So I got bangs. I was visiting my host mother on Sunday and after she gave her father a haircut, I felt a sudden urge to make a change. So now I have bangs. And I think I rather like them.
I’m excited about
my trip to Odessa for Thanksgiving and I come bearing gifts. I couldn’t possibly need all the things the other volunteers left me with (extra coffee press, clothes, movies, etc.) so I am hauling them on a 16 hour train ride and 4 hours worth of buses to spread the wealth =) It will be good to be around other Volunteers because I think I am starting to lose my perspective on what’s normal where I come from.
When my parents were here I had to ask them if it was legal to walk around outside with a bottle of beer. I couldn’t remember. None of the stunningly large fur coats, undoubtedly only moments before were eating and breathing, seem to faze me anymore. I am mildly contemplating purchasing one for myself…
I don’t think it strange to wear the same outfit for a week, or bring my own toilet paper wherever I go and then pay for the right to use it. Wearing long underwear inside during work hours is just what you do, as well as carry a flashlight if you plan to be outside after 4:00pm. I bought rubber gloves so my hands don’t go numb while doing my laundry and dishes, a giant can of RAID to demolish my overnight guests in my kitchen, and understandably wait in line for at least twenty minutes for just about anything (and graciously allow eight people the right to go ahead of me). I’ve come to terms with the fact that depending on the person working, stamps to send letters home can be 3.35gr, or maybe 3,40gr, and yes, I have seem them as high as 3.50gr. True, it could be inflation, but that would require them to continue increasing over time, not merely dispensed randomly regardless of letter weight, time of year or destination. I am okay with this because I see it as normal. And perhaps there is something I am missing?
So some may call it cultural adjustment, and others perhaps just losing perspective. Either way, from what I can see as I peek out from my newly sheared fabulous bangs, is a world that is slowly starting to make sense to me.