It's Relative

I think I’ve come to see that pain and suffering is relative. Your own problems always seem to be magnified when you look at them through your own eyes only. Not saying that all personal problems need to be looked at from a holistic view, but sometimes when you look at them that way, your own problems seem to be smaller. I’ve had plenty of discussions with different people while I’ve been here. Hearing their stories and how they grew up, their goals and visions, and their challenges. I just listen. I’ve become a better listener I think. Because to speak about my challenges back in the US don’t even seem like challenges compared to what some people have gone through or are going through. And it’s not like I can provide any type of solution. Sometimes hearing and trying to understand the stories is all that can be done. A response is sometimes not what people need or want to hear. Sometimes people just want to talk and express themselves, have someone hear their story without any added commentary.  I know I’ve been around people who always have a response to something, even when one isn’t asked. And I know I’ve done it myself before...providing advice when the other person wasn’t really looking for one. I’m conscious of that now. At the same time I don't want to be one of those people that ays "I went abroad, saw all the struggling children and now I feel better about my life back in America." There's nothing wrong with that but personally I'm not looking at people's lives here as a way for me to feel better about my life back in the states. I'm grateful for what I have back in the states and I shouldn't have to elevate my life compared to people here to realize that. So to my family, friends, and those who make a difference in my life if you don't know it already, i love you all.

What being abroad has shown me so far:

1. The human race is very similar. Even all the way across the world, I still see the same  basic types behavior, emotions...
2. Non verbal expression is stronger than any words spoken. How we appear can be very offensive to other people, especially in social settings. 
3. When in rome act as the romans do
1. but don’t lose yourself in the process
4. Learn from the locals
5. Don’t be defensive about little things...its another country with a different culture
6. Money comes an goes--but mostly goes
7. People let you down
8. There are moments where it seems like no one understands--then there are times where you barely have to explain yourself
9. Love can come easy
10. A smile is the same everywhere
11. Don’t impose on others culture, learn instead and accept it, cause seriously its theirs and not yours and you don’t need to try and change it
12. A walk on the beach brings peace to the body
13. There isn’t a simple solution to everyones problems
1. i can’t always help someone out