It's not always easy living in another country or another culture.
I'm talking about speaking and thinking in a second language. Cultural differences (personal space, stares, etc). Power outages. Being so hot and humid that you are perpetually in a pool of your own sweat. Not having potable drinking water, and thus encountering the ever-fun experience of running out of drinking water and having to boil water or wait until morning to buy some. Lack of resources. Mosquitoes all but draining you. Finding yourself, for the first time, daydreaming about beds and couches.
But, for me, it has always been worthwhile.
Why? Well, for one, living in a truly beautiful place. Adventures you could never dream up or imagine. The richness of hugs, of color, of sound, of a life moving to a Brega-Samba beat. Being welcomed in ways unimaginable. New friends going out of their way to help us grow in our life here. Living close to the ocean (!!). Greetings of kisses on the cheek. Breaking down stereotypes. A place that values relationships over monetary success. Three hour lunch breaks. Cross-cultural discussions full of respect and mutual curiosity. Learning so much about others. Learning so much about myself.Truly the hardships, in the end, are trivial. I can complain (and do, trust me), but you shut yourself up pretty quickly when you think of (and see) how much of the world has got it worse than you. It is an exercise in gratitude and humility - my small, small, daily annoyances make me A) grateful for resources I am afforded at home, B) reflect on what is truly important, and C) ground me in an aspiration to live an un-cluttered life in the service of others (I say 'aspiration', because, let's be honest, I spend an inordinate amount of time on pinterest these days).
So, in the end, I say that living in a country not your own builds character. I wouldn't give up this experience for all the comfy beds and air conditioning in the world.
P.S. Having said that, one of my very best friends in the world, Mira Cummins, got married on Friday and I would have killed to be there. Missing people back home is one of those non-trivial difficulties. But thanks to skype (an abroad-ers best friend), I was able to talk to her on her big day!
Love you guys!
