1. clean clothes are not always necessary. in fact, they’re hardly ever necessary.
2. buckets are your best friend when running water is scarce.
3. trash cans aren’t too necessary either. why not just skip the middle man when you’re done and throw your own trash on the ground?
4. there’s a high chance your life isn’t as hard as you think. people in kolkata break rocks with hammers, pull rickshaws by hand with bare feet and pick up cow poop with their hands to make a living.
5. it’s not the big bugs you’ve got to watch out for. it’s the little guys that’ll getcha. flies, mosquitos, bedbugs, lice. you name it, we’ve got it.
6. just because someone speaks english doesn’t mean that they know how to put their words into actual sentences.
7. just because your skin is getting darker doesn’t mean that you’re getting tan. on the contrary, it probably means that you need to take a shower.
8. the word “hot” was invented so there could be an accurate word to describe india.
9. sleep is a privilege, not a right.
10. spiritual warfare is real, but Jesus’ name holds power.
11. there are few things more humbling than having to apologize to a 9 year old.
12. always chase fire with fire. is the weather too hot outside? eat some spicy food. sweating from the sun? drink some hot tea.
13. “the” is appropriate in any context. you can say it whenever you’d like. for example, “we are taking the fasting and the prayer” is a completely logical sentence.
14. all americans are fat. so if you’re offended easily about people commenting on your weight, india is not the place for you.
15. don’t even think about leaving the house between 3 and 6. everybody knows that’s nap time.
16. bathing can solve all physical illnesses. constipated? headache? stomach pain? body pain? it’s probably because you haven’t showered twice today yet.
17. indian deodorant is about as useless as hindu idols. neither can do anything here.
18. time travel is possible. all of east india currently lives in the 1970’s.
19. tired of praying? pray some more.
20. Jesus is still good and always sovereign.
