The Usual...

Is it strange that I now have a "usual" in Africa? I've been here 3 1/2 weeks now, and it's surprising how quickly I've adjusted to life here. I know how much to pay for a boda ride across town, I look right and then left when crossing the street, and I stopped wearing a watch (doesn't serve much purpose here). I've gotten used to seeing cats, dogs, and goats run around the city and women carrying enormous baskets of bananas and containers of water on their head. My getting up at sunrise to run plan has subsided, and I now wake up around 7:30 or 8, shower, and go straight into work. Not much different than working at ZS last summer! After work, I'll go to yoga/pilates/run, make a late dinner, chat to friends, read, and head to bed.

It's still cool to be somewhere so different, but not as exciting as it was the first few weeks. There are certain frustrations that I am growing tired of, but they will all be valuable lessons, I am sure. In general, everything takes longer here, whether it is downloading a file, getting to work, or asking somebody a question. I have accepted that time is relative, rather than absolute, but my patience is definitely being tried. I will definitely appreciate the efficiency of meetings and communications in the U.S. when I get back! In the meantime, I try to bring my Kindle or books everywhere when I am waiting for things, and if all else fails, my Brickbreaker score on my Blackberry is getting pretty high :)