A few observations

I've learned a few things about living in this new place. I thought I would share.

1. Water is all too important. I know this is true everywhere but when you live in a place where even those that were born and raised here don't drink the tap water you know it's bad. We use tap water to wash dishes and bathe but nothing that enters our bodies comes from the tap unless it has been boiled first.

2. Pedestrians do NOT have the right of way. Ever. Period. There is also no such thing as J walking so there is a constant flow of people darting through traffic. I have become quite good at this, even while pushing a stroller or dragging a 3 year old.

3. Traffic laws mean nothing. Basically the largest vehicle wins. Lines on the streets mean nothing and it is not uncommon to see cars cross the double yellow line. Buses included. Buses always win because they are the largest. Buses are also the best and cheapest way to get around. I like to think of it as riding a bus means I won't get hit by one. I hope it comforts you to know that they don't drive nearly as fast as Americans do in the city.

4. People here do not understand the concept of a line, even at Wal-Mart. I sorta enjoy pushing and shoving. It's like kindergarten but you don't get in trouble.

5. Speaking of Wal-Mart..it's different (you pick out your live fish to take home and fry up) and the same (the weekend is NOT the best time to go). We live close enough to walk and it's so nice. We can even find some familiar brands.

6. All men smoke. If you are male and above the age of 12 you smoke. A lot. There is no such thing as non-smoking. I'm pretty sure I will be addicted to nicotine soon because of all the second hand smoke. It's not culturally acceptable for women to smoke but they really don't have a need, they get their fair share.

7. If you aren't a national you will get stared at. And if you have chubby cheeks like Bennett you will get touched. I'm trying to be nice when I see people staring. I say hello and smile. Today when I did that to an old lady on the bus (she was really old) she gave me the thumbs up. I'm not entirely sure why. Maybe because I said hello correctly or maybe she liked my purple 'I heart spork' t-shirt. There is really no way to know.

8. If you want something done and the Landlord doesn't she will bring someone in to appease you but most likely has told them the answer they are to give. No. I'm pretty sure this happened to me today. My kitchen counters don't even go up to the level of my hip. They are the kind that can be raised. She said she needed to bring in a cabinet man to see if it could be done. He said the marble counter top would break if they did that. My only option is to let them take it all out, sell it and I can replace it at my expense and leave it when I move out. Apparently raising the cabinets will break the marble but completely removing it (in what I'm sure would a similar process for each) is not a problem. I guess I will just have to get used to low counters.

9. You can't fight the system. Even if it makes no sense to you, it's just not worth it. Things are how they are and you just have to deal.

10. Nothing should surprise me ever again.

There's more but it will have to wait for another time. The kids are in bed and it's movie night with my husband.