Unplugged

I have to laugh at many of the seemingly normal things that happen here that just wouldn’t fly in the States.

From the motorcycles stuffed with 7 people to the “no-call, no-shows” of hordes of folks that one was EXPECTING, I’m still trying to get used to the “norm” of San Juan.    Of COURSE it’s normal to have one’s keys up on the roof, with one stuck on the balcony trying with a mop handle to wrestle them down.  THAT happens when friends offer to put away your pasola and then toss your keys up to the balcony.  Oops.  And of course it’s NORMAL to wear parkas in 70 degree weather here because it’s COLD in the wintertime.   It’s NORMAL to eat boiled bananas and pumpkins with onions for dinner.  In fact, I love it.  Toss some eggs on top and I’m happy as a clam.

It’s NORMAL to show up for an appointment or a class (after traveling up to 2 hours) and have the doctor or professor  just “not be there”, even if it was scheduled.  Dominicans don’t flip out or become furious (although I would).  They just sigh and plan their next trip.    It’s NORMAL to bathe at least 2 times a day- only dirty folks shower once a day (oops!).   It’s normal to NEVER mix milk and juice, drinking them at the same time in two different glasses.   That would be gross, except that we put milk IN our juice when we are mixing it up in the blender and that is not only NORMAL, it’s how you SHOULD make juice (with vanilla, ice, plenty of sugar, and milk).  Huh?  Yup.  I can’t explain it but it’s normal here.

It’s normal to have your phone suddenly be dead in the middle of a conversation.  Clearly you or they have run out of minutes.   It’s also normal to hang up in the middle of conversation- signifying that you are CLEARLY running out of minutes and cannot continue to chat.    Its normal to have your phone ring once and then stop.  THAT means a Dominican is calling you who doesn’t have phone minutes and you need to call them back immediately.

It’s normal to state AMEN when someone says “Dios te Bendiga” (or God bless you).  In fact, it’s the only proper response and completely expected.    It’s normal to have toothpaste on any cut or pimple on your body.  Toothpaste cures everything.   It’s normal to drink tea remedys that taste HORRIFIC for any malady that you may have, from headaches to stomachaches to cough/colds.  I think they make it out of tree bark possibly and I have to hold my nose to get it down.

Ahhhhh the joys of learning culture and LAUGHING about new normals.   I’m thankful for Jesus, the same YESTERDAY, TODAY and TOMORROW.  :)

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