As my trip was winding down and taking me back to the US, I started noticing a few firsts. My watch was set for time in Indonesia. The second clock was set to time here in Colorado. Occasionally, I’d press the button that switched between the time zones to get a sense of what was happening with people here. It was my primary indicator of whether or not to call mom and dad.
Until the time change last weekend, there were 15 hours difference. A 7:00 am breakfast here was 10:00 pm at night over there. When I got up in the morning, the best time to call here to the US was between 11:00 and 12:00 am over there, the middle of the day and whatever adventure I was exploring. Other than that and the occasional travel schedule, time was pretty meaningless. A bus pickup at my hotel for 8:00 am could happen any time between 7:30 and 9:00. Meeting someone for dinner at 7:00 pm meant seeing them whenever they showed up. The clock had little significance and I’ve noticed here already how frequently people glance at theirs?!
I’m awake now at 5:00 am because my body is still figuring out what to do in this climate and time zone and is a bit confused. I went to bed after midnight my first night here, (lunch time over there) and woke twice before getting up at 4:00 am (evening over there, I’d be having dinner at 7:00 somewhere).
My nose is dry, my sinus’s are burning and the back of my throat is raw and that is what got me up at this hour. Well, my raw throat and the fact that my body is simply awake now.
So, I’m sitting here capturing thoughts about “First’s” I’ve experienced in the past 36 hours. Since leaving December 1, traveling through Malaysia and Indonesia, living out of a backpack and loosing all connection with a calendar, things are definitely different here. Many days there, I never met another tourist or anyone who spoke English. Many days, breakfast, lunch and dinner menu’s were options of various rice dishes. Being surrounded by wonderful fragrances, smells, aromas, sites, colors, smiles, laughing, hearing a “spontaneous outbreak of singing” every day, seeing a family simply sit and be together, there are many things different here I notice already.
Here are some of the first’s I noticed since traveling for home and arriving here, things I haven’t experienced since last year before I left for my trip.
The first time……
….I’ve used US dollars and received US change! It felt so strange and I had to calculate to see how much I was spenging being used to converting Singapore dollars or Malaysian ringgits or converting to Indonesian rupiah, I was still doing mental math.
….I’ve experienced so little touching or being touched by others. Everyday and everywhere, people reach out and put a hand on your shoulder or hold your arm when talking to you. Not here!
….I’ve picked up a phone. Yikes! Had to relearn how to use it!
….I’ve run water over my toothbrush under tap! Running tap water that won’t make you sick…hopefully!
….seen the Rocky Mountains.
….seen a message blinking light.
….sat on my sofa.
….not needed my passport wallet.
….needed to find my drivers license….I’m looking, I’m looking….
….needed my car keys…hmmmm???? Looking some more…..
….plugged directly into an outlet without using an adapter plug.
….had a nose bleed because of the dryness.
….made a latte (for my sis after she picked me up at the airport and after I found all the parts to my espresso making)
….thought about doing taxes.
….walked into such a huge grocery store, overwhelming really!
….not been able to walk out my door and have interesting things at my door step. Nothing here compared to all the little street vendors, local stores, cafe’s and so forth.
….not needed some form of room registration for the night.
….felt isolated.
….worn shoes for three consecutive days!
….not needed my passport when going out.
….been surrounded by very large people. The size difference really gets my attention here.
….had more than simply what is in my backpack. (and wanting to downsize, seriously, how much stuff do we need?!)
….I’ve driven my car. Yes, I started on the wrong side of the road (here) but corrected before I ran into anyone.
….I’ve had my watch set on Mountain Time.
….not been able to walk where I wanted to go. Walking was my primary mode of transportation.
….haven’t seen my first rat or cockroach.
….haven’t seen any green, there’s still no green, WaaaaahhhhH!
….waiting for this one, sleeping through the night. A good nights sleep would be wonderful!
….waiting to breath without my sinus burning. Soon I hope!
Living here in the US, we have so many little luxuries around us that much of the world has never experienced! I’m sitting here looking around me appreciating what I have access to here! Amazing really!