Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Desensitization

So I am beginning to realize that all of the things that I just pass off as an everyday sort of life experience are actually things that pre this trip I would have thought were crazy. Since I like to make list's I decided I am going to make a list of all the things that I just accept to be normal that would never be seen in America or maybe not even anywhere in The Gambia.

  1. Seeing goats and sheep everywhere including tied to the tops of Bush-taxis and in front of restaurants.
  2. Monkeys on the side of the road or just seeing monkeys in general.
  3. Cows on the beach and crossing the street
  4. Sheep being washed in the ocean
  5. Two men riding on a motorcycle
  6. Hitchhiking as a legit means of transportation
  7. Eating, Drinking, Showering, and Reading by candle light
  8. Classrooms with no windows
  9. Sheep wondering into classrooms
  10. lack of desks chairs ect. 
  11. Riding in cars that the doors will literally fall off while driving 
  12. Riding in the back of trucks
  13. Riding in the backs of trucks with ladders on top
  14. Even though I can say that Selinsgrove and Middleburg are a small place, The Gambia Is so small in terms of seeing everyone you have ever met all the time in the most random places and also in the fact that there are people from everywhere here.
  15. Seeing people pay bribes
  16. Seeing a person driving a bike with a mattress on there head
  17. Seeing a person with a TV on the back of there bike
  18. People offering to give me a lift on the back of there bike
  19. Dog ears laying on the ground
  20. Little kids carrying baby's on there back 
  21. babies who can walk a a very young age and babies that are left alone at a very young age 
  22. I know have a Gambian attitude towards tourist and I am often times offended when treated like one.
  23. walked in 106 degree weather 
I could go on and one but like I said I am desensitized and everything that would seem weird to someone not from here I see as being completely normal. I am in a very list making mood right now so I will continue with another list. Here is a list of things that I have not done since I have been here. 

  1. Drove a car 
  2. Took a hot shower or warm shower for that matter 
  3. Had clean feet
  4. Ate ham or Bacon 
  5. Seen a Mall or Walmart 
  6. lived in a house with a tv 
  7. worn clothes that were clean 
  8. used a microwave
  9. spent over $10 on a meal
  10. seen rain 
  11. been in weather under 80 degrees
  12. pet a clean dog or cat 
  13. seen a vet
  14. seen a washing machine 
  15. walked on a sidewalk
Things that I miss
  1. My family
  2. My Friends
  3. being able to get in a car and drive where ever I want 
  4. sidewalks 
  5. ice 
  6. green grass
  7. supermarkets that have everything 
  8. walmart 
  9. movies 
  10. movie theaters 
  11. air conditioning 
  12. real showers 
  13. Pet-able animals  
  14. being able to talk freely without the fear of the government
  15. being able to dress like an individual and be an individual not being seen as just a white person
  16. walking without being bothered by anyone else 
  17. having a real bed 
  18. sleeping though the night 
  19. having a limitless amount of food options 
  20. drive thrus 
  21. Burgers and Steak