I have come to realize that I lack telling some of the little differences to people back home even though they aren't 'little'. This little Quirks have become 'normal' to me. I have forgotten what is normal and what isn't (not as badly as my roommate K). Sometimes I have forgotten the little things until a new person comes through. They help me to see just how far we have come adjusting to this world that is sometimes so different from the states.
It will be helpful though in my last few months overseas (note to come later on this) to share some of these 'Forgotten Quirks' with you so you can understand more fully what it looks like for me to live overseas in this area I like to called my 3rd home.
Forgotten Quirks 1 - Work Days and Weekends
Our "Week" looks a little different here.
I start our work days on Saturday and work through Wednesday.
For the most part, I work in an office setting. We have about 5 foreigners (that's me), and about 12 to 15 Local workers at any point in time during the day. This usually look like a 9 to 4 job... end hours vary. This is usually because we have drivers to take us places we need to go that have to leave at 4 or I have language 3 times a week. If we have guest in our staff house then I will be working again from 5 to 7 with dinners.
Most Monday I am able to get out and eat dinner with a group of friends. There are times in the past that I have not gotten out of our little office/apartment area other than Monday nights and Fridays.
Technically, our weekend is on Thursday and Friday. Some other companies here take them on Friday and Saturday. This makes for a unique schedule of working around other peoples weekend - especially internationally!
Sometimes we have to work through the weekends because we may have guest in the staff house that we need to prepare meals for and make sure they are okay.
Thursday are the days I like to call either "Freedom Thursday" or "Out on the Town Thursdays." K and I have decided that this is the day that we get to get out and go where ever we haven't been all week, run errands, go shopping, see different bazaars, check off things on our list of places to visit around town, sleep in late... you get the picture. We take it easy.
It is also Fried Chicken and French Fries day. Which is one of our favorite meals, but is completely beside the point.
Friday is our Sabbath. It is the day that locals go to the mosque to worship. It's the the day I get to hang out with a group of friends who live in this area of town. On Fridays, we may or may not have lazy "Sunday afternoon nap" or a grand "Sunday afternoon lunch."
Some future topics to come...
What happened to my shoes?
Who can drive?
What's on the menu?
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