There are luxuries I am used to that I was not aware are considered luxuries.
Luxury #1: Temperatures gauges on showers
There is hot water. There is only hot water. Scalding water to be precise. Lack of water pressure I was prepared for. Hot water that runs out I was prepared for. Even cold showers I was grudgingly prepared for. I have never before experienced a shower such as this. Burn, or freeze. Those are the options. When you switch the hot water off there are 30 beutiful seconds as the water cools where it does neither. 30 seconds. I like temperature gauges on my shower.
Luxury #2: Clean floors
Dirt. Dirt dirt dirt dirt dirt. I practically grew up in a horse barn and am one of those freaks that appreciates the smell of manure. But there is so much dirt. The catch is that it is not a dirt floor. The house is gorgeous with pristine white tile flooring and a maid comes once a week. And yet there is always dirt. I am amazed by its persistence. Where does it come from? We take our shoes off at the door. I have only ever been given one answer which is the response to most questions down here: the jungle.
Luxury #3: Blankets that don't smell
80% humdiity. Nothing dries. Mold flourishes. Everything smells, even when clean.
Luxury #4: Tupperware and leftovers
At home I live off of leftovers. Here you have about a day before the humidity, heat, and bugs win. There is no tupperware. We consume everything. I miss leftovers.
Luxury #5: Electronics that aren't broken or breaking
The autotmatic lighter on the stove and oven do not work. (I have mostly conquered my fear of fire and can now grudgingly use a lighter. I have only burned myself a handful of times.) The handle on the fridge door is broken. Almost no pots even have handles and all of them have burned bottoms. The water filter works at a rate of 1 drop per 30 seconds. One side of the sink does not drain. All of the trashcan covers and soap dispensers are broken. Anything that is not broken has clearly seen better days.
Luxury #6: No cockroaches in the kitchen
Bugs. Bugs bugs bugs bugs bugs. (Although fewer mosquitos than expected which is lovely.) A bug tried to crawl into my computer's ethernet port. Insolent.
Luxury #7: Chickens that come pre-gutted
Bio class in the kitchen! Hearts, guts, and blood. A lot of blood. On that note, we had to kill the fish ourselves. Worth it for the freshness, but definitely not for those with a weak stomach.
I am, in fact, capable of culture shock. First time for everything.
