As the days flutter by, I am finding myself increasingly at home here. The little changes in my routine that I primarily saw as inconveniences have become a natural part of my every day life. As I exited the freezing cold shower late last night, I looked to my roommates and said "I'm not sure if I am just learning to tolerate that, or if I am actually starting to prefer it." Rice for breakfast, running around barefoot, sharing a room with five other girls, riding in the beds of trucks: these have all become a part of the life that I live now. I'm used to taking only the bare minimum rather than indulging in everything that I've been blessed with back home, and I believe that in only a few short weeks, my appreciation for even the simplest of pleasures has been amplified. Coffee in the morning...woah, what's the occasion? Waking up with only three bug bites...winning! Toilet paper in the bathroom...holy crap! I'm amazed at how the lack of these things hasn't made me miss them, but rather just adore them more when they are there. Tonight I sat in the outdoor kitchen area and treated myself to a warm cup of coffee in a large mug. A wonderful treat indeed.
A few days ago, the volunteer gang and myself decided that there was no way were going to let a Halloween pass by unrecognized. This mostly went for the American volunteers as our Australian and English friends didn't quite understand, but they were so excited for it! One Australian in particular, Steve, completely spearheaded the day by purchasing candy for everyone and making us say trick or treat. He continued to exclaim "Oh my first Halloween! This is so exciting! Are we doing it right?" with the goofiest, childlike smile on his face. It was adorable. Anyway, we all went into town the night before and, as they don't celebrate it here, attempted to find just a little something to wear as a costume. Glasses, little mouse ears, a mask or two; nothing extravagant or like I would be witnessing at home but we were absolutely thrilled. The night of, we got dressed up in whatever little thing we bought (I painted my face...actually much better than I thought I would) and made a large bonfire in the middle of an open field. We ate the little candies that Steve provided us with, sat around the campfire, and took turns telling our scariest stories for hours on end. Surrounded by trees, darkness, and new friends, I stared at the thousands of stars in the night sky and, again, felt the familiar sense of gratitude. Not a drop of alcohol was sipped, no intense costumes were worn. Just us, in the middle of nowhere, having a much different Halloween than we have ever had before. Some of us for the first time ever.
Happy Halloween to everyone back home!
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