After re-reading A's emails...

Just finished re-reading some saved emails that A had when she went traveling (Chile, Mexico, other countries)... I had read them all before.. but they are back from 2000 and for the most part I couldn't really relate to alot of the stories, until now!... so here are some thoughts that sparked up from reading her emails and similarities here...

Advertising here is very interesting... I've already seen strange displays in stores with full human size examples of the products dancing around outside/inside the store.. and I'm not sure if these are advertisements or something else, but there are taxis that drive around with P.A. systems on top of their car blaring something (have i already mentioned them?)... there are large mural size advertisements on concrete walls... (including huge murals of who the mayor of town is..and how).... I already mentioned the huge spring festival parade where pretty much each float was an advertisement of the product (which, i guess, is similar to parades in the US, except in the US, it's a bit more subtle I think...maybe not, can't remember) and how street signs have beer, supermarket, or other random advertisements on them)....

the lock situation.. so our front door to the house has 5 mechanisms to lock... like, the key turns/locks 3 times (in fact you're only supposed to turn it 2 times during the day because if you do it 3 times it can't be opened from the other side (this goes both ways and is a problem if someone forgets or doesn't know and turns it 3 times and then the people inside or outside are totally locked out/in)... and then there are 2 slot things and the a chain thing.. and then this switch (like a safety on a gun).. and you can't pull the door thing if the safety is on.. most doors seem to be like this (meaning, it's not excessive)... and then there is another door waiting for you outside the house... but at least we didn't have to do two keys at one time (A had to do this)

everything is sold in plastic sacks... I've seen a little of this in the states, where some packaging is sold in plastic bags instead of large boxes.. but it's pretty much the norm here.. milk, soy milk, cereal, mayonaise, yogurt.. etc.. all in sacks.. something I was definintely not used to (but my europe housemates say it's like this there)... is how dairy products (milk, eggs, etc) are not refridgerated... this feels very weird to me, but i guess its ok unfridgerated...