New Norms

We've now been in Colombia for two weeks. Time has flown by! Kelsey and I were reflecting on some of the things that seemed so peculiar when we arrived, but now they seem like our norms. Here are a few things we came up with:

On the public buses, you don't pay when you get on. Instead, there's a guy who rides on the bus and collects the fare. You don't even need exact change because he'll take your large bill and come back with change after everyone has paid. I'm so used to buses in the U.S. that require exact change and if you don't have it you get yelled at!

Cold showers actually feel good now. The water is lukewarm and very refreshing after being out in the heat all day. I do miss water pressure, but I've found the bucket baths to be quite nice.

In between towns, there are national army soldiers stationed at certain checkpoints. When we first arrived, it was unnerving to see men with AK-47s on the side of the road, but now it doesn't seem so weird.

When we’re introduced to a class of children, we’re usually asked to sing them a song. The first day we did this, it felt awkward and goofy. Now it just seems normal.

The lack of doors on bedrooms was hard to get used to, but we’ve learned how to be discreet and know when to change clothes and whatnot. Yesterday we were napping in the house in Curralao and had several people just peek in at us. There are fewer boundaries than we have in the States but now it doesn’t feel so weird.

Being exposed to a new and exotic fruit has become another norm. At first we were so amazed by all the odd fruits we’ve been exposed to, but now they’re all just plain fruits.

Counting Bibles in the worship service has now become normal to us. The first week we giggled really hard when the Clerk of Session got up at the pulpit and had everyone who brought a Bible raise it in the air. After counting Bibles they have people stand up and recite a passage of Scripture from memory. They certainly put us Presbies in the U.S. To shame with our lack of discipline when it comes to bring Bibles to church and memorizing scripture. Yesterday when they did this during church, it just seemed like routine.

Lounging in hammocks. At first we were really uncomfortable just laying back in a hammock in the middle of the patio or room, especially when we had visitors. But now we take the opportunity and chance we get!

Things that we are not used to:

Being called “Gringa!” on the street and being stared at by everyone.

Being told horrendous stories about how people became displaced.