Choice is a Luxury
I never realized that having several options for almost anything is not a universal thing.
Let me explain.
Since I’ve been here I have had probably a maximum of 5 different types of meals. Don’t they get sick of eating rice and beef all the time? Don’t they want a different flavor of tea every now and then? I went to the market and saw quite the variety of grains, fruits, vegetables, fish (anyone want to eat a minnow?) If I was cooking, I would be trying to create new dishes all the time.
So why eat the same meals over and over? I couldn’t figure this out for about a week. But now, I think I’ve got it.
Poverty.
When you don’t have much money you
- Can’t afford to buy a lot of food, so you buy the cheapest for the most money-whichever is the most filling
- Can’t afford to experiment with new foods that you don’t know much about. What if you make it and you don’t like it? There goes your weeks savings.
- Might not even realize that you actually can afford other foods because you are just used eating to what you already know.
On the other hand though, I think that having to many choices can be a bad thing. Let me explain again.
“Where do you want to eat tonight, honey?”
“I don’t care, you pick”
“I don’t care either, you pick”
“Fine. Ummmm…how about Pizza Hut”
“No, anything but pizza”
“Ok, then how about that new restaurant down town?”
“Noo…I’m not up for trying anything new”
“Then you pick!”
“No. I don’t care where we go, just not either of those places.”
“Ok, then how about that café on the corner?”
“No, I don’t like anything they have there, what about Mexican food?”
“I’m not up for Mexican food tonight.”
I’ve had that conversation plenty of times. Guilty. Lack of choices can be annoying and lots of choices can be annoying. Your thoughts? Next time someone asks me where I want to eat, I won’t be so indecisive.
“Where do you want to eat, Emily?”
“At home!”
I think you want to eat at Mancino’s..
Miss you dear girl, hope you are enjoying this adventure and not feeling as homesick as before. Praying for you!
Actually yes, I would like Mancino’s…just not every Sunday
agreed
Just had that conversation today. Then I went and bought an overpriced crappy sandwich….
I wish I had one of your pastries (as Summer puts it).
Emily,
A great blog! Remember this one when you come back to the states and you are trying to figure out why the transition is so hard and things seem so out of balance and the people around you are making such a big thing out of such small things. My prayer for you Emily, is that you never recover from this experience. Have a very blessed week ahead. Blessed by the LORD’s comfort, strength, joy and each of the fruit of the Spirit; and He uses you to spread them!
Ron K