To miss or not to miss

I can't help but write a list of things I'll miss and things I won't miss. It seems appropriate to give you some context to my time here. 

I won't miss the noise- bus horns, car horns, scooter horns, bike horns, bloody horns, the praying with drums and cymbals, the dogs barking, the alarms, the doors banging, people spitting. Everywhere. 

I won't miss my bed. My knees, hips, pelvic bone, neck and shoulders hate me for sleeping here every night. I won't miss the carpet 'mattress' that has unleashed endless amounts of bruises on me. I also won't miss the glowing Buddha above my bed. 

I won't miss the feeling of numb feet inflicted upon me courtesy of the squat toilets. I won't miss being able to have a front row seat at my own waste disposals show. I won't miss the compulsion to steal extra sheets of toilet paper when at restaurants to use at home. I pray that doesn't stick with me. 

I won't miss being stared at, honked at, yelled at, or come at by Nepali guys. I'll take being invisible any day! Although I have discovered an antidote. Whack on a pair of sunnies and headphones. Walking down the street like this with people staring at you makes you feel like your in a film clip. 30 minutes a day is an appropriate dose. 

I won't miss my weekly hair and body wash. The concept of a daily shower as routine, as opposed to a weekly wash as a  privilege, feels so foreign. 

I won't miss dal bhat. Not. At. All. 
I won't miss vegetables and two minute noodles for breakfast. I won't miss any Nepali foods made from refined white flour. 

I won't miss the need for my nose to constantly filter the horrid air I breathe 24/7. I owe it a holiday. 

I won't miss the close calls I have with necking myself on the clothesline in the backyard. 

I will miss sharing every piece of land here with the cows and buffalo. I'll miss seeing them stop traffic or just poo in front of me. They are a great reality check. 

I'll miss having and sharing a double bed. Dutch ovening someone else is much more fun than inflicting your own horrors on yourself. 

I will miss being with women every day. I'll miss being apart of their lives during a season they'll never forget. I'll miss the smiles of the women and their families as their faith in me grows. I'll miss all the newborn cuddles and the chance to pray for minute old babies. That they will find and love God, be healthy and happy, and do good in this world. 

I also need to thank a few special people. First an fore-mostly, Thankyou to my steri strips for rescuing me from the terrifying need to go to hospital here. I can't thank you enough. Thankyou cheap travel pillow. You've been a nightly companion when I only expected you to be there for me on the plane. You've gone above and beyond your duty. Thankyou to my 14 pairs of undies. If you weren't such a large team I would've had to double wear you more often. You and I are both better because of your great existence.