Stories from the Countryside

Well, Monday through Thursday of this week were spent with a family in a village about an hour from were I live. It was a ton of fun!! I was worried going into it, but it ended up being a great experience! I'll give you several stories to hopefully brighten your day!

Nanny...Not your typical Grandmother!!

There are several people in the family that I stayed with: a man and his wife, his parents, and her grandparents. The most interesting character by far is the little grandmother who might be upwards of 140 or so.  She, like most countryside old women is a sight to behold!!

The first time I met Nanny was upon returning Monday before lunch after we had gone to the meat market to pick up several dead animals to consume. When I walked into the house, Nanny had her feet propped up on her granddaughter's (the lady who owned the house) legs. Not so unusual eh? Well, actually I beg to differ. The lady was scraping/picking/cutting Nanny's corns off of her feet with a sewing needle, nail clippers, and a pair of rusty scissors. Nanny looked as happy as a pig in the mud!

After lunch, which really was quite good, Nanny created another interesting story. It isn't unusual to get meat stuck in your teeth here, or anywhere for that matter. Nanny is no different. Once we had gotten up from the table, Nanny went over to the toothpick jar, got one out, and began to pick her teeth. Well, that is after she took her teeth OUT OF HER MOUTH. Yummy...you gotta love nasty village hands holding your teeth!

Things You Mother Told  You NEVER to Do!

Life in the village is quite slow right now as harvesting time will not be for a few more weeks. However, the man I stayed with is still finishing his house and fixing things up. There were several times that we needed to ride over to the next little town and pick some things up. 

There are no cars, well maybe 1 or 2, in the village, but there are plenty of motorbikes. So, on the motorbike we would get, the two of us, with no helmets. One rather memorable trip consisted of us having to pick up florescent lights and some pvc pipe. Who was to hold this? You guessed it, ME. There I was...speeding down the highway on a motorbike, death immanent, with 3 florescent light bulbs and a 12 foot (NO LIE!) pvc pipe!! I though to myself...Sheryl would have a heart attack! 

My First Squatty Potty Experience!

This story maybe PG13, but one of my favorites. So read at your own discretion!!

I was ecstatic when I got to the village because they had a western toilet next to their squatty potty. Although I have traveled East 2 times before, I had never been in a situation where a squatty potty was the only available option. So, for whatever reason, when I walked into the bathroom, I flushed the western toilet just to check it...it didn't work!

I got to the village on Monday, but it wasn't until I got ready to take a shower on Tuesday that I absolutely couldn't wait anymore. I walked into the bathroom, and went through the routine, but I had one question: how does this work with pants???? Let's just say, for the remainder of my squatty experiences, my pants hung on the hook on the wall!!

10 Things You Experience staying in an Asian Village that You Probably Wouldn't Staying with Someone in the US!

1. Riding down the highway at neck breaking speeds on a motorbike with no helmet.

2. A waterfront property that is literally 2 steps from the lake

3. A man in briefs bathing in the pond on the highway.

4. A little boy standing in the middle of a rice field peeing  and seeing how high he can get it

5. Picking corns off the old lady's foot in the living room

6. Using a squatty potty next to a beautiful porcelain throne

7. 2 days of Kung Fu lessons

8. Sleeping on a plywood board covered by a wooden mat and 2 terry-cloth blankets.

9. Eating meat that you have no idea where it came from and are too nervous to ask

10. Watching an old lady pick food out of her teeth, while holding them.

Cultural Immersion!

Ok, so Friday was an interesting day! Four of us went to a village about 30 minutes outside of the city we are meeting in. You might be pondering how one would get to said village. I myself was pondering that too, and was told by the sweet little lady we went with that we would take a bus. 

We indeed took a bus, some of the way. After about 15 min we got off at one of the stops. This was a little convenient store/tent/structure of some sort. It had drinks, cigarettes, gambling nationals, and of course a meat market. The 4 of us that went were wondering if we would be staying for lunch. That is, until one of the dead chickens became 2 halves of a dead chicken. One went into a plastic bag, and eventually would go into our stomachs. Now, when I say half a chicken I do mean half, all the way from half a head to one chicken foot. (all of which got cooked!!)

So, there we were, 4 white people and 2 nationals waiting to go to the village. Around us were dead carcasses and gambling nations. I assumed we were waiting for the next bus, but oh no! We were waiting for this man who drove a motorcycle/truck/three wheeler thing. The 6 of us borrowed stools from the stand, and up we went into the bed of this automobile-ish thing! It was imperative that we hold on tight. I understood this quickly as we bumped along down the gravel road. At least 10 times my body was thrust into the air at least 6 inches, but for dramatic effect we'll say at least a foot.

It was quite an experience to say the least. The moral of this story I suppose is to expect the unexpected. I didn't have my camera, but a friend did. I will post a pic soon.

Welcome to My Blog

Hey Guys!

I wanted to give everyone the opportunity to know about different cultural things that are happening to me overseas. As I thought about how to best do that, the only person that came to my mind was Pierre. Who knows about culture  more than Pierre? So, sit back, relax, and laugh about all the great things Asia has to offer!

Nathan