some thoughts and ranting.

Recently, Sara and I have been talking about how our lives will unfold with new experience and ideas about the world once we return home. I must admit I start to feel a little stressed and depressed at the thought of returning to the States. (I had this same problem when I was retuning from Europe.) Once I start traveling, I want to keep exploring to see what is out in the world; to see other views of life and broaden my world view. After traveling abroad, it is impossible to view home (the States) in the same way. I was challenged a bit in my world view when I was in Ireland, walking to school and back and having to line-dry my clothes for the first time in my life, and learning who has the right of way when a herd of sheep is coming at you. Ireland has a slower pace of life which let me see how the States has a culture of  "I need something and I need it now."

Before I start this rant, I want to say that part of what adds stress to my thinking process is that now I have to figure out my next step in life and I have no idea where it will take me. I don´t even know where I want to live. If anyone has some ideas, or job connections let me know.

I can look back at my time in Ireland and think "that was nothing (in terms of culture shock)." Now, I am a bit concerned about reverse culture shock. Here in Peru, there is not really a way of living simply; everyday-life is simple. Hot water, dish washers, washing machines...any machine in concidered a commodity. I have gone several months without hot water, washing machine, microwave, or refrigerator and I have had no problems at all. In the states, I feel a lot of the mentioned machinery is a nessisity for many Americans, but really they just add stress and headaches to life. For example, "Oh no, the fridge is broken and my month´s rations of food is going to ruin." Or, "Oh no, the power is out. How are we going to survive without our microwave and electric stove, I am going to starve." When the power goes out here, we light candles and life continues, hardly missing a beat. No problem. It has been a blessing to live without my robot assistance. No car that can break down and require a $400 repair (more than a teacher´s monthly salery at our school).

Does this mean I will come home and cut the addiction of electricity? Probably not, but I will be aware that doing things by hand, like washing clothes, allows time to slow down and reflect. I probably will not have that much reflection time while washing clothes once I return (I also won´t have back pain from using a sink designed for someone a foot shorter than me), but I will be aware of the energy I use.

The US culture really forces us to use machines. How many people reading this live close enough to his or her work to walk, or can take a bus. I probably just described more than 90% of Peru. Even some of the teachers at our school commute one hour to work by bus, and that bus ride only costs 1sol (or 33 cents). Let me also tell you that gasoline costs the same here as it does in the States. Yeah, the rides might be a little uncomfortable at times and an old guy might try to stick his hand in you pocket to get your wallet, but rides are available. 

Whenever I travel, I realize things in the US that are extreamly outdated in comparison to other countries. The US just passed a bill for some sort of universal healthcare, while Peru has had more affordable healthcare since before it had widespread electricty. Peru also has public trasportion available to the masses. I am not saying the US sucks and Peru rules; Peru has its own problems, like unsafe working conditions and not supplying a livable wage (wage is something else lagging behind when compared to Europe, Canada and Australia).

The other day I stumbled upon some stats of the Human Development Index and the US is ranked 13th. The US ranks 83rd in the Peace Keeping Index. Seeing how hard it has been for the US to change and how upset some people got over this change makes me think that maybe the population of the US is just too large. We have a democracy (majority vote government) meaning that when there is a vote, potentially 149 million people are left unhappy. Peru has an estimated population of 22-24 million (its hard to count those who live in the jungle). That is roughly the population of Illinois.

One money fact that is a bit shocking to me now: back in January in the Miami airport, Sara and I purchased a small mocha from Starbucks to break some large bills. That small mocha cost $3.90, which means that just 8 of those small mochas would pay for my half of each month´s rent. Wow.