Some ramblings...

A wonderful thing is happening. It does however mean that stories might become less interesting. The odd of the country is becoming much less shocking.

I am still quite fascinated by the sight of a herd (is that what you call it) of donkeys running down the road the wrong way with no apparent shepherd (What do you call a person who tends donkeys?). I keep hoping to get a picture while I am in the traffic jam caused by the donkeys, or sheep, or cows, or goats, or whatever the animal of the day might be.

It is still surprising to be standing inside a fancy coffee shop and look out the window. Just behind the shop are the slums. Houses are very close together. All of the roofs are tin. There are large rocks on top of the roofs. It appears as if one day a rainstorm dropped rocks instead of rain. The truth is the rocks are very intentionally placed where they are so that the roof stays on top of the house. Drying laundry hangs all over the small yard as half-naked children play underneath the clotheslines.

Today I had a first. I was on a minibus taxi (see modes of transportation entry) with some American friends. We were talking when I heard what sounded like an animal. We made a curious look towards one another. A few moments later I heard it again. It really sounded like a chicken. I was a few rows back and kept seeing the woman two seats in front of me looking down. I didn't hear the sound again so assumed maybe it was the brakes or rattling whatever (Everything rattles on the minibus!). Down the road a bit farther the woman got out of the taxi. Under her arm a brightly colored chicken. She walked out as if it was nothing.

It was nothing to her. We see it as crazy that a chicken is in a taxi or a goat is on top of a bus or donkeys use the same road as cars (it would be helpful if they would use the right lane though). To the people here it is normal. In one region I have visited they have no paved roads. I got so frustrated at the livestock all over the roadway. "Why won't they get the animals out of the way?" It took me a while to remember…they don't have cars either. Of course the road is for pedestrians and animals. What else would they use it for? I am borrowing their road; it isn't the other way around.

The great thing about loosing the shock element is that although some things may remain strange, they seem normal. I expect them. It means I am growing to love and understand the people for who they are not who I think they should be. All of this is normal to them.

Poverty is normal to them. It is not a rare site to see someone give beggar money. It is also not rare to see the giver wait for change. He/she had no intention of giving the beggar a full bill, they just didn't have coins. The one with nothing gives back change. Can you imagine that in downtown DC…"Oh here is a dollar, but all I have is a ten; you got change?"

The other day we were talking. The talk was about cultures. Is our goal to put on lenses that allow us to see their perspective and give up our own? Is the goal to keep our perspective and never adopt there's? Or is it that our goal is to allow one lens to be from their perspective and one from mine? Does this keep me safe or does it keep me honest? Not sure. I do believe however that the more I understand them the more I will grow to love them and the more I can do to help them and be helped by them.