Bonus Material

It's hard to pinpoint what is the most shockingly different thing about this place but I am pretty sure it has to be the sheer number of people. I have never seen so many people in one place in all my life. Chicago on a busy day could not even hold a candle to the sea of humanity that you encounter every time we go out. It doesn't matter what time of day - there are people everywhere. I cannot even describe it completely. I never knew how much I craved wide open spaces until I came here.

I am a sensitive person to smells - this is not an ideal location for someone such as me. Not all of them are bad but a lot of them are. Between the constantly burning trash, the diesel fumes, the meats of unknown origin cooking - it is a full assault on the senses. Our mode of transport is a large truck with wooden benches covered by a tarp. I always try to get a spot near the front or the back so I can watch the scenery go by. I know it sounds stupid but it is just so much different.

I also have never been in a situation where I was so significantly in the minority. And for some strange reason it feels like it's the first time many people have seen a white person because people stop and stare at us. It's incredible unnerving. Not that it is ever going to be a problem but clearly I am not cut out for the celebrity lifestyle.

Finally Christine had warned me about the ants but I naively thought growing up in Texas I could handle it. These things are a whole new kind of angry ant. My feet and ankles look like a pregnant woman - swollen if you couldn't figure that out.

I realize those all sound like complaints and I guess they are. I know it sounds incredible naive and "Americano" but it is just so different. At first I saw the English signs and some familiar things like 7-11's and McDonalds and thought well this isn't too different. But the more I am here the more I realize how different it is. It's hard to process it all and I don't ever want to forget any of them so I thought I would record them.

I know my posts have been kind of emo. There is lots of laughter here for sure. This is a fun team. It is a LOUD team. Garrett has made his patented chicken dance a global phenomenon. I fear for peoples impression of America based on this but oh well.

Given this is my normally schedule time to blog I must know go face the reality that is breakfast - God please make it something I could identify in a line up!

Peace out