the one with things i don't like about living in East Asia

It is so freaking hot... and there is no cold water in the shower... i feel uncomfortable, and i've been a lil sick recently... so i haven't been in the best mood... so here comes an angry, frustrated post

i don't like living here b/c

1. The shower: today no cold water, so i was more sweaty after the shower than before... sometimes it is so hot it is scalding... of course other days there is no hot water - there were a couple days like that a couple weeks ago, which means no shower... and of course there is no water at all

2. Slow/intermittent internet: It takes a while to load page, watching youtube is frustrating... and phone calls cut out every 5 minutes...

3. being away from friends: and when the internet makes it hard to talk to people, it is all the worse.

4. people who cheat me: of course this is the worst of all - b/c it is all about the people isn't it? Landlords don't return deposits. Vendors charge more money b/c i'm a foreigner.

5. electricty going out: Yes this still happens. And if we need to pay for more electricty it always seems to go out on the weekends, which means we have to wait 2 days... then all the food goes bad in the fridge...

6. We miss food: Sure there are some western restaurants now, but i still miss food

7. Conversations: The Asians don't talk about sports... and don't really talk about themselves either. And when giving a talk, no one responds. There is no head-nodding, no smiles, no reactions at all...

8. Foreign language: i have been here 5 years, but i still can't follow things... and sometimes it is b/c my language is actually better than theirs... most of time it is just b/c i'm stupid though

9. Nowhere to go: Everything closes early... no place has A/C... and we don't have cars to get places anyway

10. people come & go: i'm ok with it most of the time, i enjoy people while they are here, but it does get tiring.


i have to remind myself that every place i'd live would have some problems. There are sinful, fallen people everywhere who try to take advantage of you. People walk in & out of our lives everywhere... we'll get bored... different problems in different places... and it'd be more expensive... and the little things wouldn't seem as great...

So what am i thankful for?

1. My wife. It's not always easy, but she loves mes and i love her

2. our baby on the way: i still call her baby, though we have a name picked out... pregnancy is hard, but she is worth it

3. our puppy: she sometimes ignores us, but she loves us and cuddles with us and runs to us... it's great

4. A baomu(maid): What is going to be like when we have to wash all the dishes and clean all the time?

5. Good friends back in the states who give good advice and encouragement: we need you guys. You don't know how much one small word, one small act can breathe life into us. And your prayers are powerful!

6. Friends here who are like family: What would we do without you?

7. books & my kindle: the Lord speaks to me and challenges me

8. The western restaurants & import stores: we probably eat better here than in the states

9. The internet: 10 years ago i was here, and there was no communication with people for a year. We had no idea what was going on in the world, a whole year of my life is missing. People talk about things and i have no idea what they're talking about. But now we can keep up with things

10. The Gospel: i need it every day! The Holy Spirit continues to work in my life. And God continues to pour out grace.

There are plenty more things i can be thankful for. God is good. And He has blessed us tremendously.

Thanks for all your prayers