culture. shock

three weeks ago i arrived in tanzania and i am already dreading the thought of leaving...

while there are things that are challenging about being here, i have managed to adjust to my surroundings and found the peace of feeling at home in a place that is vastly different to my former life. i knew from the moment i arrived that my life would be completely destroyed. and i am certain that it already has been. and that isn't necessarily a bad thing... it's just that i know i will have an impossible time adjusting back to a normal canadian life after this. and while that can feel a bit unsettling at times, i'm also aware of the fact that i've never wanted that life.

now that i have recovered from the initial culture shock, i'm aware that i'll have to go through the process all over again when i go home. it's what they like to call "reverse culture shock." and it can be a real bitch. i know i'm getting ahead of myself here...  i'm doing my best to learn how to take each day as it comes and mostly enjoying not having to make any major decisions about my future.

now i will face the dusty, crowded streets of mbagala filled with sellers and buyers all yelling the few english phrases they know at the passing muzungus. just going online for an hour is an ounce of culture shock in itself!