Adapting to Thai Culture - Amanda

They tell you to prep for the culture shock and I was definitely not prepared.

~ the weather - I knew it was going to be hot but I feel like I'm walking through water constantly in this heat. I'm usually cranky in this heat and I'm doing everything I can to not let that get to me. Bring me 60 degree weather any day (apparently that's the coldest it can get)!

~ the restroom - So there are two types of toilets (Western and squat), luckily I've avoided using a squat one. Here's the thing, their sewage system is not able to handle toilet paper so if you choose to use it you must toss it into the garbage and not the toilet bowl. The other option is to use the badet hose. I'll admit I've tried it since arriving, I don't like feeling wet after going to the bathroom but I also don't want to have used tp in the garbage...one of those catch-22 situations. And being a menstrating female trying to figure this out isn't helpful either...tmi?

~ the smell - Honestly this was worse in Bangkok...just imagine walking past a pile of manure every 10 to 15 feet...ok that might be a bit of an exaggeration but that's what it felt like.

~ the trash - finding garbage bins is like searching for Waldo! I have no idea where to put my trash or when it gets picked up. You can't drink the water here so it's a bottle water haven...but I see no recycling at all! (Ben Gorman I'm losing it for you) I recycle back home and it's so hard for me not to...I feel wasteful. I have three empty water bottles sitting next to my desk right now because I don't know what to do with them.

~ the language barrier - I only know one word and I'm not even 100% sure what it means. This lack of communication makes it hard to order food, buy anything, or get directions. I'm well aware that this was going to be an issue and once in a while we're lucky and someone near by knows enough English to help us out.

~ the food - no complaints here so far! Almost everything I've tried so far has been wonderful. Today we got these little balls that reminded both of us of brats...13/10 would have again. At the hotel, they had toast, I know it's just toast but it tasted amazing.

~ the bowing - ok I get it, it's a cultural thing but I think it's weird. I'd rather they just wave and smile and move on.

~ the stray dogs - this is by far the saddest thing I've seen here, there are stray dogs just roaming the streets. They looks hot, tired, and thirsty...I feel ya buddy. And it doesn't help the missing of our pup.

~ the beauty of the country - Where is it? Seriously? Nong Khai reminds me a little bit of your average Midwestern town just with palm trees. The only 'interesting' thing in this city is apparently the Laos-Thailand Friendship Bridge ( a man made structure)...not what I'm here to see.