Slower and louder doesn’t help.

Growing up in the southwest has exposed me to conversations where language was a huge road block.  I’ve also been fortunate enough to do my fair share of traveling with the same issue coming up.  I’ll be the first to admit that not knowing any other languages is a fault.  I try my best to pick up little things when I go to a country so I’m not completely lost.  Having said that, there is one other thing I understand; just because you yell it in English does not change the fact that it’s IN ENGLISH!!!  I’m baffled by people that seem to think that when a person from another country doesn’t understand them it must be because I didn’t say it loud enough.  There is a scene in Scrubs that sums this up perfectly when Carla’s supposedly non-English speaking brother portrayed by Freddy Rodriquez looks at Turk and says “Yeah, well that yelling it slower and louder isn’t as helpful as you might think!”  This goofy practice first really hit me in ASL class.  When my professor forbid us from finger-spelling or spelling out in sign what we were trying to say.   He would tell us “If I asked you to tell me what an apple was, how would spelling A-P-P-L-E would help me?”  That’s the truth, in a nut shell we assume that we can force feed our message by hammering someone with volume.  Why?

The counter to the previous post

Ok, so it doesn't sound like i'm whining the whole time on here I wanted to add a plus list.  This place has been a great experience for a lot of reasons.  here are a few:

• Money, Money, Money.......... MONEY!!!!!  Yes I get a pretty amazing pay check.  At the end of this year I will be debt free, own a bunch of new and cool stuff and actually have a savings.  This is the first point in my adult life I don't count the days to payday because i'm broke.  Its the primary reason we are all here and for those who have something to say, they are always hiring.
• Becoming more of professional:  Lets face it, college is in no way the real world.  As a matter of fact I think the way people now live from 18 - 24 is very far from being an adult.  I never really had to deal with office politics like this, where my decisions have real consequences and I need to keep tabs on things.  I have extra responsibilities and I have people I have to report to.  I don't know if I have a career coming out of this, only time will tell.  However I feel more like a working adult than I ever have before.
• Travel!!!!!!  Lets face it, I enjoy using the quote "not all who wander are lost." for a reason.  This year I will get to see 6 countries and a handful of new cities.  I might get to see United at home, Dublin for St. Patties and Sweden.  I'm never done the serious relationship thing, I've never settled down, but travel has always been my thing.  So this year is going to give me something I have always wanted.
• A better understanding of what is going on in this part of the world.  It's funny to think back now at all the conversations in class about how we as a country were effecting a country.  How we as a nation are hated.  Some people are ASSHOLESSS!!! And hated for a very good reasons, but I don't thing the rage is quite at the level most people think it is.  Especially since we poor money into these countries like nobody's business.
• Absents makes the heart grow fonder.  I think I will learn more about myself this year than I have in a long time.
• I've lost 20lbs in 10 weeks and I can see it continuing.  It would be nice to return to my high school weight.  I was getting kinda sick of looking fluffy.

So there you go, not all bad. :)

Things I miss (no real order)

• Good Mexican, Cajun, Italian, and pretty much every other type of food you can find in the states. I've dropped about 20 pounds since I've been here and I don't think its just a lack of alcohol or having to walk everywhere.
• Fast internet.  Yeah, Yeah, I get that i'm in a war zone.  But shit, I'm having flashbacks to dial up days.
• My family:  I was lucky to have a truly amazing family.  I'm very close with both of my siblings as well as my folks.  I miss talking to them everyday, and being able to vent.  I miss having a beer with my brother at odd hours and the conversations about everything and nothing at all.
• Having a toilet and shower in the same building I sleep in.  What a pain in the ass, to have to considered if i really need to go THAT bad.  Anytime taking a pee involves putting shoes on its already to much work.
• Not living near a flight line.
• Not having to plan a run to the store, because it involves two buses and half a day.
• I miss not having to smell LN's and OCN's.  If you are familiar with the title, then you know what I mean.
• Having anything in my life other than Work, eat, sleep, work, eat, workout, sleep.  Being in this place feels like you feel off the edge of the world.  Thank god for social networks, DSN lines and email because I don't know how I would handle this without.  As much as I have traveled I have found that i'm very attached to my life and world in Texas.
• I miss having my own room.  I can honestly say I would be ok with a roommate, but god I need my own space.
• Conversations that don't involve missing home, missing food, missing pretty much everything I'm listing. Most people either talk about how shitty work is or how much they miss _________.
• Lazy Sundays.
• Living with a dog, it was nice and I plan to buy one upon my return.