How RPCV's Know They Have Re-Adjusted to American Life

How RPCV's Know They Have Re-Adjusted to American Life

1.You've stopped carrying toilet paper with you wherever you go.

2.You no longer eat all of the hors d'oeuvres at dinner parties.

3.Some of your clothes don't have that genuine stone-washed look.

4.People no longer avoid the dishes you bring to potluck dinners.

5.You have a friend who was never in the Peace Corps.

6.You dream in English.

7.You use tissues to blow your nose.

8.You think twice before taking a 15-hour bus/taxi ride.

9.You're not afraid of swallowing water in the shower.

10.You stop boasting that you got a dial tone immediately.

11.You travel with baggage instead of cardboard boxes or plastic bags.

12.You use a watch as you are no longer able to tell the time by the sun.

13.Your meals no longer consist solely of vegetables.

14.You start to eat rice again.

15.You use the phone instead of sending a note by bush taxi.

16.You no longer stand in stores amazed at the quantity and quality of goods and you stop trying to pay with exact change.

17.Parasites (both yours and theirs) cease to be a topic of conversation during meals.

18.You motion someone towards you with fingers up instead of hissing.

19.You stop expecting a Customs inspector to check your baggage and ask for a bribe after a domestic flight.

20.You stop proposing that Charmin be nominated the 8th wonder of the world.

21.You throw out your plastic grocery bags.

22.Your underwear has holes only in the correct places.

23.When you hear rustling in the trees you expect to see squirrels, not monkeys.

24.You have more than three changes of clothes.

25.If a fly lands in your drink you actually throw out the whole glass.

26.When turning a corner while driving you know exactly which side of the road you're supposed to be on.

27.Your Birkenstocks are no longer considered your "dress" shoes.

28.When something breaks in your house you call a repairman instead of breaking out the ducktape, goat rubber and Swiss army knife.

29.Rain is now a verb rather than a plural noun.

30.Your Teva lines have finally faded.

31.Your hand no longer twitches reflexively when you see a white sports utility vehicle in the distance.

32.You no longer respond to "Mzungu" or "Yovo" or "Nasara" or "Toobab" or "Mundju" or "Whiteman" as if it's your given name.

33.You no longer think it's normal to start drinking beer at 9:00 A.M.

34.You no longer immediately switch into Special English when you encounter anyone with an with an accent.

By John N Smart (jnsmart) on Sunday, August 19, 2001 - 1:01 pm: Edit Post

When you realize that the incompetent president of your country was actually elected in a supposedly fair and democratic election!

By Roy Anderson (rja) on Monday, October 21, 2002 - 9:42 pm: Edit Post

Oregano becomes the green stuff in spaghetti

By Roy Anderson (rja) on Monday, October 21, 2002 - 9:44 pm: Edit Post

--Chicken is now safe to eat
--meat is no longer on the hoof

By Mike Smith (sdn-ap-001neomahp0080.dialsprint.net - 63.186.0.80) on Monday, June 28, 2004 - 9:02 pm: Edit Post

You look to see if the snake you just spotted has rattles before you decide to kill it.

By Joe Arceneaux (161.55.236.2) on Friday, August 04, 2006 - 6:03 pm: Edit Post

You no longer exude a "smokey-I've just been camping" smell.