What is normal anyway?

Only 10 days into being here and I already feel like a completely different person.  Things that I never thought I would consider a regular day thing have become normal.  It’s unbelievable what Africa does to you!  I’ve created a list of things that are now “normal” for me and also a list of things that used to be strange and are yet still strange.

Things that never used to be normal but now are:

1)   counting herds of African mammals (specifically zebras and elephants)

2)   seeing giraffes alongside the road

3)   doing a black momba check around my banda before bed

4)   having baboons swing from trees around me during class

5)   sleeping, eating, going to class, and playing games with the exact same people every day

6)   going on safaris

7)   ice cold showers

8)   viewing waking up at 7 as sleeping in

9)   drinking warm water all day every day

10)   only having electricity for 4 hours a day

11)    waving and saying jambo to anyone and everyone

12)    being covered in burrs all day

13)    not flinching at bats that fly at your face at night

14)    rats living next to my bed

15)    sleeping in a claustrophobic mosquito net

16)     mommas bombarding you with jewelry

17)      driving on the left side of the road

Things that used to be strange/frightening and are still strange/frightening:

1)   Seeing a poisonous snake that was too close to the chumba get its head chopped off

2)   Being charged by a cheetah

3)   Showering daily J

4)   Kids walking alone on the side of the road

5)   Doing homework before the day it is due

6)   Gingers

7)   Spears (not Britney but the weapon)

8)   Tarantulas in the shower

9)   Hand washing clothes (disaster)

10)   Replacing ice cream with green beans

And home sweet home...

I <3 Africa