Hey...where did your culture shock go??

I think it is settled, culture shock is over. That is what Ray said to me today as we are standing outside of Flory's (our language teacher) block apartment waiting to start language class. It most be because we have gotten used to so many things here that it all just seems normal. Like the man walking down the street by where we are standing screaming about who knows what. We just looked at each other and say, "oh, that's just that crazy guy who lives around here."

I never thought I would get used to seeing all the block apartments, but I guess I have. I don't stare in amazement at them as we drive down the street anymore....


I guess I have also gotten used to seeing the horse and wagons going down the street with the people inside yelling for old iron. I don't reach for my camera every time I hear them coming down the street.

All the traffic and trams and buses and all the honking just seem common place now. The fact that the grocery store smells like raw fish and dog food at the same time is something I have gotten past.

The tile floor all through my house doesn't bother me anymore and I almost like my pink living room walls...almost!

I have gotten used to not using a dryer to dry my clothes and I'm amazed at how washing my dishes by hand doesn't bother me at all. I can't get past the fact that the coffee creamer here sucks. I have almost gotten used to using the water filter for all our water, but I still dream of the day I can just use water from the sink again, and a garage disposal!

Though it is still far from being my home, it is at least closer to being it. I don't look around and hate what I see, I look around and see familiar things now and that in itself is comforting to me. I am proud of how far I have come, I don't know if you are supposed to say you are proud of yourself, but I did and I am. There are days that I still long to go home and see my family and my friends, but those days are fewer and I love the friends I have made here.