No title...read my stuff

Day three: My main pondering for the last day or so has been about how quickly perceptions can change when you enter into a new environment. We've only been here just over 48 hours, despite the feeling that its been at least a week, but even in that short amount of time I have been forced to reevaluate my perceptions of things. For example, my idea of what I consider to be safe in the U.S. has been greatly challenged here. My first thought when I witnessed these crazy bikes and cars flying around each other with no street signs in sight was that there was no way this could be safe, but miraculously it seems safer, and more effective, than the system I'm used to back home. There's also the perception of necessity. Yes, I miss my shower curtains, brushing my teeth from a sink rather than a water bottle, and toilets that flush toilet paper but I'm quickly realizing that they're not necessary. However, before this trip I know that I wouldn't have been able to wrap my mind around such a concept. The idea of necessity was stretched one step further today when I felt pretty awful sweating and dirty with my hair in desperate need of a wash. But when we made it to Little Angels to play with some of the young kids that live in LA's hostel and they began complimenting me, playing with my hair, and telling me that I looked like one of their Barbie dolls I realized that perhaps always looking, and feeling, your best also isn't a necessity. Yes, it would be nice to have showered and had makeup on but I think what was most important in that moment was interacting with these kids and having a life changing experience which is what this trip has already become to me.
So maybe Nepal is good for me. Beyond getting to see a gorgeous new country and eat amazing food I'm already having the chance to challenge what I know, meet some incredible people with so much to teach me, and even starting to learn how to relax a little more and go with the flow. I am so grateful for this opportunity and have thoroughly enjoyed it thus far. I mean how can I complain when I get compared to a Barbie, eat curry potato porridge for breakfast, buy new Toms shoes for six American dollars, and get blessed by a living goddess all in one day? Life is incredible here and our trip has only just begun. As Shobha would say, "I think it will be good."

*Note: This entry was a struggle for me, so if it was a struggle to read I apologize. We've been blaming everything on jet lag lately and if there are any major problems with this post I would like to continue to go ahead and blame jet lag.