My standards have lowered significantly in the last few months. Let me unload that statement. What I mean is that I’ve noticed that in some areas, I am much more relaxed than I used to be. Examples: I don’t wash my feet before bed. Sorry mom, I sense your disgust from across the world. I have seen that my feel will always be dirty here. Perma-dirt. Doesn’t come off no matter how you scrub. At home this would gross me out- my sheets will be dirty! But here, I just don’t really care that much. I pay my laundry boy pretty well anyways, he can get the dirt out. I spend my time frivolously here. Before I came, I thought everything I did in Africa would by purposeful and idyllic. Playing soccer in the fields till dark with little barefoot kids. While I find lots of time to do that sort of thing, and it is purposeful and fun, I also just spend time doing whatever I want. Lying outside and listening to the birds, or watching movies especially! Having some kind of “escape” activity keeps you sane over here, as huge of a waste of time as it might seem. It is okay! I have let myself waste some time, and I’m a lot happier because of it. Also, rainy season means ants. Tiny little ants everywhere (Sarah M., these aren’t the flying ones- these are little like the ones at home) and they get into any food. So I just take the whole mess outside, shake off all the ants I can see, and then watch tv while I eat to prevent ever actually LOOKING at the food. Call me Jungle Woman! Psshh and I complained about asymmetrical chicken cubes at home (actually, to be honest, I haven’t even come close to eating meat here. The only times I’ve had it is in Kigali when other Canadians cook hamburger for me.) but that is another story. Another good one- mealtimes. Maybe this isn’t an “Africa” thing as much as it is just a “living alone” thing. I don’t really observe any structured mealtime schedule. This normally drives me crazy- I want to know when and where and what everything will be. But now, if I feel like having pop and cookies for dinner/breakfast, I go for it. If my guacamole is spoiling, it becomes breakfast! Pineapple is going soft? Eat the whole thing for dinner! This is my rebellion against living in a dorm for 2 years, I guess. Maybe those things are not too important. Some standards are meant to be lowered! Don’t worry, I still brush my teeth lots and get dressed properly almost every day (aka no pajama days). I cook often enough to eat healthy, and I don’t eat bugs bigger than ants intentionally. I still boil my water and take malaria pills. All the important things! (photo: look close and you can see a “butcher”- roadside stands near Mbarara. I see: rabbits, pigs, goats, and at least 1 cow. The guys with white coats are happy to machete off whatever cut of meat you need. These are killed and skinned in the morning, and hang in the sun all day. Vivid enough for you? I didn’t think I needed to get out of the bus for a closer picture.)

My standards have lowered significantly in the last few months. Let me unload that statement. What I mean is that I’ve noticed that in some areas, I am much more relaxed than I used to be. Examples:

I don’t wash my feet before bed. Sorry mom, I sense your disgust from across the world. I have seen that my feel will always be dirty here. Perma-dirt. Doesn’t come off no matter how you scrub. At home this would gross me out- my sheets will be dirty! But here, I just don’t really care that much. I pay my laundry boy pretty well anyways, he can get the dirt out.

I spend my time frivolously here. Before I came, I thought everything I did in Africa would by purposeful and idyllic. Playing soccer in the fields till dark with little barefoot kids. While I find lots of time to do that sort of thing, and it is purposeful and fun, I also just spend time doing whatever I want. Lying outside and listening to the birds, or watching movies especially! Having some kind of “escape” activity keeps you sane over here, as huge of a waste of time as it might seem. It is okay! I have let myself waste some time, and I’m a lot happier because of it.

Also, rainy season means ants. Tiny little ants everywhere (Sarah M., these aren’t the flying ones- these are little like the ones at home) and they get into any food. So I just take the whole mess outside, shake off all the ants I can see, and then watch tv while I eat to prevent ever actually LOOKING at the food. Call me Jungle Woman! Psshh and I complained about asymmetrical chicken cubes at home (actually, to be honest, I haven’t even come close to eating meat here. The only times I’ve had it is in Kigali when other Canadians cook hamburger for me.) but that is another story.

Another good one- mealtimes. Maybe this isn’t an “Africa” thing as much as it is just a “living alone” thing. I don’t really observe any structured mealtime schedule. This normally drives me crazy- I want to know when and where and what everything will be. But now, if I feel like having pop and cookies for dinner/breakfast, I go for it. If my guacamole is spoiling, it becomes breakfast! Pineapple is going soft? Eat the whole thing for dinner! This is my rebellion against living in a dorm for 2 years, I guess.

Maybe those things are not too important. Some standards are meant to be lowered! Don’t worry, I still brush my teeth lots and get dressed properly almost every day (aka no pajama days). I cook often enough to eat healthy, and I don’t eat bugs bigger than ants intentionally. I still boil my water and take malaria pills. All the important things!

(photo: look close and you can see a “butcher”- roadside stands near Mbarara. I see: rabbits, pigs, goats, and at least 1 cow. The guys with white coats are happy to machete off whatever cut of meat you need. These are killed and skinned in the morning, and hang in the sun all day. Vivid enough for you? I didn’t think I needed to get out of the bus for a closer picture.)