Blog #45: Paper Towels

Sometimes it's really weird little things that remind me it will be strange to acclamate back into American culture. Let's look at today as an example.

After eating the delicious meal in the picture, using my right hand as my only utensil, I walked to the washroom to wash it off. When I finished washing my hand, I just walked out.

I didn't dry my hand.

I walked from the washroom to my table with a wet hand.

And then... it dried.

Back home, I'd have been annoyed there were no paper towels or even an air dryer to dry my hand. I've been socialized in the United States to think that any minor inconvenience is purely unacceptable, that my life should be as comfortable as is humanly possible.

But like... Why?

Being in India has taught me that a little bit of discomfort, a little bit of inconvenience, is an absolutely worthless thing to spend time being frustrated about.

Have a great meal but no utensils? Eat it with your (right) hand.

Your Uber is taking a long time to arrive? Walk, or just show up late and say that your Uber took a long time.

Power goes out? Wait for it to come back on.

Coffee shops don't open early? Make your own coffee, or just skip it.

No means of drying your hands after washing them? Wait 30 seconds for them to airdry.

Be slightly uncomfortable for a whole 30 seconds.

After living like this for a while, it will be difficult for me to go back and sympathize with people over minor inconveniences. So, I just won't. And if you ever complain to me about a bathroom running out of paper towels, I'll tell you to suck it up and wait 30 seconds.