Anticipating Adjustment

Since I'm all about making lists, I thought I'd focus this one on things I've done that scream "Hey!!!  You're going to fail at readjusting to America!!!!" Which means I'm going to be constantly on the phone with other Fulbrighters, lamenting my embarrassing moments (I highly anticipate that there will be many).  Included in the list are:

- Walking with Mary Martin in Singapore and not thinking it was weird when she stood by the road and tried to hail a bus.  Also not understanding that people wait at bus stops for buses.

- Jaywalking in Singapore when no one else was doing so.  It may be illegal...oops...

- Saying "Apa?"  every time I don't clearly hear what someone said.

- Saying "Apayah" when I can't think of a word.

- Eating rice with my right hand at a Western restaurant.

- Not being full when I don't eat rice.

- Adding "Insyallah" and "Alhamdulilah" to all of my sentences.

- Saying "Alhamdulilah" to the Hindu Balinese woman running the toko across from my homestay.

- Not remembering the English words for "toko," "

- Talking with other foreigners in incomprehensible English because I can no longer form a grammatically correct sentence. 

- Talking my way out of a traffic ticket because I flirtingly asked the police officer if he had a girlfriend and said I was looking for an Indonesian boyfriend (dear Lord, I have no shame).  Imagine doing that in the States.

-  Judging foreigners for stupid, culturally ignorant comments (something I need to stop).

- Not understanding why stores aren't closed at magrib (hour for Islamic evening prayer).

- Feeling like Bali and Lombok have cold climates.

- Shivering and feeling cold after heavy rainfalls.

- Negotiating for everything.  I can't walk into a farmers market back home and tell the seller his vegetables are too expensive and will he accept half the price?

It's gonna be an interesting 2 months at home...