It’s been a week and a half now and I am FINALLY starting to get over my jet lag. Talk about ridiculous! I have never had this much of an issue adjusting – and yes I have traveled this far before (almost anyway). However, I was not this old when I did. I take some solace in hearing from others that my battle to achieve appropriate wake/sleep cycles is nothing unusual. The other expats here have said their experiences have been much the same. It seems a combination of the heat and the 11 hour time difference makes sudden extended naps, at odd times of day, a sort of rite of passage. BUT I’ve made it through (at least I think I have) and have emerged unscathed and ready to be awake and present for an entire day. We’ll see how that goes.
Over the course of the last 10 days I have been learning about the cost of living here. One very happy and unexpected thing I believe I mentioned in an earlier post, has been the access to, and quality of, fresh produce. In addition to country of origin being clearly labeled on everything, the cost of the goods is less than back home, while the selection is much greater. Spices can be bought in jars from a shelf OR you can buy them fresh in bulk, in any quantity that you’d like. Which is perfect for me as I am currently down to cooking for only 1 or 2 depending on the day of the week. The smells in the bulk food and produce sections are intoxicatingly wonderful and the variety really does continue to amaze me. When you add the fact that almost everything is less expensive, sometimes significantly so, it all equals a very, very, happy me.
Eating out it appears is a little bit more expensive here than in the states, and the experience is quite a bit different. For example, in the US, the point seems to be to push sales and turn tables as much and as quickly as possible. Here, the pace is much more subdued. There is an art and a balance between good customer service and upselling that the local service staff seems to have mastered, and so far it has appeared across the board regardless of where we have gone. The staff at a fast food place (an oxymoron here) treats you the same as the staff at an upscale dining establishment. They are smiling, outgoing, friendly, and helpful, while not being pushy at all. Ever. They can describe each dish in detail, and are happy to tell you what their personal favorite is (and why they like it) as well as share which are the most popular dishes. I have not encountered a single server that has made me feel as though I was inconveniencing them by asking about the menu, nor one who has pushed me (or us as the case may be) to hurry up and leave once the meal had been finished. In fact, as opposed to dropping off the check 3 minutes into your meal, as so often happens in the US, here you must signal when you are ready to have it. Taking your time, enjoying your meal and your dinner partner (or your book) is encouraged. It has really challenged me to eat more slowly and enjoy the experience. To actually dine, rather than just slam down something and move on. This is no easy feat for a champion speed eater such as myself! I am however, determined to achieve greatness in this category.