.
- figuring out 1,001 ways to flush a toilet. From foot pedals to a every type of lever and button.
- Not always knowing exactly what it is you are eating.
- Wearing the same 5 shirts and 4 shorts over and over and eventually not really caring.
- Walking. Everywhere and all the time.
- Discovering the best things and places by walking or going local.
- Unconscious adjustments to new environments all the time.
- Being surprised when you can understand a nearby conversation, because it is in English.
- Finding yourself selecting the most basic English words to make conversation, because the majority of your conversations are with people who are still learning.
- Having a hard time transitioning back to speaking advanced, slang-riddled English with friends from home. “Wow, they can completely understand what I’m saying?”
- Learning humility and compassion.
- Being floored by how many humans there are, busy doing something everywhere, everyday. And somehow God knows and cares about each person.
- Feeling the most blessed by the little things: a kind gesture, a good conversation, a satisfying meal, a clean room, a plan worked out correctly.
- Experiencing joy in correlation with gratitude.
- ALWAYS being asked to take someone’s picture or give them directions. It must be part of a travelers mission/calling.
- Having a map continually in front of your nose or in your pocket and being quite familiar with it.
- Learning city layouts and bus systems.
- Fun.
- The best education (best history, culture, religions, geography, ect course you can find).
- Knowing how to say at least hello, please, and thank you in the languages of the various places you’ve visited.
- Seeing that everything under the sun is less different and less dangerous than you previously believed. There are pockets of good and evil everywhere.
- Watching the West on its way out as the East rises.
- Saying yes more than no.
- Not knowing everything and being cool with that.
- Not going out alone past 10:30pm most of the time. It’s just a good idea for anywhere.
- Getting lost.
- Taking every mode of transportation known to man, including tuk tuks and camels.
- Meeting lots of stray dogs and cats.
- Meeting lots of Germans and Brits.
- Realizing that sometimes the most educated people have the least common sense.
- The confirmation that every government is corrupt.
- Meeting and befriending the 99% who just want to live out their lives with peace and without interference.
- Finding that most people are kind and willing to help.
- Reading false news from the US about a place where you are/have been.
- Arriving in Singapore while chewing gum (without knowing gum is not allowed lol.)
- Having no plans, sometimes a ticket, and no booked reservations.
- Letting yourself change.
- Being able to feel “at home” just about anywhere.
- A million hellos and goodbyes.
- Patience!! Broken down buses, miscommunications, etc etc..
