So... turns out that I'm not done giving you updates about my current life.
The average observer would probably find it very unexciting at this point, unless troubleshooting configuration issues for a highly specific sort of software is especially your thing...but you know what? Moments make the day, and I'm still getting some thrills out of mine.
Which is good. Because, well, I'm not ready to let go. So even though to all/most/some appearances I may be leading a regular life, the behind-the-scenes is still a little nuts.
Unless you've lived abroad in a tropical/Latin American/Peace Corps situation, some or all of my top five moments of "You Know You Haven't Reassimilated Yet When..." of the last week might sound a little crazy. But here goes.
You know you haven't assimilated when you find yourself...
1) Judging people for wearing loose jeans.
Don't get me wrong, I'm super into loose clothing. It's just that loose jeans are NOT a thing on the Caribbean coast. You see, the idea there is that no matter your size, jeans should be worn so tight that the act of donning them involves its own sort of pogo-stick workout, where each jump equals about another inch of gained ground on the fabric-covering-flesh front. I knew a Volunteer whose host mother literally swiped her jeans so she could "take them in," and make them properly tight.
I actually went to great lengths to avoid this fashion in Colombia, and certainly don't wear my own jeans tight now...but I now find myself watching people walk by in loose jeans and shaking my head, envisioning the disapproving stares of the coastal community.
How are you supposed to dance in those? You can't even see your hips!
2) Getting super excited about toilet paper
The other day, I went to the bathroom at work. I looked down and saw there were two EMPTY rolls in the container. I panicked. This was not a drip-dry situation. And then, I looked again. There above those two rolls...WERE TWO MORE FULL ROLLS of toilet paper. I was looking at a FOUR ROLL DISPENSER. This is genius. GENIUS! Such foresight! That smile stayed on my face all day.
3) Keeping a drawer-ful of used plastic ziplocs
There's nothing wrong with reusing a plastic bag. NOTHING! I doubt there are many people who would disagree with me...but I guess the day will come when I, too, think it's weird that I have kept all the zippy plastic bags that I brought back with me from Colombia. That I first acquired in the US, 2+ years ago. They're still good! I'm sure I'll pack up my life again sometime in the not-too-far-away future, and those holes can always be duck taped...
4) Only taking one shower a week
I debated whether I should put this. Because, I guess, even I know that's maybe not just weird...but a little wrong.
I should be very clear: If my host family knew I did this, they would disown me! On the coast of Colombia, 1-2 showers a day are REQUIRED. If a shower hasn't happened, you are NOT fit for company. When the water goes out, you find water to bathe with or you don't leave the house.
It's just, well, I'm not sweating anymore. Not at work, not getting to work, not coming home, not sleeping...not even working out. It's cold 'round these parts!!! So unless I see dirt, or start to smell myself, I'm pretty sure I'm clean. Yeah. That IS how it works, right?
5) Thinking that living with your parents at age 25 is totally normal
The pre-Peace Corps me is shrieking at this statement. I'm learning to figure out when to suppress her, though, and this is one of those times.
I have very logical reasons for living with my parents, including saving money for graduate school, the fact that we work for the same organization, and that I'm planning to stay in the area for less than a year. Beyond that, I'm actually enjoying it.
I would never have lived with my parents again, had I not been in the Peace Corps. But I would probably have missed getting to know them as an adult (oof that word adult was pretty hard to type. DENIAL! But I am. I am!). Anyway, phone calls just don't do that sort of relationship justice. Our work schedule means we actually don't see each other all that much, but it's been cool to hang out for dinner, cooking, whatever. Of course we still have our fights...but that's just what Italian families do!
And they have a sofa. That's pretty cool, too.
I'm not going to lie, in some ways it makes me happy when I have these moments. I like to remember how I lived in Colombia but not put it on a pedestal; to remember to not take things for granted; to weigh all the pros and cons while I work on my next-next future plans.
I've been working in my cubicle for three weeks, now. Sometimes, it's a little scary how "normal" I find it. Right down to remembering all these random things about the software I work with now, that I also worked with over two years ago. I mean, this is totally arcane knowledge, completely useless in any life that doesn't involve the software. So on the one hand it's like, BRAIN, dude, didn't you have a better use for all that space? And on the other, well, makes the job a lot easier. Even if it is disconcerting.
Anyhoo. There are things I think about that are more important than toilet paper. Like cultural values, and sustainability, and the fact that I've spent the last four years of my life "figuring out" what I want to do next, and that I'm closer to it but I still don't totally know and it requires some things to fall into place I'm still waiting to hear about, and that the clock is ticking and that being happy means finding something to do in life not just as a place-holder, but one that can be enjoyed for what it is and how I engage with it, rather than just the resulting benefits it brings now or in the future.
Also about grammar. I do think about grammar. Occasionally. :) Happy Friday!
