One month ago, today...

we arrived here in country.  It has definitely been full of new experiences.  

Here are some things I've (Erin) gotten used to:

-Cold showers...this has become very refreshing and my favorite thing before bed AND in the morning.

-Crossing this street on the way to class (Monday-Friday)

South bound lanes

 

 

 

 

North bound lanes

-fruit...it has been great to eat many new fruits and familiar ones, most I don't know what to call in English

don't know what to call this, but the boys love them, Caedmon's holding the fruit, the peel is on the plate, next to the small dark seeds

Things I'm still getting use to:

-bone in...everything (chicken, beef, fish, and even shrimp - sometimes)

-rice morning, noon and night

this is a typical meal, anytime of the day: rice, fish, chicken, and fried soy bean cake in the middle

-driving on the left side of the road...no we haven't driven here yet, but I still have to think really hard about which is the best side to walk on and get in and out of a taxi on.

-the heat and humidity...I just expect to always be hot and sticky, but I've actually noticed a difference in temp if it's cloudy, or raining, or breezy

Mold all over...after getting wet on the bottom during the flood, apparently we didn't make sure it dried out.

We celebrated the middle son's birthday with them!

-not being able to communicate...this really makes developing relationships difficult. 

 

Friday night Flood

Friday night was a night of firsts:
The first time I (John) could ever say "The rain has washed my underwear" in our new language (yes, while I was still wearing them). As a new local friend and I returned to his home from a bikeride, the rain had begun REALLY pouring.
The first time I ever opened the door of an suv, and worried that water would get in before I could get out.
A second thought, simultaneous to the last, was (after I paused a moment following Erin's suggestion to take our shoes off before exiting the vehicle) "I'd rather have wet shoes than hepatitis." (the gutters are usually full of garbage and water of questionable sources, and these had overflowed into the streets).
First time I ever swept water (for hours) from the dining room, living room, bedrooms, and family room of a house (yes, the house where we are living; no, none of our possessions were ruined).
Thanks for letting me share the excitement!