We have had a steady flow of visitors and volunteers since our arrival in Tecpán. For some, their journey to Guatemala is a first out of their home country. For some, their travels have been extensive. For all, there is a time of adjustment to the different culture, standards and comfort here.
Adjustments present themselves in different ways with different people. Some have a hard time letting go of the comforts from home and become agitated. Many come with certain expectations that they hold fast to.
Complaints are not uncommon. When you are living here for the long haul, you adjust and begin to appreciate the more simple things in life. You also really begin to value things that you once previously would have taken for granted.
There are complaints. And then there are complaints. In our position here with a constantly revolving door, it can be tough to endure whining or complaints when we look around and see how people live day to day. Or more accurately put, surviving.
Recently I was directed to the hashtag #firstworldproblems. What an eye opener! At last, we can all name our complaints for what they are. It’s such an honest way of looking at our own pettiness and giving it its rightful name!
Check out some of these sites for yourself:
First World Problems Tweets from Ungrateful Children
White Whine-A Collection of First World Complaints
First World Problems-14 Cringe Worthy Complaints
Do you have any of your own first world problems that you’d like to share?
-Heather Alicia
Oh, yes! I had a friend who was planning her wedding last year. Close to the wedding, her facebook status was: “Supposedly flooding in Colombia so I have to change the flower color for the centrepieces!” Nice, eh?
Very inconvenient!
I read a news article on the internet today (June 8th 2012), about a young woman who is kind of put out because park personnel wouldn’t permit her to wear her own Tinkerbell costume while visiting Disneyworld. Save the outfit for a costume party and be thankful for being able to go there in the first place.