Cultural differences

Even though I've been living on Clove Island for awhile now, there are still some cultural differences I find funny. It's not that they're completely unexpected, because I know that people think that way, but when I consider them in light of American norms, well, it's just not the same.

Like, for instance, the issue of body weight. I was recently told "you should gain some weight before you go home so that your family isn't worried about you coming back here." Implication: fat is good and healthy. Skinny is worrisome. So if your family is worried about your health, they'll want to see that you're gaining weight, not losing it.

On a related topic, rice is food. If you haven't had rice in the day, you really haven't eaten, you've only snacked. And an islander portion of rice could feed several American families for a day. No kidding. So what's a great meal? A heaping plate/bowl/pot of rice, topped with some sauce or slow-cooked veggies and hot pepper sauce to taste. You can't imagine the looks of pity I've received when I tell someone I had eggs and bread for dinner. Or pasta. Poor Abby just doesn't eat well enough.

Then we've got the idea of safety. Surprisingly enough, we have a seat belt law and helmet law. People riding in the front seat of the car are supposed to wear a seat belt. The person driving the motorcycle (not any passengers) is required to wear a helmet. But these laws are really only enforced a couple of districts of the city, so you often see a person driving a motorcycle with his helmet in his lap, or perched precariously on *top* of his head, or hanging off the bike somewhere. Driving into the "controlled" parts of the city, people often slow down to put on their required safety wear before continuing on. And after passing through, the restraints quickly come off again.

This last one is related to the picture at the top-- babies and dressing warm. The irony struck me as I was sitting with a friend who had just given birth, admiring her newborn baby. We were fanning ourselves from the heat, but how is the baby dressed? For winter in the U.S.-- and that's normal.

Normal.