Christina's addition to the list...

You know you have traveled to the third-world too much if:

When you arrive in the country and are hit with the first wave of heat/garbage smell, you think, "Ahhh...it's good to be back."


You wonder what is happening when the electricity is ON.

A two-hour travel delay means that your trip is progressing at a positively frightening speed.

You understand that the phrase "After some time..." can mean anything from 5 minutes to six months from now, and that doesn't bother you.

You think that having hot water to bathe with is an almost-positively-sinful luxury.

You feel that diarrhea is an expected, though only slightly inconvenient, side-effect of moving to a new location in the country.

You don't even blink when your taxi goes roaring down a crowded road, horn blaring, while swerving violently to avoid the constant stream of bikes, motorcycles, animals, and small children who step nonchalantly in front of the car.

You see two men holding hands and think that they are just friends.


You know you have been away from America for too long if:

You arrive in the airport and wonder what that strange feeling you have is...and realize, "Oh wow...all these people are speaking English!"

You are shocked how clean the streets are.

You wander aimlessly around the grocery store, eyes bugging and mouth gaping, exclaiming "Look at all this STUFF! All in one store!"

You can't get over how many white people there are everywhere.

You feel that you are taking your life in your hands whenever you drive faster than 50 MPH.

Everything looks brown to you. Where are all the plants and trees?

A husband and wife holding hands seems like a shocking display of public affection. I mean, seriously, get a room.