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Adjusting

I’m slowly beginning to adjust to developed world life. I’m getting used to the daily HOT showers, brushing my teeth in a sink, busy sidewalks and roads, and a whole plethora of food and drink options. What still overwhelms me though is walking into a mall or store and the amount of colors, lights, and mirrors coming from all directions and that completely put me into sensory overload. We walked into H&M, and I felt like I’ve fallen into a snow globe. I know I went from a rural village to a major city in the span of a few days, but WHOA. Walking through the mall shopping center, I felt like I had ADHD with the amount of things to see, smell, and hear, all while I have to walk and figure out where I’m going?! A simple trip to a pharmacy today made my brain feel like it was firing in a million different directions making it impossible for me to focus on what I was even in there for. Why are there so many options!? And what is it with mirrors? They’re so confusing!


Yes, it is nice to go shopping and buy new clothes and not be hassled by people in the market or people who follow you closely around the store to make sure that you aren’t stealing anything. But the drastic change in the setting really made me see the consumerist culture that we feed into. Before walking into a store, we need maybe one or two things. Yet we fill our baskets with unnecessary junk then complain that we can’t pay an extra $1.25 for local produce. Our culture has become so obsessed with spending money, and it’s never more evident than when you walk into a bustling mall.

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