NOT happy!) Who
needs chairs and tables?
* Popcorn is a great meal.
* Having the desire to throw my phone across the room because
the connection is so bad.
* Self diagnosis for medical problems. Everybody has monkey
pox. Watch out ;)
*My watch broke, and I tried to repair it with electrical
tape. 3 times. I finally gave up and have made peace with not knowing the time.
*Any road which is ‘passable’ is considered ‘not bad.’ It doesn’t
matter if the average speed is 15 mph for 7 hours. The road is good if we made
it. Agreed.
*Beans in a ‘to go’ plastic bag is a great meal. Beans in a
bag. Someone can market that, come on!
*I believe that having an extra 10 pounds on you is good
because you never know when you will get sick. Those extra pounds really help
you when you are sick and not able to eat or keep anything in you. If you are
already thin and you get sick, things can go from bad to very bad much quicker…
*Lukewarm drinks aren't awful. I used to not enjoy anything that wasn’t uber cold. Now I don’t mind. Of course, given the choice, I choose cold, but I don’t scorn the room temperature drinks.
* Land mines blowing up
(controlled) in town is normal. As are
rocket launchers.
* Driving in the rain on the awful roads. I never
wanted to drive at all, nonetheless in the rain in NA. Not a big deal anymore.
* When reading Romans 8, the part that now speaks the most to
me is 18-39. Before it was 1-18.
But, thankfully, our new tukuls will be ready soon! We will actually have a tables and chairs. It will be like a
palace ;)
