Not Homesick....Yet

So I was looking up some things on homesickness to see what I should expect to happen to me, or to even see if it was happening to me at all. I found everywhere telling me there's four steps: excitement (honeymoon phase), frustration, depression, then acceptance. I've definitely gone through the first one and would have to admit that I'm right in the middle of the second stage. The immense cultural differences are fascinating to learn about, but you can only get stared at for so long before you want to strangle someone!! I understand that I'm an oddity, they think my whiteness is attractive, or are simply curious about me; I get that, I really do. The problem is that where I'm from, that's considered rude and I'm still under the impressions of those cultural norms and morays. I understand that they're not trying to be offensive, but it gets old! I have to stop myself from cussing someone out.

Another difficult thing that I have to deal with is that the people don't really look where they're going so they bump into you, accidentally hit you with an umbrella, or just are oblivious to you wanting to go around them when they stop in the middle of the sidewalk. I think that it's accepted there because everyone understands that everyone around them is going somewhere and at their own pace and they don't take it personally when these things happen; they're not doing these things because of the people around them, but they're doing them because of themselves, and everyone understands that and practices that. Back in the states you would be considered very rude, but here it's a mutual understanding that it's not necessarily "I'll get mine and I hope you get yours," but it's along the lines of "I'm going to do me, don't take that personally." I also hate how overly bearing people at stores are. You walk in and you have 3 people shoving different things in your face; I'm so not used ton that. I'm used to someone being available when you need them but your shopping experience is relatively unimpeded; not how things are done here. I literally walk out of a store that I like because I get so fed up with this style of customer service: again, I'm not used to it!! It's not bad by any sense and I'm not putting the culture and customs down, it's just hard for me to get used to something that's so different when they're based on deeply embedded morals that I have yet to understand.

There's a few things we've been sitting down and thinking about that we miss from home, and here's a little list of some of these things:

Late night Taco Bell
Convenience of talking to friends without losing sleep
Convenience of hanging out with anyone on a whim
Having a multitude of friends you can hang out with on said whim
A complete understanding of the common language
Being able to blend in
A hamburger
Red solo cups....you know why
Thirsty Thursdays
Hookah
Sidewalks not crowded with people

I'll probably add more when I remember them. Just wanted to share where I was emotionally and why I was there. If anyone wants to send me any of these, please send me a crunchwrap supreme, bacon club chulupa, freinds, fluency in Chinese, and red solo cups.

Much love =D