It will be six months on the 29th of July since I moved miles away from Texas. I have reflected a great deal on my time here. Much more good has happened than bad and the overall experience has been positive. I want to share the progress on this post.
1) Never pick the prettiest fruits or vegetables just on the basis of its looks. There is a reason it is that pretty and it seldom has anything to do with the taste.
2) When trying to decide on riding the bus for an hour and a half to the town 25 miles over or taking a taxi which only takes 30-45 minutes, check the tire tread on the taxi, if there is any. If that passes muster, smell the taxi driver's breath. If that is a go, memorize the phrase "Más lento que un hijo de puta. Que nos van a matar." There is a strong likelihood you will need it.
3) Google translate is your friend.
4) You can find beauty in the most amazing places. I have a vase of cattails in my kitchen right now. They were weeds. All they needed were the right love and attention and they became gorgeous and brightened up the room. It didn't matter what their origins. People are a little like that. That applies to number 1 as well.
5) If you have a bathroom that is exposed partially to the elements, always lift the toilet seat and check. Under the rim, too. You never know.
6) Repeat after me. Bees are essential. Bees are essential. Bees are essential. Bees are essential.
7) If someone is giving you unsolicited advice rather forcefully about your religion, diet or politics, using a "you" language rather than the preferred "I" language, step back and think for a minute. People who do this most likely were, at one time, very well acquainted with bullying in some degree or another. Either they were bullied as a child or they were the bullyer. Recognize it for what it is and move on. I haven't quite mastered this one but I am working on it.
8) A great knife is better than Taco Bell.
9) Make every effort to learn the native language.
10) A sense of humor never hurts.
11) Retaining child-like wonder is not the same thing as being childish.
12) You will lose weight if you move your body more. You can still eat cake from time to time but move.
13) Be kinder than you need to be. If someone is being rude to you, in English, Spanish or any other language, don't forget that they are as human as you are and they may be having the worst possible day any one could have.
14) If you want to write a blog, fine. But if you do, and your kitchen is in another building from your workspace and you put a pot of rice on the burner, make sure you set a reminder in the room in which you are working. Otherwise, do not expect your nice amber colored glass Vision Corningware pots to look like new again. Ever.
Now I need to go start that pot of rice over again.
This is wonderful... It's all about perspective, isn't it? I specially love the good advice when deciding on a taxi vs the bus :-)
ReplyDeleteThose taxis are scary....
ReplyDelete