10 things I didn't do before coming here

1. Eating meat. I've eaten some beef and chicken since coming here. I can't say that I enjoy it very much, and I certainly wouldn't cook it for myself, but in a land where refined starches dominate the plate, I'll take my nutrients where they're presented.

2. Greeting (and being greeted by) EVERYONE you see. Living in a small village, everyone knows who you are, what you're doing, and where you're supposed to be. If you don't greet people, they may not help you out in the future, so greeting everyone is the general rule. (One exception: boys/ men aged 15-30; they usually greet me first. I do not greet them first.)

3. Resisting the urge to pet every animal I see. I am living in a Muslim community, and although there are some people in my village who own dogs, they are considered unclean animals, and are used strictly as work animals. Most people do not keep pets as we consider them in the US; here, animals are considered livestock. Hardly anyone shows affection for animals.

4. Taking bucket baths. It's pretty remarkable how little water you actually need to get clean. 

5. Pit latrines. Enough said.

6. Getting really excited about cold soda, cold water, anything cold to drink. In a land where refrigeration doesn't really exist, it's a pretty big deal.

7. Riding piled into the backs of land rovers with my contemporaries, the AC struggling against the many bodies in the African heat. Bumpy roads and cattle crossings.

8. Getting excited for cloudy days and the rainy season. It's probably not a fun season at all, but the pros are that it might be cooler (probably not really) and that mango season is coming!

9. Looking forward to seeing my toad friend when I shower in the morning and at night.

10. Being acutely aware of the Islam call to prayer. All hours of the day and night, it seems.